With the influx of spring, many events in Washington are underway, one of which has expanded its capabilities to serve a wider range of residents and guests.

This weekend, Washington Harbor District Alliance’s Saturday Market will return to the downtown area for another season of the best locally grown and made items Beaufort County has to offer. But this year is going to be a historic year for the market, which has been in operation in some form for a decade or more.

This year, the market will be equipped to accept payment from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and debit cardholders. This capability is possible through the purchase of an EBT machine, resulting from a Vidant Health Foundation grant. This new capability is invaluable to the market — merchants and patrons, alike.

The EBT machine not only will allow debit cardholders to be able to purchase items at the market, but the fact that the machine applies to SNAP card holders opens up an array of locally grown fruits and vegetables as options for low-income families and other SNAP benefactors. The people who benefit from SNAP also have the opportunity to join the market’s growing social network. Perhaps the exposure SNAP benefactors will get from joining its customer base will inspire them to become entrepreneurs themselves, giving them opportunity to earn money and, perhaps, start a business one day.

The positive attributes of the market, especially the expansion of its payment capabilities, are a win-win for merchants, patrons and the community, at large. The market is just another event that generates traffic to the downtown area, which is certainly an economic boost.

Residents should come out and support this event that has grown to be a tradition among local growers and craftsmen on the Pamlico. Each Saturday, from tomorrow until October, means opportunity for people to make connections and grow as individuals and as a community. Residents should give the market a chance, come out to support their community and buy local.