COLLINSVILLE, Okla. — Families at Farm Hippie, a local indoor farmers market, stock their food on a rented shelf to sell to their neighbors. Their community shopping local is helping them keep food on the table.
Kerry Banzet is a Farm Hippie vendor, who started out as a customer before seeing how much the design helped families.
"You’re not only supporting the store Farm Hippie, you’re supporting every vendor in here that’s a family business," Banzet said. “It’s extra income, and right now there’s so much uncertainty out there.”
Farm Hippie Owner Ash Winfield says last month, the store had to undergo some changes, including switching to curbside pickup. But as traffic dwindled, the store closed down for two weeks. When it returned, the community came out in droves to help their local vendors.
"Even through the adversity and the challenge, we found the community was actually able to still support their own local community,” Winfield said.
The store is still offering curbside pickup, and also letting customers inside. Families like the Banzets are grateful for the immediate support they received.
"Every family here has their own struggles, and they’re able to provide for their families,” Banzet said.
The vendors are everyone from hobbyists to farmers, working and retired, but they are all thankful for their neighbors, who continue to shop local in these uncertain times. Their message is wherever you are, shopping local can help more than you may ever know.
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