The experimental station seeks to increase the affordability of locally grown fruits and vegetables for snap (illinois 'link') clients, by providing incentives for snap shoppers at the point of…

The experimental station seeks to increase the affordability of locally grown fruits and vegetables for snap (illinois 'link') clients, by providing incentives for snap shoppers at the point of purchase. Link up illinois, a program of experimental station established in 2011 in partnership with wholesome wave and the illinois farmers market association, aims to ensure that all illinoisans have affordable access to fresh fruits and vegetables, by providing funding, training and technical assistance to markets and other illinois venues to implement 'link match' incentive programs. To date, the link up illinois network includes more than 100 farmers markets, food cooperatives and direct-to-consumer venues statewide and has enabled thousands of snap shoppers to purchase over $1.9M of locally grown fruits and vegetables with link match incentives. In 2021 and 2022, link up illinois will enable approximately 125 illinois farmers markets, food CO-OPS, csas, grocery stores, and other direct-to-consumer venues to offer link match programs. While introducing nutrition incentives to additional non-chicago markets, link up illinois will partner with the midwest independent retailers association to expand link match to three chicago grocery stores, linking snap clients year-round with fresh fruits and vegetables, and will extend link match to csas, testing out a new incentive model. Having piloted a statewide universal link match currency in 2019, in partnership with CBS broadcasting, link up illinois will undertake a robust statewide promotional campaign, with targeted television, email, mobile phone and social media advertising. As a result, an estimated 25,000 low-income illinoisans will benefit from affordable access to the region's freshest and most nutritious fruits and vegetables.