Meridian Health Plan of Illinois Partners with Farmers Markets to Combat Food Insecurity
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, a Centene (NYSE: CNC) company, has announced a partnership with farmers markets across central and southern Illinois to combat food insecurity in 2025. The initiative offers vouchers for fresh produce purchases, with Meridian members receiving $15 in vouchers and non-members receiving $10 per market visit.
The program includes a SNAP/Link benefit doubling feature, where $25 in SNAP benefits converts to $50 for fresh produce purchases. Building on their successful 2024 pilot at Carbondale, which distributed 540 vouchers worth over $3,750 to 321 attendees, the program will expand to multiple locations including Carbondale, Champaign, Murphysboro, Marion, Anna-Jonesboro, and East St. Louis between May and September 2025.
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, una società Centene (NYSE: CNC), ha annunciato una collaborazione con i mercati contadini del centro e sud dell'Illinois per combattere l'insicurezza alimentare nel 2025. L'iniziativa prevede voucher per l'acquisto di prodotti freschi, con i membri Meridian che ricevono voucher da 15$ e i non membri da 10$ per ogni visita al mercato.
Il programma include una funzione di raddoppio dei benefici SNAP/Link, dove 25$ di benefici SNAP si trasformano in 50$ per l'acquisto di prodotti freschi. Basandosi sul successo del progetto pilota del 2024 a Carbondale, che ha distribuito 540 voucher per un valore superiore a 3.750$ a 321 partecipanti, il programma si espanderà in diverse località tra cui Carbondale, Champaign, Murphysboro, Marion, Anna-Jonesboro e East St. Louis tra maggio e settembre 2025.
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, una compañía de Centene (NYSE: CNC), ha anunciado una asociación con mercados agrícolas en el centro y sur de Illinois para combatir la inseguridad alimentaria en 2025. La iniciativa ofrece vales para la compra de productos frescos, con los miembros de Meridian recibiendo vales por $15 y los no miembros por $10 en cada visita al mercado.
El programa incluye una función de duplicación de beneficios SNAP/Link, donde $25 en beneficios SNAP se convierten en $50 para la compra de productos frescos. Basándose en el exitoso piloto de 2024 en Carbondale, que distribuyó 540 vales por un valor superior a $3,750 a 321 asistentes, el programa se ampliará a varias ubicaciones, incluyendo Carbondale, Champaign, Murphysboro, Marion, Anna-Jonesboro y East St. Louis entre mayo y septiembre de 2025.
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Centene(NYSE: CNC)사의 자회사인 이 회사는 2025년 일리노이 중남부 지역의 농산물 직거래 시장과 협력하여 식량 불안 문제를 해결하기 위한 파트너십을 발표했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 신선한 농산물 구매를 위한 바우처를 제공하며, Meridian 회원은 15달러, 비회원은 시장 방문당 10달러의 바우처를 받습니다.
이 프로그램에는 SNAP/Link 혜택 두 배 기능이 포함되어 있어, SNAP 혜택 25달러가 신선한 농산물 구매 시 50달러로 전환됩니다. 2024년 Carbondale에서 성공적으로 진행된 파일럿 프로그램에서는 321명의 참가자에게 3,750달러 이상의 가치가 있는 540장의 바우처를 배포했으며, 2025년 5월부터 9월까지 Carbondale, Champaign, Murphysboro, Marion, Anna-Jonesboro, East St. Louis 등 여러 지역으로 확대될 예정입니다.
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, une société de Centene (NYSE : CNC), a annoncé un partenariat avec des marchés fermiers du centre et du sud de l'Illinois pour lutter contre l'insécurité alimentaire en 2025. L'initiative propose des bons d'achat pour des produits frais, avec les membres de Meridian recevant 15 $ en bons et les non-membres 10 $ par visite au marché.
