CMAP Eyes Local Farm-To-Table Movement As Jobs Creator

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Oct 4, 2012 8:20PM

We've argued the merits of the locavore aesthetic ad nauseam. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning makes a more convincing case.

CMAP has created a microsite that aims to strengthen the connections between area farms, food distributors, markets and consumers as an economic stimulator.

Building the area’s food system is part of CMAP’s GO TO 2040 plan and they estimate it could create 5,000 jobs and provide a $6.5 billion boost to the economy annually. The area already has an advantage in an informed consumer. CMAP cited studies that showed three out of every four Americans care about where they get their food and a 260 percent increase in demand for local food in the past decade.

The video below succinctly summarizes what they’re trying to achieve.