| FAQs |
What is a cookie walk?
It's the most popular event of the year at the Ames Farmers'
Market. Everyone who attends purchases a cookie box
container when they arrive, paying only one flat fee. They then
proceed to walk throughout the farmers' market choosing from
the thousands of delicious, home-made cookies set out for the
event.
Where does the money raised go?
The Ames Downtown Farmers' Market is a state registered,
non-profit corporation that runs Iowa's only year-round, indoor
farmers' market as well as a seasonal outdoor market. We are
100% local with absolutely no re-selling allowed. Our market
has no paid employees and is run entirely by vendors/
volunteers. All money raised from the Cookie Walk goes
directly back into funding market events and expenses. This
includes covering the cost of a range of items, from providing
free food samples and educational literature to our customers,
to covering the costs involved in promoting the market and
advertising our events.
Are there any rules or regulations one must follow?
Yes.
That all depends on your packing abilities. On average about 3
to 4 dozen. However, we have seen some clever and careful
packers get almost 6 dozen per box. Just remember, it has to
close on its own!
___________________________________________________
It's the most popular event of the year at the Ames Farmers'
Market. Everyone who attends purchases a cookie box
container when they arrive, paying only one flat fee. They then
proceed to walk throughout the farmers' market choosing from
the thousands of delicious, home-made cookies set out for the
event.
Where does the money raised go?
The Ames Downtown Farmers' Market is a state registered,
non-profit corporation that runs Iowa's only year-round, indoor
farmers' market as well as a seasonal outdoor market. We are
100% local with absolutely no re-selling allowed. Our market
has no paid employees and is run entirely by vendors/
volunteers. All money raised from the Cookie Walk goes
directly back into funding market events and expenses. This
includes covering the cost of a range of items, from providing
free food samples and educational literature to our customers,
to covering the costs involved in promoting the market and
advertising our events.
Are there any rules or regulations one must follow?
Yes.
- You must pay for your container before walking. The fee
is $15.00 per box. - Gloves must be worn while selecting cookies. A glove will
be provided with each box purchased. If extras are
needed, please ask. - We ask that walkers take no more than 6 cookies of any
one kind. - You must be able to close the clamshell box with no
assistance of any kind including scotch tape, rubber
bands or manual pressure. The clamshells we use for the
event are specifically designed to close on their own. - Cookies are sold in boxes only. There are no individual
sales of cookies at this event.
That all depends on your packing abilities. On average about 3
to 4 dozen. However, we have seen some clever and careful
packers get almost 6 dozen per box. Just remember, it has to
close on its own!
___________________________________________________
Statistics tell the story; Americans
love cookies. Over 200 million Girl
Scout cookies are sold in this country
each year and approximately three
hundred companies enjoy combined
annual cookie sales revenue of 24.8
billion dollars. That’s a whole lot of
dough!
Exactly what is it about cookies and
Christmas cookies in particular, that
have such a hold on us? For most
people the answer lies in simple
sense memory. Just the word ‘cookie’
itself can open the flood gates to a
tidal wave of reminiscences involving
the sights, scents, tastes and textures
that were imprinted upon our brains in
early childhood.
love cookies. Over 200 million Girl
Scout cookies are sold in this country
each year and approximately three
hundred companies enjoy combined
annual cookie sales revenue of 24.8
billion dollars. That’s a whole lot of
dough!
Exactly what is it about cookies and
Christmas cookies in particular, that
have such a hold on us? For most
people the answer lies in simple
sense memory. Just the word ‘cookie’
itself can open the flood gates to a
tidal wave of reminiscences involving
the sights, scents, tastes and textures
that were imprinted upon our brains in
early childhood.
When it comes to Christmas cookies, memories become inextricably intertwined with the anticipatory
nature of the holiday. Sales of store-bought cookies begin to decline as old family recipes are brought
out to be shared with a new generation. The gift of time spent together in the kitchen and the caring
expressed through the act of baking for someone else, become a treasured legacy. Christmas would
not be Christmas without cookies. We socialize around them, exchange them, walk for them and even
leave a plate of them as a gift for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
Historically speaking, sweets have always been a part of holiday rituals dating back to the Middle Ages
in Europe. The word cookie, originated from the Dutch word Koeptje, meaning small cake. Lebkuchen
(gingerbread) was the first cookie to be traditionally connected to Christmas and it was both Dutch and
German settlers who brought cookie cutters and holiday decorations to the New World. While it is true
that cookies such as gingerbread are still more closely associated with the holidays than others, later
immigrants brought with them new recipes which helped expand our palates. They also helped to
broaden the definition of what constitutes a Christmas cookie so that whatever the recipe – sugar
cookie, Nanaimo bar, kringla, Russian tea cakes – they have all become synonymous with giving,
caring, joy and the magic of the yuletide season.
On Saturday, December 12, the Ames Downtown Farmers Market will be holding its 3rd Annual Cookie
Walk. Doors open at 8am. Thousands of homemade cookies of will be available. Containers may be
purchased at the door for a flat fee. There is no limit on the number of cookies one may collect as long
as the container can be closed with no assistance of any type. The market also sells frozen cookie
dough and a wide variety of delicious, baked goods. The Ames Downtown Farmers’ Market is Iowa’s
only year-round, indoor farmers’ market and the only market in Ames that is 100% local. Visit us
downtown at 526 Main Street –or go to www.amesfarmersmarket.com for more information.
| A sampler plate of home-made cookies prepared for the Ames Downtown Farmers' Market Cookie Walk 2008. Photo by D. Bunka |
| by Deborah Bunka The following piece appeared in The Ames Tribune (Taste page) on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 |
| THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES |
| websiteLINKS homepage this week at the market |
