CCFB News» April 2026

National Agriculture Day is an annual event to celebrate the impact of agriculture on daily life. The Day recognizes farmers for providing safe, abundant food, fiber, and fuel, while also highlighting the industry's essential economic role.

Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton from Glenview introduced a resolution celebrating agriculture not only in Illinois but also in Cook County. A portion of the resolution is provided below:

WHEREAS, Cook County agriculture includes vegetable, floriculture, grain, nursery, row crop production, and livestock; and

WHEREAS, Cook County ranks among the top counties in Illinois for nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod production; and

WHEREAS, Cook County is home to numerous examples of urban agriculture, including the raising, cultivation, processing, marketing, and distribution of food in urban and suburban settings; and

WHEREAS, Urban agriculture in Cook County generally involves outdoor and indoor vertical production, indoor warehouse farms, greenhouses, rooftop farms, and hydroponic and aquaponic facilities; and

WHEREAS, Agriculture and agriculture-related industries continue to be a critical economic engine for Cook County, supporting over 110,000 jobs and generating more than $15.4 billion in value-added economic activity; and

WHEREAS, Cook County’s food manufacturing industry added $9.1 billion to Chicagoland’s Gross Domestic Product; and

WHEREAS, Cook County’s bread and bakery sector contributed nearly $1 billion to the economy in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Nonchocolate candy manufacturing contributed nearly 3,500 jobs and over $540 million to the County’s economy; and

WHEREAS, Cook County and Illinois farmers grow healthy and nutritious food for local, state, and national markets; and

WHEREAS, Farmland is a finite and vital resource that supports agriculture, food production, and the economic well-being of Cook County and the State of Illinois; and

The resolution was approved during the March Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting