Illinois faces shortage of farmers

The number of farmers markets in the state has more than doubled in the last decade to 220 from 97 in 1999. And demand continues to rise dramatically as some consumers willingly pay a premium for the health and environmental benefits of local and organic meats and produce.

But Illinois and surrounding states are facing a dearth of farmers who willing and able to produce this food and endure the hardships of getting it to big markets in urban areas.

Every community in Chicago has enough demand for local food to support a farmers market, Mota said. The problem is bringing in the farmers who are willing to hopscotch between markets for days at a time and to incur the expense of transporting food to urban consumers.

Setting up a stall in a Chicago farmers market can seem like more trouble than it