The Carrboro Farmers' Market has grossed upward of $12,000 in credit, debit and EBT sales, rivaling electronic sales at NYC's Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket in Brooklyn.

For 32 years, the Carrboro market has provided fresh locally produced fruits and vegetables, flowers, crafts and baked goods - but only if you had cash on hand.

Starting May 1, the market launched a new program called Common Currency, allowing customers to use their credit, debit or EBT cards to make purchases.

The program was designed to encourage EBT customers to shop at the market, and also to provide greater convenience for credit and debit card users shopping the farmers' market.

It has been a hit.

Organizers are especially happy that so many people using EBT cards have taken advantage of the market's offerings. EBT cards are part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, for low-income individuals and families.

As part of the Common Currency program, the Carrboro market established a fund called Market Match, which doubled the spending power of customers' EBT cards. Market Match has dispensed more than $2,000, just about depleting its avalable funds.

"Our objective from day one was to encourage folks who haven't come before to know about our market's ability to accept EBT cards and for them to continue to come each week," said program coordinator Sabrina López . "It is wonderful to already see this happening six weeks into the program, and for me to already know many of our EBT customers on a first-name basis."

Children's consignment sale set

Save the planet and find great back-to-school bargains for your kids at the same time.

KidCycle, a seasonal children's consignment sale for Durham, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, seeks volunteers and consignors for the annual event, set for Aug. 13 and 15 at University Mall. Drop-off of items slated for consignment and reuse is Aug. 6-9.

Volunteers and consignors can register online at www.kidcyclenc.com.

To participate, gather all your kids' items, then register as a consignor. Consignors earn 7 percent of the sales price. Expect to receive a check for your sold items about three weeks after the sale closes.

You do not have to be present to sell. After the sale, you can choose to allow Kidcycle to donate your unsold items or the items can be picked up at the designated pick up time. Keep them tagged and bring them to our next sale if you like.

Shopping preview parties are given for both volunteers and consignors to have first choice before the public.

New chef oversees Bean & Barrel

The Bean & Barrel (50100 Governors Drive) has expanded its kitchen and entered into a new partnership with Executive Chef Sam Allen.

Allen, a professionally trained chef from the New England Culinary Institute, is an experienced chef with fine restaurants in New Orleans, Virginia and Vermont.

His recipe for excellence in cooking starts with fresh local ingredients. Allen prefers proven classic recipes, minimizing butters and creams without sacrificing taste.

The new fare from Chef Allen complements the Bean's existing offerings of fine coffee, beer, wine and cocktails.

Adam & Eve breast cancer fundraiser

Adam & Eve, a purveyor of adult products, auctioned off its company department heads during an in-house fundraiser for the Chapel Hill Breast Cancer Foundation (CHBCF).

"Cancer is one of the most important causes out there to support, so we try to do as much as we can to help," said Chad Davis, Director of Marketing for Adam & Eve (and one of the auctionees).

Each person was won by a lucky employee for an average of more than $100, which the company then matched.

The auction fundraiser event raised almost $5,400 for CHBCF.

Openings

Blue Sky Oil and Vinegar recently opened at the Galleria Shopping Center (400 S. Elliott Rd), offering a selection of premium olive oil and vinegar.

The gourmet specialty shop, owned by Glenda Keenan, opened in late June and sells 15 varieties of extra virgin olive oil and eight varieties of balsamic vinegar. Also offered will be items such as white balsamic vinegar and truffle oil.

Customers may sample oils, stored in large stainless steel earns called fusti, before having their selections bottles in store. Prices range from $15 to $16 per 375 ml bottle.

Names in the News

Bill Little of Pittsboro was appointed to Vice President of Sales at Rutland Products.

Little will have overall responsibility for sales to all market channels and will report to Amy Bruso, President and COO.

Little joined the company in 2008 as National Accounts Manager.

First Bank recently hired Jennifer D. Smith as Senior Vice President of its Legal Division LSA/Assets.

Smith brings with her more than 13 years of experience in the legal profession.

A native of Chapel Hill, Smith graduated from Chapel Hill High School and earned her bachelor's degree and Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She has owned and operated her own law practice since 1998, with locations in Pittsboro and Siler City.