By Brooke Parker
Staff Writer
Running out of cash at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market? No problem. The market, in full summer swing on Wednesday mornings and Saturday afternoons, now has an ATM located inside the information booth for market shoppers’ convenience.
The ATM won’t just provide a source of cash for market-goers, though – the $2.25 charge to use the machine will go directly back to the market, instead of to a bank or credit card company.
Market manager Sarah Blacklin anticipates that the fees will help finance special events and the market’s outreach program, but will mainly provide the market with more general funding.
“We have been looking up successful markets who have benefited from having an ATM,†said Blacklin.
After much research, the market decided to invest in the new machine, and now the main goal is to make sure users know the service fee is going right back to the farmers’ market.
The ATM opened two weeks ago and has been successful thus far, Blacklin said.
“It will take a little bit of time before we see some major income,†she added. “We’re still getting it up and running.â€
Since the market invested in an ATM, the Common Currency Program provided at the market, known as “truck bucks†will no longer offer debit and credit services, but will still offer services to EBT cardholders for the purchase of truck buck tokens to use at the market.
The ATM was purchased from Carolina ATM located in Raleigh.
“I am not entirely sure if the farmers have used it, but I know they love it,†Blacklin said. The vendors typically only take cash, and the ATM is not only making it more convenient for market-goers but also for the farmers to “continue to grow,†she said.