The Illinois Stewardship Alliance is working with the legislature to provide local food producers with some tax incentives.
Wes King is the Policy Director for the Stewardship Alliance. He says they want lawmakers to consider providing a tax credit to help local farmers, who supply fresh food to grocery stores and farmers' markets, to keep up with the demand. King says such an incentive would help farmers to buy additional hoop houses or green houses as well as provide incentives for new farmers to help meet the demand for locally grown food.
King says the demand for locally grown fruits and vegetables has increased significantly in the past few years. In Carbondale, local organizations have created a winter farmers' market to help address consumer demand as well as provide a place for local food farmers to sell their products during the winter months. Carbondale, along with many area communities, regularly host Farmers markets during the summer and fall.
