Columbus County Community Farmers Market Participates in Two National Contests
Your Favorite Farmers Market
Columbus County Community Farmers Market has entered into a national contest for farmers markets being held by American Farmland Trust.
Farmers markets represent one of the great ways that food consumers can support their local farmers, farmland, communities, and regional economy. This summer, American Farmland Trust’s contest for America’s Favorite Farmers Markets, is a way for market customers to voice their support and take pride in their community. Customers across the nation will vote for their market on-line. One large, medium, and small farmers market will win the title of America’s Favorite Farmers Market in 2009, and the winning markets will each receive a free No Farms No Food® tote bag giveaway for their customers.
By partnering with farmers markets, American Farmland Trust is encouraging consumers to consider the importance of farmland and to support local farmers. Put succinctly, there is no local food without local farmland. Market shoppers can cast their vote in support of their region’s farmers, community, and market. American Farmland Trust—along with many local and state governments, and non-profit groups, is working to make “growing local” a reality for farmers, ranchers and consumers. Healthy Farms, Healthy Food, and Healthy Communities: It’s what America needs!
Find out more about American Farmland Trust’s Growing Local Campaign, visit www.farmland.org/local.
Love Your Farmers Market
Care2 and LocalHarvest are committed to ensuring that every farmers market, no matter how small, has an opportunity to win a much-needed prize. In addition to the grand prize of $5,000, Care2 is sponsoring a weekly prize of $250 for a participating market chosen at random (not based on votes) for the duration of the contest. Care2 will also award a total of $7,000 to the four runners-up in the contest. In total, Care2 will give away over $15,000 in cash to farmers markets across the country.
During Care2 and LocalHarvest's “Love Your Farmers Market” contest, people can vote for their favorite farmers market to help them win. Voting is free and everyone can help with the click of a mouse. Through the contest website people also can invite their friends to vote for their favorite market. Visitors can track who has recruited the most friends to vote for their favorite market. The top 10 people who recruit the most friends to vote will each receive a $50 prize and a free Care2 organic cotton tote bag that they can use at their farmers market.
From Friday, June 19th to Thursday, September 17th, individuals across the country will be able to visit http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket to vote and show their farmers market some love.
To cast your vote, click on the "Vote Today" below . . .
REGULAR HOURS OF OPERATION Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday from 7:00 AM until 12:00 Noon May through December
Visit our Photo Album page to see Photos of our 2009 Opening Day Ceremonies
Columbus County Farmers Market to Accept EBT, Credit & Debit Cards
Columbus County Community Farmers Market is pleased to announce, starting May 9, the Market will accept state issued Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, the electronic delivery method for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) also known locally as the Food Stamp Program and in North Carolina as Food and Nutrition Services.
SNAP is a federally funded program which delivers monthly benefits to 28 million Americans nationwide. Approximately 57,000 people received benefits in December, 2008 within the four counties served by the Farmers Market - Columbus, Bladen, Brunswick and Robeson. “This program is huge for area recipients, our participating farmers and the Farmers Market overall,” said Irvin W. Brown, President of the Columbus County Farmers Market, “increasing access to fresh produce, further encouraging the consumption of healthy foods and increasing good nutrition is a win-win for everyone.” “Our local Farmers Market is a destination where people of all economic levels are welcome to share in a common interest in food and community. We are very excited to further extend access to those participating in these valuable public nutrition programs,” said Linda Fry, Director of the Columbus County Department of Social Services, which administers the Food and Nutrition Services program locally. Subscribers can swipe their card at the Farmers Market information booth for their desired dollar amount and in exchange, receive that amount in EBT tokens.These tokens will be issued in $1 increments for use with participating vendors throughout the farmers market.Visa and MasterCard credit and debit card transactions will receive tokens in $5 increments. The information booth will be accessible during Farmers Market hours on Saturdays from 7:00 am – 12:00 pm, and tokens may be used anytime the Market is open.Normal hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 7:00 am until 12:00 noon.
With the Farmers Market’s participation in the SNAP/EBT/FNS Program, FNS recipients can increase their access to locally grown and locally produced food items.Eligible items include fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, baked goods, jams and jellies and honey. The purchase of vegetable plants and potted herbs is also acceptable. For information on applying for food stamp benefits, call (910) 642-2800.
Welcome to the Columbus County Community Farmers Market - since 1998, one of the finest local markets in the area. The market features only farmer-grown, farmer-sold products. Member's farms are visited periodically to assure that all items sold are locally grown by the seller and are of the highest quality.
We take great pride in selling at and operating the Columbus County Community Farmers Market! We hope you will visit us soon!
If you have any questions, please ask any of our vendors, or call L. H. or Carol Shuman at (910) 642-3789.
E-mail Updates
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