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.