Le programme inclut une fonctionnalité de doublement des avantages SNAP/Link, où 25 $ d'avantages SNAP se transforment en 50 $ pour l'achat de produits frais. S'appuyant sur le pilote réussi de 2024 à Carbondale, qui a distribué 540 bons d'une valeur de plus de 3 750 $ à 321 participants, le programme s'étendra à plusieurs sites, notamment Carbondale, Champaign, Murphysboro, Marion, Anna-Jonesboro et East St. Louis entre mai et septembre 2025.
Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, ein Unternehmen von Centene (NYSE: CNC), hat eine Partnerschaft mit Bauernmärkten in Zentral- und Süd-Illinois angekündigt, um im Jahr 2025 die Ernährungsunsicherheit zu bekämpfen. Die Initiative bietet Gutscheine für den Kauf von frischen Lebensmitteln an, wobei Meridian-Mitglieder Gutscheine im Wert von 15 $ und Nicht-Mitglieder Gutscheine im Wert von 10 $ pro Marktbesuch erhalten.
Das Programm beinhaltet eine Verdopplungsfunktion für SNAP/Link-Leistungen, bei der 25 $ SNAP-Leistungen in 50 $ für den Kauf von frischen Lebensmitteln umgewandelt werden. Aufbauend auf dem erfolgreichen Pilotprojekt 2024 in Carbondale, bei dem 540 Gutscheine im Wert von über 3.750 $ an 321 Teilnehmer verteilt wurden, wird das Programm auf mehrere Standorte ausgeweitet, darunter Carbondale, Champaign, Murphysboro, Marion, Anna-Jonesboro und East St. Louis, zwischen Mai und September 2025.
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Initiative to Increase Access to Fresh Produce in Central and
Through this initiative, Meridian will help increase access to fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables by offering vouchers individuals can use to purchase healthy food at the farmers markets along with health education materials. Meridian members who present their member ID card will receive
In addition, the participating farmers markets will double the value of SNAP/Link (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) purchases under the Link Match program, which means
The farmers markets participating in this program include:
- May 17, 2025 – Farmers Market of
Carbondale - June 17, 2025 – The Land Connection Champaign Farmers Market
- June 24, 2025 – Food Works Mobile Market –
Murphysboro - June 25, 2025 – Food Works Mobile Market – Marion
- June 26, 2025 – Food Works Mobile Market –
Anna -Jonesboro - July 31, 2025 – East St. Louis F.R.E.S.H. Farmers Market
- August 16, 2025 – Farmers Market of
Carbondale - August 28, 2025 – East St. Louis F.R.E.S.H. Farmers Market
- September 3, 2025 – Food Works Mobile Market – Marion
- September 18, 2025 – Food Works Mobile Market –
Anna -Jonesboro - September 23, 2025 – Food Works Mobile Market –
Murphysboro
Fighting Hunger, Fostering Health: Meridian at the Market Program
This program builds on the success of Meridian's previous involvement with the Farmers Market of
"Meridian is deeply committed to the health and well-being of our members and the communities we serve, and that starts with how we fuel our bodies," said Rutu Ezhuthachan, MD, Meridian Chief Medical Officer. "At Meridian we believe food is medicine. Providing our members with access to farmers markets with fresh fruits and vegetables will help our members to be healthy and happy. We recognize that access to nutritious food is a fundamental component of good health, and we are proud to partner with these local farmers markets to make fresh, affordable produce more accessible in areas where it is needed most."
Each participating farmers market will offer a unique experience for attendees and will support local farmers. Details on specific activities, such as recipe cards at the Mobile Market, food samples in
Meridian will conduct outreach to encourage its members and share details via its social channels and events page for the community to take advantage of this opportunity to access healthy food options.
For additional dates and locations including those to be announced soon visit ILmeridian.com/events.
About Meridian Health Plan of
Meridian Health Plan of
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FAQ
What benefits does Centene (CNC) offer through its Meridian farmers market program in Illinois?
How successful was Meridian's 2024 farmers market program in Carbondale?
Which cities are participating in Meridian's 2025 farmers market program?
How does Meridian's SNAP benefit matching work at participating farmers markets?
