Link Up Illinois Building Statewide Infrastructure

When the 61st Street Farmers Market introduced ‘Link Match’ in 2009–which matches Illinois Link (SNAP) purchases to increase access to affordable fresh produce–Experimental Station had not envisioned that it would be replicated across Illinois. Experimental Station also did not envision that by 2022, our Link Up Illinois program would successfully expand across the state to over 100 farmers markets and food co-ops. The past year has marked a turning point in building statewide infrastructure for the program.

Low-income populations are at significantly greater risk of negative health outcomes, a disparity deepened by the pandemic. Federal, state, and city governments recognized this and invested in Link Up Illinois to improve food security among those living in poverty. With major increases in funding, the program has been able to expand its staff and create regional ‘hubs.’ These hubs provide outreach and Link Match support to small, limited-capacity farmers markets operating in their region. The hubs are critical in bringing Link Match to all corners of the state.

Experimental Station has partnered with Food Works in Carbondale to create a hub in Southern Illinois and with The Land Connection in Champaign/Urbana to create a Central Hub. This year, Link Up Illinois has expanded Link Match to eight new low-capacity farmers markets, with more in the pipeline. 

Libby Ervin of Food Works confirms, “The creation of the Southern IL Link Hub [...] is a benefit for customers, farmers, markets and the community. Many farmers markets are run by volunteers without the time or financial resources to handle the administrative, record keeping, and reporting requirements of a grant. We support them in whatever ways needed.”

With the added support of the Illinois Farmers Market Association, Link Up Illinois has also been able to offer training and outreach to markets across the state.

Thanks to increased funding and expanded outreach, Link Up Illinois has seen record numbers of SNAP/Link recipients shopping at Illinois farmers markets. Link Up Illinois will continue to build our statewide infrastructure to provide affordable access to healthy foods to Illinoisans in all parts of the state. The program will drive SNAP and Link Match dollars into the pockets of our local farmers, stimulate local economies, and increase local production of food. It is a tall order, but we are up to it!