Beginning in July, 2007 we began to accept food stamps and credit cards electronically at the market. This marked the first farmers market in Illinois to accept the Illinois LINK card for the purchase of locally-grown produce and meat.
How it works at the market:
1. Customer chooses items at vendor's tent and is given a slip of paper to take to a central payment area (Chamber of Commerce tent) with the vendor's name and order total.
2. At the Chamber of Commerce tent, the customer presents the slip and makes payment via a wireless credit card terminal. Three receipts are printed, one each for the customer, vendor and Chamber of Commerce.
3. Customer returns to vendor's tent and presents payment receipt in exchange for their food.
In the news
Read the press release.
Read the Chicago Sun-Times article: Market has fresh option for food-stamp recipients.