Illinois Farmers Market Association

 
October 27,  2014


Please support us in helping farmers markets get even better!!.
In this Issue!
  • New SNAP EBT brochure and videos
  • Statewide Food Safety Rules for Farmers Markets 
  • Listing of Winter Farmers Markets in Chicagoland 
     
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Have you updated your market listing on the IL Dept of Agriculture website?  

To register your market, contact Kendra

Schilling@illinois.gov

 

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO ADVERTISE YOUR MARKET FOR FREE!






















October 2014 IFMA E-Newsletter
Growing the Farmers Market Community in Illinois

New SNAP EBT Brochures and Videos


 
 

The Illinois Farmers Market Association (IFMA), along with the support of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, have been working to increase Link/SNAP access at farmers' markets to support local farmers and improve healthy food choices in low-income communities. 

 

IFMA has produced a Farmers Market brochure identifying farmers markets in the state that accept the Link card and two new videos to educate market managers on how to access equipment for their markets. 

 

If your farmers market does not already accept the SNAP/Link card, these helpful tools are a great resource for getting started. 

 

The brochure and the videos are available on the IFMA website CLICK HERE 


 

This website also includes a listing of 2014 Winter Farmers Markets in the Chicago land area.  Many of these markets accept the SNAP/Link card. 

Statewide Food Safety Rules Update 

HB 5657 (Public Act 098-0660)

 

  
 

This year the Illinois General Assembly passed and Governor Quinn signed into law  HB 5657, Smarter Rules for Farmers Markets. This bill made a number of reforms to address farmers market regulations and to support consistency, transparency and economic opportunity for farmers and markets.

 

The Governor-appointed Farmers Market Task Force has until December 15th to recommend Farmers Market rules to the Illinois Dept of Public Health.   Once the draft rules have been approved by IDPH,  they will still need to go to the Joint Committee on Adm Rules (JCAR) which is a Legislative Committee for final approval and public comments. 


Two webinars, sponsored by IFMA, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance and the University of Illinois Extension were presented on Monday, August 25: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. and Thursday, August 28: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.   

 

These webinars provided an opportunity for farmers market vendors and managers to learn about this new law and provide input to the Task Force about changes they would like to see happen.  We will send out more information about these rules as they are developed. 

 

The recording from the August 28, 7:00 p.m. webinar is available CLICK HERE

 

Materials from the webinar and other items of interest are available CLICK HERE

 

For more background about this new law, CLICK HERE

Winter Farmers Market Listing

 (picture by Faith in Place in Chicago)

 

We are very excited to see so many Farmers Markets providing customers with fresh local food this coming winter.

 

Roxanne Junge', Market Manager for the Glenview Farmers Market (and IFMA Board Member) has compiled a listing of the Chicagoland markets.  To view the list -

CLICK HERE
 

If you want your market to be included, please contact Roxanne at RMJunge@aol.com

 
Are you a member yet? 

 

With IFMA membership, you have access to great information through webinars, an online training manual and opportunities to network with peers at conferences/workshops designed to improve your business and farmers market.

 

Application available online at http://ilfarmersmarkets.org/membership-form/

  

Please join us as we grow the farmers market community in Illinois.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Please help us grow!
  • by visiting and sharing our website, newsletters, facebook and twitter with your friends, families and neighbors
  • by sharing your experiences or questions on the google list serve. 
 


Please send me any articles for future E-News!
thanks for all your support.

Pat Stieren, Executive Director, IFMA
ilfarmersmarkets@gmail.com
The Illinois Farmers Market Association (IFMA) is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt organization.  
Your membership is a direct investment in building a farmers market community in Illinois.    Every donation, whether $10 or $100, is helping farmers, families and communities have access to local, fresh, nutritious food.   
 
It takes the support of everyone - farmers, markets, organizations and customers to effectively provide a viable and sustainable farmers market community in Illinois. Any monetary donations to IFMA are tax-deductible as allowed by federal law. 
IL Farmers Market Association | 217-522-4274 | pstieren31@comcast.net | http://ilfarmersmarkets.org/
c/o Pat Stieren
2517 S. 5th St
Springfield, IL 62703

�2013 Illinois Farmers Market Association