The Farmer’s Market vendors in Timmins can expect some new currency.

The Feed it Forward Program launched yesterday at the Downtown Urban Park Farmer’s Market and it encourages the use of Farm to Fork Dollars when consumers buy goods from weekly farmer’s markets in town.

The Farm to Fork vouchers are helping families who access food banks at the South Porcupine and Timmins Food Banks, to come to markets throughout the summer and have a choice of what fresh food to buy, and where.

“That’s really great,” Jennifer Vachon, Chair of the Farm to Fork committee says, “because then we have this influx of market dollars at the market from people from every type of demographic, background, wherever they’re coming from. There’s no stigma associated with accessing the market using Farm to Fork dollars.”

This is the program’s second summer, and the recommended way to give back while shopping local is for people to buy $15 worth of vouchers, with the consumer keeping $12 Farm to Fork dollars, and $3 going directly to the food banks. People can also donate cash directly to the Feeding it Forward campaign.

The program got off to a good start with a $5000 kick-start donation from Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines. Bryan Neeley, Sustainability Manager at Goldcorp Canada Ltd., says Goldcorp was excited to jump in and help with this campaign.

“Hopefully, with our infusion of investment here,” Neeley said, “we can find others in the community that will step forward and either match or at least step into the program itself.”

Neeley got the honor of ringing the market bell yesterday at 11 AM to get the Urban Park Farmer’s Market started.

Rena Keenan Buhler, Community Volunteer with the Farm to Fork Committee, says she and the committee are thrilled by the response this campaign has had in the community.

“[We’re] putting out an encouragement,” Keenan Buhler said, “to community members who want to support local farmers, want to support people on low income, trying to stretch their dollars and provide that element of dignity and choice when it comes to accessing fresh, healthy food.”

Keenan Buhler went on to say that local farmers depend on these markets and encouraging people to shop local is a win for everyone.

“It’s one of those win, win, win situations, where local farmers need that market. The downtown weekly market is a critical market, as is the Mountjoy Market.”

And [we] really encourage everyone to tag someone,” she added, “come on down to the market. Buy a bundle or just make a donation. […] I think that way we’ll be able to really grow this initiative and really build on the momentum that Goldcorp has initiated with their big donation.”

“It’s a social opportunity,” Keenan Buhler added, ” to access great local food that’s the healthiest and good for our economy. So its [a] win all around.”

You can buy Farm to Fork Dollars at the Downtown Urban Farmer’s Market every Thursday from 11 AM to 3 PM, or at the Downtown Timmins BIA during regular business hours.

You can check out the Downtown Timmins Urban Park Facebook page here.