Peoria Standard

A unique approach to addressing food insecurity and community health on the south side of Peoria is returning in a new way this month.

Last year, Peoria was selected to participate in the "Local Foods, Local Places" program, an effort to improve access to healthy food and provide opportunities for local farmers. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program, a pilot farmers market was hosted for three weekends last November. The Southside Farmers Market will open again in August for eight weeks. 

The Southside Famers Market will run from Aug. 19 through Oct. 7. Martha Ross of Southside Community United for Change will oversee the market. 

“It will be every Wednesday for those eight weeks, from 2-6 p.m.,” Ross told WGLT. “We tried to stay away from the weekend because there are other markets going on and we want to complement them and offer our market to some of their constituents.”

Additional programs to address both food insecurity and public health are in the works. Plans are being made for a food hub and community resource center. Southside Community United for Change is partnering with Peoria City/County Health Department, Heartland Health Services, OSF Healthcare, and others to provide health screenings and help community members apply for social services.

The food hub will be run by Dwayne Harris of Intangible Mindz Agriculture Development. He said his role is to build relationships with farmers around the Peoria area and establish a hub where they are able to bring in hundreds of pounds of produce for wholesale. This will be especially helpful for restaurants, schools and other local businesses.

The end goal, according to Harris, is to set up a permanent food co-op on the south end of town. 

If interested in becoming a vendor at the Southside Farmers Market, contact Martha Ross at 309-453-2062. Information is available in English and Spanish.