Illinois farmer's markets expand LINK, debit card readers

More than 50 farmer's markets around the state will be able to use electronic readers.

Compiled by staff

Published: Jul 25, 2012

Thanks to a federal grant, the number of farmers’ markets in Illinois that accept Link, debit and credit cards could double, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, a local food advocate and chair of the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, announced today.

Simon said 41 farmers’ markets across Illinois each will receive $1,200 grants from the Illinois Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Wireless Project. Due to popular demand, additional applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The program will enable farmers’ markets to accept Illinois Link cards, which access federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, wirelessly for the first time. A total of 49 SNAP-certified farmers’ markets and direct-marketing farmers accepted Link cards in 2011, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, up from 15 in 2009. The wireless EBT project could bring the total to 99, or about one-third of farmers’ markets statewide, by this year’s end.

“We expect sales of local foods across Illinois, from urban gardens in Chicago to farms in Alexander County, to increase because of this program. Health benefits will follow,” Simon said. “As a state, we export more than 95 percent of our food dollars. Doubling the number of farmers’ markets accepting Link, debit and credit cards will keep more of those dollars in local communities, while improving the health of our citizens and underserved neighborhoods, at no new cost to state taxpayers.”

The wireless EBT project, funded by a grant from the USDA, aims to expand access to fresh produce for low-income residents and boost sales of local foods. The program will be administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Agriculture with support from the Lt. Governor’s office.

Illinois EBT Wireless Project Participants
Abundant Market – Tuscola Downtown Farmers Market (Tuscola)
Alton Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market (Alton)
Aurora Farmers Market East (Aurora)
Bartlett Farmers Market (Bartlett)
Bureau County Farmers Market (Princeton)
Carbondale Community Friday Night Fairs (Carbondale)
Central Park Farmers Market (Decatur)
City of Mendota Farmer’s Market (Mendota)
Clark County Farmers Market (Martinsville)
Clinton Area Farmers and Artisans Market (Clinton)
Deerfield Farmers Market (Deerfield)
DeKalb Farmers’ Market (DeKalb)
Discover Sycamore’s Farmers Market (Sycamore)
Elmwood Park Farmers Market (Elmwood Park)
F.R.E.S.H. Farmers Market (East St. Louis)
French Market (Villa Park)
George Washington Carver Farmers Market (Chicago)
Haymarket Square Park Farmers Market (Dixon)
Hinsdale Farmers Market (Hinsdale)
Hopkins Park/Pembroke Farmers’ Market (Pembroke Township)
Huntley Farmers Market (Huntley)
La Grange Farmers Market (La Grange)
Lincoln Square Thursday Evening Farmers Market (Chicago)
Lockport Farmer’s Market (Lockport)
Loyola Farmers Market (Chicago)
Main Street Farmers Market of Olney (Olney)
Morton Grove Farmers’ Market (Morton Grove)
Northbrook Farmers Market (Northbrook)
Old Capitol Farmers Market (Springfield)
Oswego Country Market (Oswego)
Palos Heights Farmers Market (Palos Heights)
Portage Park Farmers Market (Chicago)
Ravinia’s Farmers Market (Chicago)
Ridgeville Farmers’ Market (Evanston)
Seaway Bank Farmers Market (Chicago)
Shelbyville Farmers Market (Shelbyville)
Skokie’s Farmers Market (Skokie)
The Land of Goshen Community Market (Edwardsville)
Trinity United Church of Christ Farmers Market (Chicago)
Twin City Market (Sterling)
Uptown Farmers Market at Weiss Memorial Hospital (Chicago)

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