PHOTO BY DAVID BLANCHETTE
Jessica Hicks of Itty Bitty Micro Farm stands by microgreens that the operation has sold to food banks using soon-to-disappear federal funds. The USDA canceled a $1 billion program which buys products from farmers, then distributes the food through local food pantries.
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A MAJOR LOSS
Illinois Times is to be commended for the article “A loss for Illinois farmers and food banks” (April 24). The cancellation of grants intended to enable food banks and schools to purchase foods from local producers is unfortunate, if not tragic.
Amidst all the furor of tariffs, immigration problems and attacks on education, this issue has received too little attention. We have concentrated on the price of cars, avocadoes and coffee, while in the midst of a crisis that affects not only consumers but producers here in Illinois.
The producers are hard hit by the loss of market, since it is not possible for them to simply shut down and wait until things get better in a year or so. Plants keep growing and livestock keep eating.
Those who will suffer from lack of good, fresh, nourishing food (Make America Healthy Again?) because it is not getting to food banks and schools can’t just stop eating. Many families rely on their local food banks. This is especially important in the summer and school vacations when children do not get school lunches or breakfasts.
Applause to those farmers who produce the food and to our senators who support the Honor Farmers Contract Act. Make “good trouble” with those representatives who are reluctant to face this issue.
Paula M. Woods
Beardstown
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DON’T RELY ON GOVERNMENT
Whatever happened to the free market? Supply and demand? Maybe everyone should quit relying on the government so much.
Kristin Boster
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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EXPECT BETTER
I appreciate IT’s in-depth coverage of this issue. No matter where one is politically, it is simply unfair to cancel a contract after one party relied on it and started compliance. It would certainly be a breach of contract if litigated in civil court. Corporations know how to game the legal system against smaller litigants, but shouldn’t we expect more from the federal government?
Denise Church
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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FRAGILE SYSTEM
I’ve read and shared “A Loss for Illinois farmers and food banks” by David Blanchette, and I appreciate Illinois Times’ coverage of an issue that affects our local economy and local lives. My reflection: We were growing a healthy food system that helped both farmers and hungry people. Then whoosh, it is gone in a few weeks. How fragile it all is.
Sheila Walk
Springfield
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DON’T LIMIT BEER SALES
As a fan of microbreweries, I appreciate this new bill and assume it will pass unanimously (“A bill to boost beer breweries,” April 24) However, I’d like a bill that says any Illinois brewery can sell as much beer in Illinois as they want, and here is the reason why.
I’ve had beer from a microbrewery that was starting out in the Chicago area. It was very good and was offered downstate. However, as it became more popular, the Chicago area became its only distribution place as the quantities are limited and it’s easier to distribute locally. Conversely, the same has happened to a very good brewery from Petersburg. My friends up north could not access it because it became so popular downstate.
If someone in Illinois is making good beer, let all Illinoisians enjoy it without any constraints. And for me personally, I hope this can drive down prices through the economies of scale and reduce the reach of the skanky national beers.
Rick Campbell
Springfield