KANE COUNTY SMITH, Kenyon, Allan, Auger, Haimann, Lewis, Molina

AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

County Board Room Agenda 10:00 AM

Kane County Government Center, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. A, Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County Page 1

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes: May 19, 2016

3. Public Comment

4. Partners

A. Kane County Farm Bureau Updates (Steve Arnold, Manager)

B. Northern Illinois Food Bank Updates (Steve Ericson, Director of Food Procurement)

C. Liberty Prairie Foundation (Nathan Aaberg, Program Director for Food, Farms, and Environment)

5. Presentations/Announcements

A. Kane County Food and Farms Blog Updates (Matt Tansley, Land Use Planner) (attached)

B. Kane County Farmers Markets (Jane Maxwell, Kane County Local Food Consultant) (attached)

6. New Business

7. Reports Placed On File

8. Executive Session (If Needed)

9. Adjournment

Food and Farms Updates

Matt Tansley, Land Use Planner

Kane County Agriculture Committee

June 23, 2016

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Kane County Master Gardener Idea Garden

Yearly program managed by the U of I Extension Master Gardeners

• Located at St. Charles Horticulture Research Center

• Demonstrations: vintage victory garden, pollinator plots, pallet gardening, a shrub plot and a patriotic garden.

• Varieties: tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, and herbs, kiwis and elderberry bushes.

Open House Dates:

July 12 & August 16th

(9 – 11 am)

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New Market Stand: Foxtrot Organic Farm

• Farm operating in Wayne since 2015

• Market stand located at Primrose Farm in St. Charles: https://www.facebook.com/foxtrotorganicfarm/timeline

• 115 varieties of produce

• Added the “Where to Buy” page of the Food and Farms blog: http://www.foodandfarmskc.org/?page_id=17

Hours

Saturdays; 9 am – 3 pm

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Just Food Initiative: Food Preservation Event

Just Food Initiative of the Fox Valley

Non-Profit organization focused on building a sustainable and equitable food system.

Hands-on Workshop will showcase food freezing and dehydrating techniques.

Sunday, June 26th from 1:30 – 3:00 pm at 327 East Wilson Street in Batavia, ILhttp://www.justfoodinitiativeofthefoxvalley.org/

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Kane County Farmers Markets

Jane Maxwell, MS, RDN, LDN

June 2016

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Farmers Markets

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Kane County Farmers’ Markets

Aurora Farmer’s Markets

Aurora Transportation Center

Saturdays, June - October, 8 am-NoonAurora Market West, West Plaza

Wednesdays, July 6 – September 28 2pm-6pm

Aurora Market East, Eola Road

Thursdays, July 7 – August 25 10-2 pm

Batavia Farmer’s Market, River Street

Outdoor; Saturdays, June - October 8am-Noon

*Indoor; Saturdays, January-May 9am-12pm

Geneva French MarketSundays, April - November 8am-2pm

*Geneva Green Winter MarketSaturdays, November - May, 9am-1pm

Downtown Elgin Harvest Market, Grove StreetThursdays, June - Oct. 6 9am-2pm

*Elgin Farmers Market, Restore Saturdays, Year Round Market; 9am-2pm

Old Dundee Farmer’s MarketSaturdays, May - October, 8am-2pm

Dundee Sunday Farmers Market

Sundays, June-October, 10am-3pm

St. Charles Farmer's Market, Baker Memorial ChurchOutdoor; Fridays, June - October 7am-1pm

*Indoor; Fridays, November-May 9am-12pm

Sugar Grove Farmers MarketSaturdays, June - October 8am-1pm

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All Kane County Markets Accepting Link Offer Double Value Coupons

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Economic Impact

• USDA

• $1 of SNAP Spent at Farmers Market generates $1.80 in Economic Benefit

• 2011-2015 in Illinois

• $977,703 in SNAP and DVCP

• Total Economic Impact

• $1,759,865

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Healthy Food Incentives Cluster Evaluation 2013-Final Report Fair Food Network

• SNAP Incentives have positive impact on Farmers Market Operations

• Vendor Retention has increased

• Increase in the number of vendors requesting to sell at Market

• There is more foot traffic to the market

• Overall Market Sales have Increased

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Healthy Food Incentives Cluster Evaluation 2013-Final Report Fair Food Network

Because of SNAP Incentives93% shop Farmers Markets rather than other SNAP outlets76% of Vendors report new customers74 % of Vendors report more repeat customers69% of Vendors report they make more money at the Market Vendors sell more produce

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Healthy Food Incentives Cluster Evaluation 2013-Final Report Fair Food Network

• SNAP Incentives have Positive Effect on Local Communities

• Sticky Dollars-Farmers Market customers spend money at local merchants while visiting the farmers market

• USDA Economic Multiplier

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Vendors/Producers at Farmers Market

• Small and Medium Farms rely on Direct to Consumer sales

• 25 % of Producers derive their sole source of income from the Farmers Market

• Direct to consumer sales put more money in Producers pockets

• Local producers return 3X More to the local economy compared to chain competitors

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Markets Offer

• Produce

• Meats and Eggs

• Cheeses

• Food Sampling

• Education

• Health Promotion

• Community Groups

• Ready to Eat Foods

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