Veronica Garcia-Martinez

Environment / Energy

First, I will strengthen local market access and food security, because reducing dependence on volatile export markets makes our farms more resilient. Illinois’ small and family-owned farms are the heart of our economy. They feed our communities, strengthen our tax base, and employ thousands of hardworking Illinoisans, including immigrant and mixed-status families who keep our food system moving. As your state representative, I will fight to protect these farms from rising costs, unfair tariffs, and corporate consolidation. That means creating cost-share programs to lower expenses, expanding “Buy Illinois” initiatives to prioritize local food in schools and hospitals, and ensuring fair pay and dignity for every farmworker. When we invest in our small farms, we invest in our people, our food security, and the future of Illinois. Learn more