Julien's Journal December 2016 (Volume 41, Number 12) | Page 44

FARMERS’ MARKET
WINTER
FARM FRESH FOR THE HOLIDAYS
FAST FACTS: Every Saturday, November
to April, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the
former Colts Center, 1101 Central Ave.,
Dubuque, IA (Corner of 11th and Central
St.; Closed Christmas and New Year’s Eve
in 2016).

E

very Saturday morning at the
break of dawn, a dedicated band
of volunteers meets at the Colts
Building to set up tables and rearrange chairs for the Dubuque Winter
Farmers’ Market. Vendors roll up and
unload their wares.
Fresh eggs and sausage sizzle on the
griddle, and the smell of locally roasted,
fr esh-brewed coffee greets the first visitors. Since 2007, the Dubuque Winter
Farmers’ Market has made year-round
farmers’ market shopping possible.
The Dubuque Winter Farmers’ Market is
a place where people can come to meet
their farmers, but it’s also a place to meet
neighbors, make new acquaintances, and
reconnect with old friends. It’s filled with
healthy, locally-grown foods, fresh-baked
goods, and hot breakfast items. You’ll always find friendly farmers and welcoming
smiles.
Cash is preferred for payments. Some
vendors, but not all, accept checks, EBT, or
debit cards. Gift certificates are available
for purchase in $5 increments either at the
Winter Market or at any branch of Premier
Bank. A market recycling program is also
offered for glass jars, plastic clam shells,
egg cartons, and plastic bags for re-use at
the market.
Parking is available in the lot along Central Ave. and street parking is available
on Iowa St., Central Ave., as well as other
downtown streets.
Dubuque Winter Farmers’ Market is
funded solely on vendor table fees. In a
transition year as the City’s Multicultural
Family Center prepares to take over the
Colts Building, the Winter Farmers’ Market
thanks the City and the Colts for their partnership allowing the use of the facilities.
42  ❖  Julien’s Journal

They would also like to thank Sustainable
Dubuque for their support as they transition to a new building for the 2017-18
year. Four Mounds Foundation provides
program and administrative support.
Premier Bank donates printing costs and
Premier joins Theisen’s Home Farm Auto
supporting the Vendor Grant Program.
Potential vendors are invited to contact
Paula Connors, vendor coordinator Winter Farmers’ Market, for information and
space availability.
Support the Farmers’ Market and make a
difference in the local economy and food
quality. Check out the weekly surprises
and enjoy the local venue and community.
Come and experience a new variety of
vendors, which changes on a weekly basis
with new vendors added all season.
For a full list of vendors, visit www.JuliensJournal.com.
Impacts of the Double Up Food Bucks
(DUFB) Program
Iowa ranks dead last among the 50 states
in consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Obesity is now characteristic of over 29%
of Dubuque County Residents, with diet-

related illnesses having a disproportionate
effect on low-income households.
Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB), a healthy
food incentives program, was launched
at Dubuque Farmers’ Market, along with
five other markets across the state, in July
2016. DUFB provided SNAP recipients
with opportunities to match each SNAP
dollar, matching up to $10, with an additional dollar for fresh fruits and vegetables
to spend at market.
Dubuque Main Street reports from July to
October 2016, over 400 SNAP participants
visited the Dubuque Farmers’ Market for
the first time, collectively taking home
more than $11,000 worth of fresh, local
food, up from $4,600 in SNAP sales at the
market in 2015.
Vendors participating in the program
report an increase of income for the 2016
market.
The joint project of Dubuque Main Street,
Dubuque County ISU Extension & Outreach, and a host of community partners
engaged in the Dubuque Eats Well Local
Food Working Group, including funding
from the World Food Prize. The pilot pro-