Last week, we reported on State Rep. LaShawn Ford's (D-Chicago)
"high-outcome, low-income" proposal to make more Illinois farmers markets accessible to
consumers who pay with food stamps. Specifically, Ford's bill (HB 4756) would create a revolving fund used to purchase the requisite Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) equipment for individual markets. Since our initial report, the measure advanced out of committee and nearly
two dozen co-sponsors signed on. Turns out progress has been made on another front as well.
Come summer, the City of Chicago will provide an EBT machine for five Chicago-run farmers markets. Apparently, the
city plans to buy a single machine and shuttle it between the South Shore,
Hyde Park, Lincoln, Beverly, and Austin markets (each is held at a different date and time).
UPDATE (3/17): After originally posting this item, we were informed that the city has not yet approved the proposal to provide an EBT machine to several Chicago-run farmers markets -- let alone purchased the machine and selected the specific locations. Discussions over logistics and potential funding sources are reportedly ongoing. We apologize for the error.