One of the biggest criticisms of the local food movement is that its produce costs too much, putting it out of reach to those who may need it most.
With more Americans relying on food stamps (called LINK in Illinois) today than at any other time in our nation’s history, this is no small issue.
So the announcement today that Experimental Station (a non-profit in Woodlawn) will double up to $10 in LINK purchases at 10 City of Chicago-run farmers markets this summer is great news.
The initiatve is part of Experimental Station’s Link Up Illinois program, which has brought double value incentives to 17 Illinois farmers markets including these 10. The others are in markets across the state including Springfield (which saw a 500 percent increase in LINK sales the first day of the program) and, most recently Urbana.
Here’s a list of the 10 new participating markets as well as Experimental Station’s 61st Street Farmers Market, which offers up to $25 in matching credit for those who use LINK. For more, check out the list on the Experimental Station site. With local cherries, peaches and berries aplenty in the markets these days, this couldn’t have come at a better time.
TUESDAYS:
FEDERAL PLAZA 7a.m. – 3p.m.
Adams & Dearborn
LINCOLN SQUARE 7a.m. – 1p.m.
Lincoln/Leland/Western
WEDNESDAYS:
PULLMAN 7a.m. – 12p.m.
111th & Cottage Grove (Arcade Park)
SOUTH SHORE 7a.m. – 1p.m.
70th & Jeffery Blvd.
ShoreBank Parking Lot
THURSDAYS
DALEY PLAZA 7a.m. – 3p.m.
Washington & Dearborn
HYDE PARK 7a.m. – 1p.m.
53rd St. & Hyde Park Blvd.
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(Harold Washington Park)
SATURDAYS
BRIDGEPORT 7a.m. – 1p.m.
35th & Wallace
DIVISION STREET 7a.m. – 1p.m.
Division & Dearborn
61st STREET 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
61st Street and Blackstone
SUNDAYS
BEVERYLY 7a.m. – 1p.m.
95th & Longwood
WICKER PARK/BUCKTOWN 8p.m. – 2p.m.
Wicker Park & Damen