Published: May 30, 2008 08:48 pm      

Produce vouchers return

Staff Report

MT. VERNON — Area low-income families will again be able to receive vouchers which can be used to purchase produce at area farmer’s markets.

The vouchers are part of the 2008 Women Infant and Children and Senior Farmers Market programs. The Illinois Department of Human Services and the Department of Aging distribute the vouchers to selected county health departments for distribution. Money for the vouchers comes from a grant of $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Both the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs encourage low-income families and seniors to improve their diets while helping America’s family farmers increase their markets for locally-grown fruits and vegetables,” information from the governor’s office states. “The program served 74,000 women, infants and seniors in Illinois last year.”

Those vendors accepting the coupons this year will see an improvement in the farmer redemption process. Actual checks will now be issued to participants instead of batching coupons for delayed payment.

Booklets containing $15 in $3 checks for WIC participants will be issued between June and September while in the WIC office for services. Seniors can receive booklets worth $21 between July 1 and Oct. 31 at the Jefferson County Health Department.

Illinois WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs currently assist more than 300 farmers. There are 75 community farmers markets in 35 counties which earn revenue from the program. This year the state added eight additional counties to the program.

The currently funded nutrition program sites are: Jefferson County Health Department; Washington County Health Department; Marion County Health Department; Franklin-Will-iamson Bi-County Health Department; Adams County Health Department; Champ-aign County Public Health Department; Coles County Health Department; Comm-unity and Economic Development Association; Cook County Department of Public Health; DeKalb County Health Department; Edgar County Health Department; Jackson County Health Department, Kankakee County Health Department; McDonough County Health Department; Lake County Health Department, Macon County Health Department; Morgan County Health Dep-artment; Peoria City/County Health Department; Rock Island County Health Department; St. Clair County Health Department; Verm-illion County Health Dep-artment; and the Winnebago County Health Department.

The additional sites added this year are Boone County Health Department, DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department, Logan County Health Department, Marshall County Health Department, McHenry County Health Department, McLean County Health Department, Moultrie County Health Department, Pike County Health Department and Union County Health Department.