LINCOLN — A Central Illinois hospital is creating a “wellness destination” that features an indoor, producer-only farmers market with health and fitness activities all under one roof. The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital (ALMH) will celebrate the grand opening of its market May 21.
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Market opens May 21 and will use tokens. The new market celebrates the connection between farm food and good health. The indoor market at the hospital will feature producer-only vendors.
In Logan County, where 66 percent of the population is overweight or obese, ALMH is leading the way in a community health effort, working with local farmers and health experts, says Angela Stoltzenburg, the hospital’s marketing and community partnerships manger.
The health initiative was started to address the high rate of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the community.
“Our goal and mission is to improve the health of the community we serve,” Stoltzenburg said.
The ALMH Market will open in a renovated building at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Lincoln, which has a population of less than 15,000 people.
The vendor booths are corrugated metal with awnings, made to feel like an outdoor market but with protection on rainy days. It will be open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon through Oct. 29.
In addition to selling local produce, medical staff will be on hand to answer questions.
Local chefs will offer food prepared with local ingredients, and there will be activities for children. All is designed to illustrate the importance of healthy food as part of the healthcare system.
The ALMH Foundation spent $125,000 on the market to develop this formal connection between food and health, said Dave Bishop of PrairiErth Farms in Atlanta, one of the 14 vendors.
He describes the market as a “farmacy” where community members can pick up a “prescription” in the form of healthy foods and a fitness activity.
“One would expect that to happen first in a large urban area rather than a small town in the Midwest, but here it is,” Bishop said.
To make healthy food more accessible, the market accepts debit cards as well as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Link cards, with opportunities to make the dollars go farther in purchasing fresh produce.
“Ours is a premier farmers market. We aren’t just hosting the market — we are the market,” Stolzenburg said of the hospital’s effort.
“I haven’t been able to find an example of this kind of direct healthcare/food system connection anywhere else,” Bishop added.
Many hospitals have made efforts to source local/organic foods for their patients and cafeterias, and a few allow farmers to set up in their parking lots, but this goes beyond that in terms of making a direct connection with the community at large, he said.
The “Know Your Numbers” campaign will kick off opening day with a variety of free health screenings, Stoltzenburg said.
Blood pressure, lipid profiles and other tests will be included in May, and offerings with alternate monthly after that.
The free fitness programs in May include yoga, cardio and obstacle courses, she said. There are also walking trails around the fairgrounds.
The activities for children will vary each month, with the Power of Produce Club (POP) for children ages 5 to 12.
During the first week, they will build herb gardens, and in the future the market may have activities based on getting to know different vegetables.
Activities will change weekly, but the same producers will be there each week with seasonal produce. Each vendor must be an approved producer.
Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, retired Extension advisor and the market’s consultant, visited the farms to make sure the producers meet the market’s requirements.
“Our goal is to create a wellness destination. I think we have a tremendous offering,” Stoltzenburg said.
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