1. IGEN Local Food Task Force IGEN Retreat UpdateMarch 15, 2011

2. Task Force Objective Identify the role IGEN and community colleges can play in supporting the growth of local food economies, on campus and in the community

3. Task Force Members IGEN Staff Liaison • Robert Hilgenbrink Task Force Facilitators • Lavon Nelson, ICCB • Julie Bates, Lincoln Land Community College Task Force Members (Note: italics denote IGEN-funded sustainability professionals) • Rebecca Rossi, Heartland Community College • David Inman, Wilbur Wright College • Dr. Victoria Cooper, Wilbur Wright College • DaraReiff, College of Lake County • Rich Schultz, Kankakee Community College • Annie Laurie Cadmus, Waubonsee Community College • Martin Pieters, Kennedy King College • David Camphouse, John Wood Community College • Dr. Scott Stewart, Kankakee Community College

4. Progress • Identified and reviewed current research on local food economies and opportunities in Illinois • Discussed gaps in this research and how the Task Force report might fill those gaps • Submitted local food fact sheets for each college represented on the Task Force (outlining what is being done on each campus and in the community related to local food) • Defined “local food” for the purposes of our research • Created a local food survey to be distributed to all community colleges in the state

5. One Option for Defining Local Food “A collaborative effort to build more locally based, self-reliant food economies – one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption is integrated to enhance the economic, environmental, and social health of a particular place” From “Creating space for sustainable food systems: lessons from the field by Feenstra; published 2002 in Agriculture and Human Values, pp. 99-106

6. Survey Data • Number of for-credit and non-credit courses offered (by semester) related to local food and/or sustainable ag • List of most successful courses and programs currently offered related to local food and/or sustainable ag • Workforce needs each college has identified in its district or region related to local food and/or sustainable ag

7. Survey Data … continued • Formal campus policies related to local food purchasing • Food service providers on campus, plus any local food offerings and any consumer education the providers offer • Goals and barriers related to local food efforts • Community partnerships

8. Next Steps • Compile and review survey data after March 25 deadline • Identify white paper recommendations based on survey data • Identify college best practices to use as examples to support recommendations • Draft white paper • Share draft with advisory group and IGEN Core Team • Prepare final draft by May 1

9. We welcome your feedback! Please contact any of our Task Force members or Julie Bates at julie.bates@llcc.edu or 217.786.2434