Columbus County Community Farmers Market

FARMERS MARKET ANNOUNCES POSTER & ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

2011 Farmers Market Annual Meeting:  Rabon Speaks, Partner & Volunteer of the Year Recognized

More than 70 farmers, vendors and local elected officials attended the Columbus County Community Farmers Market annual meeting on Friday, February 25, at Cooperative Extension Service in Whiteville.

Freshman North Carolina Senator Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick) was guest speaker.  Rabon, who touted his own agricultural roots in western Columbus County, mentioned that he received the prestigious American Farmer Degree from the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization during his first year at NC State college.  “That was something scarce in my day,” he said.

“As all of you know, agriculture is a $70 billion industry,” Rabon said, “Columbus County knows how to do agriculture and I believe agriculture will continue to thrive in Columbus County.”  Rabon also noted that many new food businesses coming to Columbus County are dependent upon local farm production to support their operations.

Rabon praised the Farmers Market for their many special events, like the Fun Run and Walk, that promotes local food, nutrition and physical fitness.  Saying that he is a “great collard cooker,” Rabon volunteered to come to the popular “Collard & Cornbread Day” event in the Fall to help cook collards for free sampling.

Market manager Carol Shuman announced that the volunteer of the year award has been named the “Shirley W. Brown Volunteer of the Year Award” in remembrance of Brown who died in August 2010.  Brown was a farmers market vendor and board member.  In addition, she volunteered hundreds of hours with Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at her church, through Extension and Community Association (ECA), and as a Master Gardener.  The 2010 award was presented to John Ball of Nakina.  Shuman commended Ball on his faithfulness to volunteerism and dedicated service to the Farmers Market.

Farmers Market vice president L. H. Shuman presented the “Partner of the Year Award” to the Columbus County Health Department.  The market partnered with the health department on several projects during 2010 including the county employee wellness day, the Women Infant & Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and the nutrition program integration project, which will be fully implemented in 2011.  Receiving the award on behalf of the health department were Kim Smith, director, Sarah Gray, health educator, and Lorraine Matthews, WIC coordinator.

Marketing consultant Kip Godwin announced that the Columbus County market is one of only seven farmers markets in North Carolina chosen to participate in a 2011 state level nutrition program integration project.  The project will promote increased access to fresh, local fruits and vegetables through the WIC and Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition programs and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly food stamps.

Godwin also announced that the market is scheduled to officially open on Saturday, May 14, although an early spring may mean that some farmer/vendors will have vegetables ready early.  He also said that the market will host another Boston butt sale on Saturday, April 23, from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m.  Advanced tickets are required and the cost is $20 each.  A Boston Butt sale held at Thanksgiving was tremendously successful and the market has been asked to do another at Easter time.  To purchase a ticket, please call (910) 840-6743.

Farmers Market Announces 2010 Poster Contest Winner
Xavier Benton, first grade student at Whiteville Primary School

WHITEVILLE – The Columbus County Community Farmers Market, with funding from the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation through Columbus County Healthy Carolinians, recently held its third annual poster contest for students in Kindergarten through fifth grade.

The theme for the contest was "Eat Smart, Be Healthy, Live Strong" and the posters are intended to highlight the importance of good nutrition, regular exercise, and healthy lifestyles and how farms, farmers, and the farmers market support and promote better health for the residents of Columbus County.

The overall winner, Xavier Benton, a first grade student at Whiteville Primary School received a certificate, a Farmers Market T-shirt, a $50 Farmers Market gift certificate, and the original copy of the 2010 Farmers Market promotional poster which features his drawing.

Since the first poster contest in 2008, the Columbus County Community Farmers Market Poster contest has received state and national recognition.  The event was featured on the Eat Smart, Move More NC website and in several issues of the Farmers’ Markets Today national magazine.

The Farmers Market expressed appreciation to Columbus County Arts Council, Columbus County Healthy Carolinians, Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Columbus County Schools, Whiteville City Schools, Columbus County Youth & Families Association, The DREAM Center, North Carolina Museum of Forestry, and The News Reporter for collaboration on the project.

FARMER’S MARKET RECEIVES TOBACCO TRUST FUND GRANT
$152,000 grant to help expand the Columbus County Community Farmers Market

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has announced that the Columbus County Community Farmers Market, Inc. is the recipient of a $152,000 grant to help expand the market.  The grant was for one of 24 projects funded across North Carolina totaling $5 million.  The grants ranged in size from $28,000 to $500,000 – the maximum grant amount for any one project.

“We are so excited about this grant and grateful to the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission for their support of our farmer’s market,” said Irvin W. Brown, President of the Columbus County Farmers Market.  “Our market continues to grow and expand to meet the needs of our community.  This grant will help us do even more to meet the needs of our patrons and vendors.”

Much of the funding will be used to construct an additional 600 sq. ft. facility on the current Farmers Market site to house a commercial honey extractor which was purchased in 2006 with grant funds from the Duke Endowment Program for the Rural Carolinas (PRC) Discover Columbus Project.  In addition, a 10’ x 10’ walk-in cooler will be installed on-site to accommodate short-term storage of fresh fruits and vegetables.  The existing farmer’s market structure was built in 2005 with a $125,000 grant from the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

“The Commission members spent a great deal of time reviewing the applicants and feel confident that the approved grants will truly benefit a large number of people and communities,” said William Upchurch, Executive Director of the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission.

