The survey collected responses from 35 individuals on priorities and barriers related to expanding local food production in Kane County, Illinois. Key priorities identified were improving public health (13 responses), stimulating local businesses (17), and making local food more accessible to all county residents (14). Top barriers selected were consumers being uneducated about local food benefits (17), lack of businesses supporting local food (10), and public policies not being supportive (12). The survey aimed to inform subsequent assessments on focusing the scope of local food issues in the county.

1. Health Impact Assessment – 3 Question Prioritization Survey
Summary
The prioritization survey, intended to narrow the scope, or focus of the following
surveys was distributed through email via Constant Contact on Tuesday, June 6, 2012 at 4:00
PM and the survey instrument was developed and administered through the SurveyMonkey
website under a Kane County Dept of Health account. The survey was tabled to close collection
on the following Monday, but was extended through Wednesday afternoon because of adding
additional contacts that received the survey link later. Reminders to complete the survey were
sent on Friday morning. Out of approximately 62 – 70 respondents mailed, 25 responded and
completed the survey online as of Wednesday, June 20, 2012. A while later, an additional 10
respondents were given the survey in paper form, the results were updated on Friday, July 13
2012 by manually entering their responses, totaling 35 respondents total. See attached
documents for copy of survey questionnaire.
Overall Responses
If there is an increase in local food production in
Kane County, which of the following OUTCOMES
are most important to you? Please select 3.
Build stronger communities and civil society 2
Retain local dollars 14
Make local food more accessible to lower-income … 7
Improve public health (for example, change in … 13
Improve quality of life in Kane County 6
Create jobs 11
Stimulate local businesses 17
Reduce carbon emissions 1
Conserve land and water resources 8
Reduce energy consumption 3
Better connect rural and urban populations in … 9
Make local food more accessible to all KC residents 14
Other (please describe) 0

2. What do you think are the key BARRIERS to
expanding the local food system in Kane County?
Please choose 3.
Other (please describe) 2
Cost of energy too high 3
Local markets not strong enough 6
Not enough research and development 0
Need for better stewardship of resources 1
Land not sufficiently accessible to local… 7
Inadequate soils for growing local food 2
Social networks not strong enough 3
Not enough businesses supporting local food 10
Lack of ability to extend growing season 6
Resources for skills / education / training… 6
Public not concerned enough about diet and … 11
Public policies not supportive of local food 12
Facilities for value-added processing not… 2
Financing not available for start-ups 10
Consumers uneducated about the benefits of … 17
Food distribution/storage infrastructure not… 7
0 5 10 15 20

3. Other (please Are you a...
describe), 3
Health Advisory
Committee, 0
Kane County Food Producer, 9
Farmland Protection
Board Member, 3
Municipal Farmers Market
Government or Manager, 2
School District, 7
Participant in Kane
County Farmland
Protection Program,
1
Community Group,
10
**Other Responses: “Farmer”, “Farm Bureau Board Member” were merged to respective
categories for following charts

4. Farmer and Food Producer Responses (9 Responses)
Q1: If there is an increase in local food production in Kane
County, which of the following outcomes are most important to
you? Please select 3.
Other (please describe) 0
Make local food more accessible to all KC residents 3
Better connect rural and urban populations in … 4
Reduce energy consumption 1
Conserve land and water resources 5
Reduce carbon emissions 0
Stimulate local businesses 7
Create jobs 4
Improve quality of life in Kane County 0
Improve public health (for example, change in … 0
Make local food more accessible to lower-income … 1
Retain local dollars 5
Build stronger communities and civil society 0
0 5 10
Q2: What do you think are the key barriers to expanding the
local food system in Kane County? Please choose 3.
Other (please describe) 1
Cost of energy too high 1
Local markets not strong enough 2
Not enough research and development 0
Need for better stewardship of resources 0
Land not sufficiently accessible to local growers 4
Inadequate soils for growing local food 0
Social networks not strong enough 1
Not enough businesses supporting local food 0
Lack of ability to extend growing season 2
Resources for skills / education / training lacking 0
Public not concerned enough about diet and health 1
Public policies not supportive of local food 4
Facilities for value-added processing not adequate 1
Financing not available for start-ups 5
Consumers uneducated about the benefits of local … 4
Food distribution/storage infrastructure not adequate 4
0 3 6
Question 2: Other Responses: “Cannot make a profit”

5. Farmers’ Market Manager Responses (2 Responses)
If there is an increase in local food production in Kane County, which
of the following outcomes are most important to you? Please select
3.
Other (please describe) 0
Make local food more accessible to all KC residents 2
Better connect rural and urban populations in… 0
Reduce energy consumption 0
Conserve land and water resources 0
Reduce carbon emissions 0
Stimulate local businesses 0
Create jobs 0
Improve quality of life in Kane County 1
Improve public health (for example, change in obesity, … 0
Make local food more accessible to lower-income… 1
Retain local dollars 2
Build stronger communities and civil society 0
0 1 1 2 2 3
What do you think are the key barriers to expanding the local food
system in Kane County? Please choose 3.
Other (please describe) 0
Cost of energy too high 0
Local markets not strong enough 1
Not enough research and development 0
Need for better stewardship of resources 0
Land not sufficiently accessible to local growers 0
Inadequate soils for growing local food 0
Social networks not strong enough 0
Not enough businesses supporting local food 1
Lack of ability to extend growing season 0
Resources for skills / education / training lacking 0
Public not concerned enough about diet and health 1
Public policies not supportive of local food 1
Facilities for value-added processing not adequate 0
Financing not available for start-ups 0
Consumers uneducated about the benefits of local food 2
Food distribution/storage infrastructure not adequate 0
0 1 1 2 2 3

