2025 Market Schedule

About

The Food Works Mobile Farmers Market mission is two-fold: to connect communities across Southern Illinois with locally grown, seasonal food, and to support our region's hard-working local farmers! Our traveling market brings food from over 25 farmers and producers in our area to customers in locations where fresh foods might not be plentiful.

Our 2025 season spans June-October, with 9 weekly market stops in Jackson, Williamson and Union counties. In addition to our regular market locations, we have special events planned throughout the season, including food giveaways and elementary school visits! Follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter to find out when our traveling farmers market will make its way to your community!

When the mobile market vehicle arrives at each location, the side of the vehicle opens up to create an inviting display area where customers can walk up and shop. This specially designed 16-foot box truck is equipped with a refrigeration system so we can offer patrons a well-rounded selection of locally grown, farmed, baked and produced items, promoting equitable access and individual choice to food.

SNAP / Link Match

Did you know that you can DOUBLE the amount of your EBT benefits with our Link Match program? Thanks to the Illinois’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), for every $1 you spend at the mobile market with your Link Card, you'll get $1 in Link Match coupons to be used on fresh fruits and veggies. That means you can get up to an additional $25/swipe in FREE produce, with unlimited swipes, on every transaction!

Know Your Farmer

The Food Works Mobile Farmers Market sells seasonal produce, grass-fed meat, dairy, eggs, and small-batch goods on behalf of over 25 farms in southern Illinois. Everything we offer is hyper-local and sourced from within 100 miles of our home base in Carbondale, IL.

Meet the Mobile Market Team

Ellen ~ Market Manager

Hi! I'm Ellen and I was born and raised in southern Illinois, the 5th generation of my family's farm, Lipe Orchards.

I want everyone to know that we are working to make local, fresh produce as affordable and accessible as possible. I'm excited about our take-home meal kits complete with recipes (think hello fresh, but the southern Illinois version!).

If I were a vegetable, I would be asparagus! I grew up helping my Grandma cut asparagus from her garden and have always treasured its short season.

Sam ~ Assistant Manager

Howdy! I'm Sam and I hail from the east coast. I got my first taste of farm life in 2017 while WWOOFing on a cacao farm in Hawaii. It was one of those life-changing experiences, altering the course of my career trajectory.

I want folks to know that everything we offer on the truck is sourced locally from an amazing and passionate group of farmers and producers. Most of the fruits and veggies have been hand-picked within a day or two of market, so you can't get fresher than that!

My spirit veggie is a radish! Cute, colorful, and a bit spicy :)

Charlotte ~ Market Assistant

My name is Charlotte, I am graduating from SIU with a Geography and Environmental Resources major, with a background in Environmental Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies! I love working outside, my cats, and talking to people! I am really excited to be working with MFM and representing the Southern Illinois community.

Morgan ~ Market Assistant

Hi, I’m Morgan! I am passionate about food accessibility and the southern Illinois region, having grown up here my whole life I know there are a lot of places inaccessible to buying good-quality fresh food. I am from Equality, Illinois, now living in Carbondale after graduating from SIU in 2024. I received my undergraduate degree in Geography and Environmental Resources. In addition to Food Works I work at two other amazing places, BeetRoot Farm and The Thrift Shop.

Portia ~ Market Intern

Hi, I'm Portia! I am a Graduate Student at SIU studying Geography and Environmental Resources. I am originally from Pueblo, Colorado but moved to Illinois for my undergraduate studies at Augustana College in Rock Island Illinois. I have broad interests and passions about biodiversity restoration, political ecology, and food and water insecurity. This is my first year in Southern Illinois, and I am so excited to explore all of the amazing trails, lakes, markets, and wineries that are in this area! I am excited to work with the Food Works Mobile Farmers Market and work with this amazing team and local communities of Southern Illinois!

Connect with us!

Are you interested in hosting the truck for a pop-up event or sponsoring it for a food giveaway? Click the request button below.

Hosting/Sponsoring Request

Market News

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Food Works Mobile Farmers Market