The commission’s funding comes from monies paid by cigarette manufacturers as a result of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement.  The Tobacco Trust Fund Commission was established in 2000 by the N.C. General Assembly to help members of the tobacco community – including farmers, tobacco workers and related businesses – lessen the impact of declining tobacco production.  When the Commission was created, legislators recognized the strong role that agriculture, and tobacco in particular, have historically played in the state’s economy, as well as the impact the Master Settlement Agreement has had on the agricultural economy.  For a complete listing of the grant awards visit www.tobaccotrustfund.org.

The Columbus County Community Farmers Market was established in 1998 to provide quality, locally grown produce to the community and to provide an alternative income for area farmers.  The Market is open April through December on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:00 AM until 12:00 noon and is located at 132 Government Complex Road in Whiteville, near the Columbus County Department of Social Services.  Visit the Market online at www.columbuscountyfarmersmarket.com.

During 2008, the Columbus County Farmers Market has received more than $240,000 in grant funding including $70,000 from the Golden LEAF Foundation and $18,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farmers Market Promotion Program.  Kipling Godwin & Associates, Inc. provides the Farmers Market with grant writing, project management, public relations, and marketing services.

FARMERS MARKET RECEIVES USDA GRANT
$18,000 grant to help promote locally grown produce through the Farmer’s Market
October 30, 2008

U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre (NC-7) announced today that the Columbus County Community Farmers Market, Inc. is the recipient of one of 85 grants totaling $3,445,000 directed by the new farm bill to encourage the use of farmers markets.  In addition, some of the 2008 grant funds will be used to promote new electronic benefit transfers (EBT) to help low-income consumers buy locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.
 
"We are so pleased that the Columbus County Farmers Market is receiving these grant funds," said McIntyre. "The market does a great job promoting and providing locally grown, farm fresh produce.  These funds will help strengthen the connection between farmers and the community."
 
Irvin W. Brown, President of the Columbus County Farmers Market said, “We are excited to receive this grant that will help our farmers market to expand and grow and better serve our community.”
 
The $18,000 USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant, applied for and administered by Kipling Godwin & Associates, will be used for a variety of local marketing and promotional activities including to organize a community advisory/advocacy support committee to promote the Columbus County market; to develop a market research plan to increase the number of farmers/vendors and their income; to increase market participation – particularly among low-income and diverse community residents; to increase the use of the USDA Women, Infants & Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons; and to implement a comprehensive business plan and marketing campaign through the use of incentives based on research results.

Click here to read the entire Press Release regarding the USDA FMPP grant (PDF).  To view or print, you will need Adobe Reader.

Columbus County Farmers Market Receives Golden LEAF Grant

September 1, 2008

Kipling Godwin, Marketing Consultant for the Columbus County Community Farmers Market, announced today that the Farmers Market has received funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation for a project entitled, “Joint Initiative to Expand Agriculture Markets.”

The $70,000 grant is to provide start-up funding for a period of three years for a full-time marketing manager for three cooperating organizations in southeastern North Carolina – Columbus County Community Farmers Market, Columbus County Beekeepers Association, and Lumber River Regional Growers Association.  The work of the marketing manager should help increase local farm participation and increase their sales; expand marketing opportunities; improve collaboration among relevant organizations; increase public awareness of the markets; and grow each organization's membership.  Godwin said the marketing initiative will involve farms and farmers from Bladen and Columbus counties.

"Our local farmer's market has grown tremendously over the past ten years," said Irvin W. Brown, President of the Columbus County Farmers Market. "This grant will help us grow even more and expand our opportunities for more farmers and vendors from Columbus and surrounding counties as well as offer a greater variety of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables to the community."

The Columbus County Community Farmers Market was established in 1998 to provide quality, locally grown produce to the community and to provide an alternative income for area farmers.  The Market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:00 AM until 12:00 noon and is located at 132 Government Complex Road in Whiteville, near the Columbus County Department of Social Services.  For more information about the Farmers Market, visit www.columbuscountyfarmersmarket.com.

The Golden LEAF Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, was created in 1999 to receive one-half of the funds coming to North Carolina from the master settlement agreement with cigarette manufacturers.  In turn, the Foundation is helping North Carolinians make the transition from a tobacco dependent economy through grants that will positively affect the long-term economic advancement of the state and its people.  A complete listing of organizations receiving 2008 grant funding may be viewed at http://goldenleaf.org/awards2008.html.

WECT TV-6 meteorologist Craig Carnesi Speaks at 2008 Annual Meeting
January 18, 2008

More than 50 people attended the Columbus County Community Farmers Market's 2008 Annual Meeting on Friday, January 18.  WECT TV-6 meteorologist Craig Carnesi was the keynote speaker.

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Craig has more than 12 years of broadcast experience.  He joined the staff of WECT TV-6, the NBC affiliate in Wilmington, in 2006.  Carnesi spoke on the impact of weather and the ongoing drought conditions on agriculture and our life, in general, in southeastern North Carolina.

Everyone in attendance enjoyed a delicious meal.  Farmers Market vice president L. H. Shuman recognized Larry Nobles for his service on the Board of Directors.