Visit the Park Forest Farmers Market. Now accepting Link. (Photo: Enewspf.com)
Park Forest the sole municipally-run farmers’ market in the southern suburbs to accept Illinois Link
Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The Village of Park Forest is not only keeping up with the technological times but also the economic times.
Close to a year after implementing a comprehensive sustainability plan, Park Forest unveiled a new electronic payment service June 1 for the 40th season of the town’s farmers’ market. As part of the electronic upgrade, which will allow for debit and credit card purchases, the market will now also accept Illinois Link cards, making it the sole municipally-run farmers’ market in Chicago’s southern suburbs to do so.
“We understand that although the economy does appear to be showing signs of improvement, many folks are still without jobs,” Sarah Coulter, the village’s sustainability coordinator, explained. “Many are also without transportation. So it can be a hardship to get to the closest grocery store nearly a mile and a half away in another town. To be able to accept Link, by offering electronic payment to make the shopping experience easier at our farmers’ market, we’re providing greater access to quality foods right here at home. That’s a huge win in creating a healthier community and overall sustainability,” Coulter continued.
The wireless card swiping device – known as an electronic benefits transfer or EBT machine – was provided through the Illinois EBT Wireless Project grant funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grant aims to boost the sale of Illinois-grown food and provide access to fresh produce to low-income residents by enabling farmers’ markets to accept Illinois Link cards. Previously, EBT machines required an electrical outlet and needed to be connected to a phone line to run transactions. Rural and community markets were limited in their ability to offer electronic payment services as a result.
Jenise Ervin, the Park Forest farmers’ market manager and director of public health for the Park Forest Health Department, agrees that electronic payment will have several positive impacts for the market and community.
“A wireless EBT machine will introduce our local farmers to a whole new customer base. That will not only increase sales for our vendors, which they are very happy about, but will also improve the health of our community, which we all are very happy about,” Ervin said.
Park Forest’s sustainability push over the past year has also brought about several new community gardens in town, as well as newly installed bike lanes along Orchard Drive, the village’s longest and most well-traveled street.
Coulter says she is pleased with the progress.
“We’re very excited about all the things we’re doing to become more sustainable. Certainly, encouraging healthier lifestyles for residents by making some small changes to what we do as a town is a huge component of that.”
The Park Forest Farmers’ Market, located at 271 Lakewood Boulevard, is open every Saturday, May through October, from 7 a.m. to noon and offers a variety of produce, baked goods and products for the home. More information is available by calling the Park Forest Health Department at 708-748-1118 or by visiting www.pfhealth.net.
