The phrase “buy local” has been around for a few years and is becoming popular. One common statement is that a dollar spent at a locally owned business circulates an average of seven times and helps the local economy more than one spent online, out of town, or at a national chain. The Carbondale’s Winter Farmers Market will test this idea by passing out “Market Bucks” that will be accepted by all the vendors as the equivalent of one dollar. Vendors will also give the Bucks as change so that customers can spend them at another vendor. Each Market Buck will be marked to indicate that it passed through a vendor's hands and, at the end of the market day, when the vendors cash in the Bucks, there will be a record of how many times each Buck circulated in the market place.
Market Bucks will be sponsored by local organizations that share the mission of promoting access to healthy foods. Market Bucks will be valid for one day only, and only at the market. This week's Market Bucks are sponsored by the Jackson County Health Department.
Twenty different vendors are expected at this week's market, offering fresh local produce that is difficult to find in area stores: heirloom tomatoes, honey, and oyster mushrooms, along with seasonal favorites – hearty greens, root vegetables, and squashes. Customers can taste-test several varieties of pecans, sold by Cooley Farm. River-to-River Farm displays a half dozen different kinds of garlic. People thinking about Christmas presents will want to check out the jewelry, artisan soaps, and wood-crafts as well as canned goods provided by Leepy’s. A full list of the vendors and produce expected at the market can be found at carbondalewintermarket.
Interested people can find more information at carbondalewintermarket.
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