6. Municipal Government or School District (7 Responses)
Q1: If there is an increase in local food production in Kane
County, which of the following outcomes are most important to
you? Please select 3.
Other (please describe) 0
Make local food more accessible to all KC residents 2
Better connect rural and urban populations in … 1
Reduce energy consumption 0
Conserve land and water resources 1
Reduce carbon emissions 0
Stimulate local businesses 3
Create jobs 4
Improve quality of life in Kane County 2
Improve public health (for example, change in… 4
Make local food more accessible to lower-income… 1
Retain local dollars 3
Build stronger communities and civil society 0
0 2 4 6
What do you think are the key barriers to expanding the local
food system in Kane County? Please choose 3.
Other (please describe) 1
Cost of energy too high 0
Local markets not strong enough 0
Not enough research and development 0
Need for better stewardship of resources 0
Land not sufficiently accessible to local growers 2
Inadequate soils for growing local food 0
Social networks not strong enough 1
Not enough businesses supporting local food 2
Lack of ability to extend growing season 2
Resources for skills / education / training lacking 1
Public not concerned enough about diet and health 4
Public policies not supportive of local food 2
Facilities for value-added processing not adequate 1
Financing not available for start-ups 1
Consumers uneducated about the benefits of local food 3
Food distribution/storage infrastructure not adequate 1
0 2 4 6

7. Farm Bureau Board Members (5 Responses)
If there is an increase in local food production in Kane
County, which of the following outcomes are most
important to you? Please select 3.
Other (please describe) 0
Make local food more accessible to all KC… 3
Better connect rural and urban populations in… 2
Reduce energy consumption 0
Conserve land and water resources 0
Reduce carbon emissions 0
Stimulate local businesses 3
Create jobs 1
Improve quality of life in Kane County 2
Improve public health (for example, change in… 2
Make local food more accessible to lower-… 1
Retain local dollars 1
Build stronger communities and civil society 0
0 1 2 3 4
What do you think are the key barriers to expanding the
local food system in Kane County? Please choose 3.
Other (please describe) 0
Cost of energy too high 1
Local markets not strong enough 1
Not enough research and development 0
Need for better stewardship of resources 0
Land not sufficiently accessible to local growers 0
Inadequate soils for growing local food 1
Social networks not strong enough 0
Not enough businesses supporting local food 2
Lack of ability to extend growing season 1
Resources for skills / education / training lacking 2
Public not concerned enough about diet and … 2
Public policies not supportive of local food 2
Facilities for value-added processing not… 0
Financing not available for start-ups 1
Consumers uneducated about the benefits of … 1
Food distribution/storage infrastructure not… 1
0 1 2 3

8. Participant in Kane County Farmland Protection Program (1
Response)
Q1: Desired Outcomes:
Make Local Food More Accessible to All KC Residents
Stimulate local businesses
Retain local dollars
Q2: Barriers:
Not Enough Businesses Supporting Local Food
Lack of Ability to Extend Growing Season
Consumers uneducated about the benefits of local food
Community Group (1 response)
If there is an increase in local food production in
Kane County, which of the following outcomes
are most important to you? Please select 3.
Other (please describe) 0
Make local food more accessible to all KC residents 3
Better connect rural and urban populations in… 2
Reduce energy consumption 2
Conserve land and water resources 2
Reduce carbon emissions 1
Stimulate local businesses 3
Create jobs 2
Improve quality of life in Kane County 1
Improve public health (for example, change in… 7
Make local food more accessible to lower-income… 3
Retain local dollars 2
Build stronger communities and civil society 2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9. What do you think are the key barriers to
expanding the local food system in Kane County?
Please choose 3.
Other (please describe) 0
Cost of energy too high 1
Local markets not strong enough 2
Not enough research and development 0
Need for better stewardship of resources 1
Land not sufficiently accessible to local growers 1
Inadequate soils for growing local food 1
Social networks not strong enough 1
Not enough businesses supporting local food 4
Lack of ability to extend growing season 0
Resources for skills / education / training lacking 3
Public not concerned enough about diet and health 3
Public policies not supportive of local food 3
Facilities for value-added processing not adequate 0
Financing not available for start-ups 3
Consumers uneducated about the benefits of local… 6
Food distribution/storage infrastructure not adequate 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Health Advisory Committee (0 Responses)

10. Overall Priorities (based on Q1: Desired Outcomes)**
Economic
Development
36
Equity 32 40Health
18
Environment
**Note: Some answer choices correspond to multiple indicators, for example, “Make local food
more accessible to KC Residents” is both a Health and Equity indicator, therefore choosing this
one gives “points” to both categories. Each respondent was allowed three choices as well. The
following charts break down each priority by indicators

11. Priorities by Indicator
Economic Development Health
Build
Make local
stronger food more
communitie accessible to
s and civil… lower-…
Improve
7
Make local Improve
quality of 2 food more 14 public health
6 11 Create jobs accessible to
13 (for
life in Kane
County all KC… example,…
6
17
Stimulate Improve
local quality of
life in Kane
businesses
County
Equity Environment
Build stronger
communities Improve
and civil quality of
society life in Kane
County
Make local Make local 6
food more
2 food more
14 Reduce
accessible to 7 accessible to
energy
Reduce
all KC lower-income 3 1 carbon
consumpti
residents residents emissions
on
9
Better 8
connect rural Conserve
and urban land and
populations in water
county/region resources