Local Bounty excited about new hours
COSHOCTON – Fresh, locally grown and raised food is now available five days a week.
Local Bounty, Coshocton’s year-round farmers market located on State Route 83 next to Lake Park, kicked off 2016 by expanding its operation from three days a week to five.
“Words can’t explain how excited we are to be able to do this,” said Kristie Henderson, Local Bounty manager. “The first day we were overwhelmed with love. There were people that said they came in just because they knew it was the first day of our new hours and people that came because they hadn’t heard about us before but saw our announcement on Facebook. This is a huge step for Local Bounty.”
The new hours were made possible because of a two year $100,000 USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant that Local Bounty was awarded.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without that grant,” Henderson said. “It goes just for paying employees.”
Local Bounty previously relied on its vendors to volunteer to staff the store, but now Henderson will be paid for her services and applications are being taken until Jan. 23 for someone to work a part time, 30 hour a week position in the store. The goal is to have the open position filled by Feb. 1.
“I was paid some in the past, but I put in a lot of volunteer love hours,” Henderson said.
As a local chef, Henderson has shopped at Local Bounty since it opened and is looking forward to giving the public more opportunities to purchase fresh, healthy food and meet the vendors and farmers who supply it.
The public will be able to interact with the vendors through classes that are taught at Local Bounty and tastings that are held there.
The next tasting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 and features Katie Bakes and Pink Elephant Coffee. Cost is $5. RSVP by signing up in the store, by e-mail or on Facebook.
“We don’t want people to be afraid to try something so we offer them the chance to taste it and show them what to do with it,” Henderson said.
Local Bounty currently has a total of 37 vendors and those who volunteer their time taking care of the store or representing Local Bounty at community functions receive a higher percentage of the proceeds from their sales. Community members who have a love for local foods also are welcome to become Local Bounty volunteers.
“They could do things like help decorate, do maintenance outside or plant flowers,” Henderson said. “We’ll take a half hour to 10 minutes of their time.”
She also welcomes new vendors, but their product has to be Ohio made and to sell a craft item you have to have a food item too.
Henderson can’t thank everyone enough who assisted in making Local Bounty’s grant possible from its board members to David Baker who helped write it.
“What makes us so unique is that every single person here believes in what we believe,” she said. “We want to provide people with healthy good food that they know where it comes from. There are three quotes on the walls that pretty much sum us up – ‘Know your farmer, baker and crafter,’ ‘Shake the hand that feeds,’ and ‘Support your roots and good things will grow.’”
Local Bounty’s new hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday – Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. For more information on the store or becoming a vendor, visit their Facebook page, call 740-622-1400 or e-mail localbountycoshocton@gmail.com.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Business
