Topline Federal Credit Union Helps Local Farmers Market Pay Kids to Shop Wisely

MAPLE GROVE, MN--(Marketwired - July 08, 2015) - While school may be out, local member-owned cooperative TopLine Federal Credit Union and the Maple Grove Farmers Market are keeping education top of mind, with a program to teach young shoppers an important lesson. Area children will learn about the value of money -- and the importance of making healthy food choices -- through the Power of Produce (PoP) Kids' Club.

Starting at the Maple Grove Farmers Market July 16 and running each Thursday through October 1, children ages five to twelve can join the PoP Club. Benefits include a reusable shopping bag, a PoP punch card, and a weekly $2 market token, which can be used for the purchase of fresh fruits, vegetables or food-bearing plants from the market. Each market Thursday of the program, kids can check in at the PoP tent to receive another $2 token. Kids can join the club any time during the program period, and it's free to join.

In addition, children of all ages are invited to participate in activities and demonstrations at the market, geared towards making healthy food choices and exploring and enjoying the bounty of the farmers market. For more on these events, visit the Maple Grove Farmers Market website.

TopLine Federal Credit Union will be hosting a special event on August 13.

The free program -- modeled after a format established by the Oregon City Farmers Market to get kids hands on with healthy eating -- is one of the many initiatives that TopLine sponsors as part of its longstanding commitment to offering its community financial education opportunities.

The PoP Kids' Club is supported by a grant TopLine Federal Credit Union received from the

Minnesota Credit Union Foundation to sponsor the program. The Power of Produce (PoP) Kids' Club, debuted as a pilot program last summer, and was the first of its kind in Minnesota.

"As a cooperative, TopLine's first priority is to do what's best for our members and the communities to which they belong. We do that in many ways -- from elevating our members' banking experiences through new innovations to supporting local organizations," said Tom Smith, TopLine President and CEO. "Partnering with the Maple Grove Farmers Market and the PoP Kids' Club is a wonderful way for parents and kids to have valuable conversations about money, including how and when to spend it. Putting ownership and purchasing power into the hands of young consumers through this program helps teach kids how to make healthy financial and nutritional choices."

The Maple Grove Farmers Market opened June 11 and takes place each Thursday through October 22 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Maple Grove Community Center, 2951 Weaver Lake Road in Maple Grove. For more information about the PoP Kids' Club program, visit the PoP tent at the Maple Grove Farmers Market or www.maplegrovemn.gov/around-the-city/farmers-market.

TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota's 13th largest, with assets of more than $370 million. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five branch locations -- in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Paul's Como Park -- as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members.

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