Gov. Blagojevich announces nine more counties to help low income families and seniors at farmers markets

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that an additional nine counties will participate in the 2008 Women Infant and Children's (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market programs.  Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D. and Department on Aging Director Charles D. Johnson said funding for the program comes from a grant of nearly $1 million from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The money is distributed in the form of coupons to eligible persons to buy produce at the farmers markets.  The expansion comes as rising food prices push families to look for affordable ways to purchase healthy foods and produce. 

 

Both the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs encourage low-income families and seniors to improve their diets while helping America's family farmers increase their markets for locally-grown fruits and vegetables.  The program served 74,000 women, infants and seniors in Illinois last year.

 

"The WIC and Senior Farmers Market programs not only provide a healthier source of produce for low-income families and seniors, they also improve business for local farmers and promote fresh, home-grown products," said Gov. Blagojevich.  "Everyone, regardless of their financial status, should have access to healthy, affordable foods." 

 

Those vendors accepting WIC and Senior Farmers Market coupons this year will see the benefits of an improved farmer redemption process.  Instead of batching coupons for delayed payment to farmers, actual checks are now being issued to participants.  Booklets containing $3 checks are being provided to WIC participants and seniors between July 1 and October 31 with seniors receiving booklets valued at $21 and WIC participants receiving booklets valued at $15.  WIC participants can receive the FM checks when they are in the WIC office receiving services during the months of June through September.  

 

Upon receiving these checks in exchange for produce, farmers will be able to deposit them for immediate payment.

 

Checks for WIC participants are distributed to participants during their regular WIC clinic visit while the checks for seniors are distributed at local senior citizens' centers through the cooperation of the Illinois Department on Aging Area agencies on Aging (AAA) and the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

 

The Illinois WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs currently assist more than 300 farmers.  Seventy-five community farmers markets in 35 counties will earn additional revenue through the program. 

 

"More than 60,000 women, children and seniors have been able to obtain locally grown produce on a regular basis, encouraging long-term consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables," said IDHS Secretary Adams.  "By supporting healthy eating, these programs have become important tools in fighting obesity and poor nutrition in Illinois."

 

Expanding the WIC and Senior Farmers Market program builds on Gov. Blagojevich's earlier efforts to help families obtain healthy and nutritious foods.  In March, 1.5 millions pounds of food was delivered to the Illinois Food Bank Association (IFBA) to feed 37,500 families in need.  Food banks are also buying fresh fruits and vegetables from area farmers markets as they come into season.

 

 

While the WIC Farmers Market Program was created by Congress in 1992, the U.S Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) was started as a pilot program in 2000 involving grants awarded to State agencies on a competitive basis. Illinois has been awarded these grants since 2000 and hopes to continue the trend now that SFMNP has become a permanent USDA program.

 

Eight farmers markets have been approved to accept the Link Card this year: Logan Square Farmers Market; 61st Street Farmers Market; Green City Farmers Market; Englewood Farmers Market; and Wood Street Farm Stand, Chicago, Old Town Market, Belleville and Galesburg Business Association Farmers Market, Galesburg, and Susie's Garden Patch, Garden Prairie.  Customers can use their Link cards to buy locally-grown produce.

 

For more information about these programs, please contact the Illinois Department of Human Services at 1-800-843-6154 (option 5) or you can write to the program unit at the following address:  WIC and Senior Farmer Market Programs, Illinois Department of Human Services

Bureau of Family Nutrition, 535 W. Jefferson, Springfield, Illinois  62702

 

 

 

New WIC/Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Counties:

 

Boone County Health Department

DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department 

Logan County Health Department

Marshall County Health Department 

McHenry County Health Department

McLean County Health Department

Moultrie County Health Department

Pike County Health Department

Union County Health Department

 

Currently funded WIC/Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Counties:

 

Adams County Health Department

Champaign County Public Health Department

Coles County Health Department

Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA)

Cook County Department of Public Health       

DeKalb County Health Department

Edgar County Health Department

Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department

Jackson County Health Department

Jefferson County Health Department

Kankakee County Health Department

Lake County Health Department

Macon County Health Department

Marion County Health Department

McDonough County Health Department

Morgan County Health Department

Peoria City/County Health Department

Perry County Health Department

Rock Island County Health Department

St. Clair County Health Department

Sangamon County Department of Public Health

Vermilion County Health Department

Washington County Health Department

Winnebago County Health Department