SPRINGFIELD - By 2020, one-fifth of all food purchased by the state for use in prisons and other facilities would have to come from Illinois under legislation signed into law Tuesday.

During a ceremony at the Illinois State Fair, Gov. Pat Quinn hailed the new law as a way to boost the economy during tough times.

"We need food. We need farms. We need jobs," Quinn said.

The law creates a task force that will work to ensure that 20 percent of food purchased by state agencies is grown or produced within the state borders.

Also by 2020, at least 10 percent of food purchased by school districts, publicly funded hospitals and other state contractors must come from Illinois sources.

The new law could result in higher costs. Under the plan, bidders offering Illinois-grown food will be favored over out-of-state providers even if their prices are higher by up to 10 percent.

"When people need to eat in Illinois, we'd like to have locally produced products wherever possible," Quinn said.

In the meantime, the Illinois Department of Agriculture must develop a way to identify and label Illinois-grown products.

Jim Braun, coordinator of the Illinois Local & Organic Food & Farm Task Force, said the law could pave the way to put more land into production for Illinois-grown crops.

In particular, Braun said vacant lots throughout Chicago could be used as growing plots.

"Each of these spaces could be growing food," said Braun, who helped craft the new law.

Quinn's signing of the legislation came on a day at the Illinois State Fair dedicated to agriculture.

Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, for example, awarded $2,500 scholarships to high school seniors who plan on studying agriculture-related subjects at the University of Illinois.

kurt.erickson@lee.net|789-0865