Start Spreading the News! We're Back this Saturday!

Market Returns This Saturday!

Get your ornamentals for spring planting this weekend!

Running a Safe Market with Your Help

After weeks of preparation, we're finally ready to open our arms back up to our market community. Of course, in the age of COVID-19, those arms will be waving only from at least a six foot distance. Before we all return to shopping for our favorites, we have to acknowledge that this is a different and difficult time for farmers' markets. Farmers have lost access to many venues to get their products out there. Many farmers have lost restaurant sales, are facing market delays or closures and with the timeline to return to normal uncertain, planning for the future is difficult. Bringing the farmers' market back is key for many farmers to remain viable. It's key for our market community as well, with access to safe, healthy, local food more important than ever. It's that core value that we'll hold onto this season as we adapt to a different atmosphere at the Westside Community Market. Over the years, our market community has grown around the simple purpose of bringing farm fresh products right to you. So many of the wonderful aspects of the market community, such as live music, kids events, Master Gardeners, and Science is Fun, will be absent this season. The weekly catchups with neighbors as kids draw with sidewalk chalk must be put on hold as we prioritize safety for our customers. While we'll miss these "community" elements of our market, we know that taking these temporary measures now will aid us in keeping the market open to serve that core value. Before you make your first trip to market, we'd like you to know what will be different for this season and we ask for your help in keeping things safe. We have an adjusted layout for this season, with single sided vendor aisles spread out with a gap between each vendor. Much like the grocery store, we're asking that foot traffic move in one direction through each market aisle, indicated by our yellow sandwich board signs. We ask you to please follow these directions and be patient as we all adapt to this different flow. As you shop the stalls, please mind the six foot spacing lines in front of vendors' tents. Give each other space to shop and don't crowd into vendor booths. While reusable shopping totes are not banned, if you're using your own bags, please do not ask vendors to pack them for you. Planning your market trip may be the easiest way to get what you need, while keeping the market safe. Many of our vendors will be offering pre-orders that you may place during the week for a quick pick up at their stall on Saturday morning. Below we'll detail what options for pre-order are available this weekend and we'll update that weekly as more vendors add that option. For what you can't pre-order, consider making a shopping list by vendor before you get to the market. Having a plan of action will speed things up and help you get what you need as quickly as possible. We know that these methods won't work for everyone, but those of you who can adapt will be helping everyone with your efficiency. We're also asking everyone to send just one person per household to the market, which will aid us in lowering the crowd count each week. You can also help out by altering your shopping time, consider coming early in the morning (we open at 7am) or later (open until 12:30pm) to lower the crowd pressure during the peak hours. These little adjustments can really help make things operate smoothly and ensure we don't become too crowded. We encourage you all to wear a mask too. Even a bandana is better than nothing and can help lower the risk of transmission. Wash your hands before you come to market, wash them when you get home and with our four handwashing stations set up around the market, you can wash them while you visit too. As we all adjust to the new normal for this season, we can get back to appreciating what makes the market so great. We can celebrate the freshly grown produce, the beautiful flowers, the tasty baked goods and so much more that bring us back every week. Those good things will be there in abundance and we'll keep our heads held high knowing there's a lot joy left to experience when you support Wisconsin farmers and food artisans. Things may be different this season, but our love and support for our farmers is as strong as ever. We look forward to sharing the responsibility of market safety and the joy of great market finds with you. See you at market! Ben Zimmerman Market Manager P.S. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more updates on the market as the season kicks off!

No FoodShare Processing This Weekend

Unfortunately, due to issues with our card processor, we will be unable to help FoodShare customers get money off of their account this weekend. We're in the processing of getting this fixed and anticipate being able to help FoodShare shoppers in the next week or two. If you still have green FoodShare dollars from last season, you are welcome to spend them this weekend. The white Double Dollars will not return until June and cannot be accepted by our vendors until that time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Vendor Updates & Pre-Order Options

We're starting off the season with just over 25 vendors and we expect more to join us as the produce starts popping over the next month or so. Check back here each week for notices about pre-ordering, vendor absences and other special vendor notices. Blue Moon Community Farm is offering pre-ordering of their organic vegetable and herb seedlings on their website. Please note the first market pick up date for pre-orders is May 9th. Don's Produce will be offering bundles of their Arena grown, pesticide free, heirloom cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. They'll also be offering 5lb bags of their sweet potatoes. Flyte Family Farm is offering pre-orders by calling (715) 228-2304 Fungi Farmers (formerly know as Herb n Oyster) are offering pre-orders through their website. Honey Bee Bakery will be absent from the market this weekend, but they'll join us weekly starting Saturday, May 9th. Madison Sourdough will be doing pre-orders only this weekend. Get your order in before Thursday on their website. McCluskey Brothers Shillelagh Glen Farms is offering pre-ordering on their website. Open Kettle Farms is offering pre-orders of their maple syrup. Contact them on their Facebook page to order.

Connect with our Vendors!

This list of alternative means to get our vendors' products will grow as new offerings roll in. Please check back regularly and feel free to email Market Manager Ben if you're looking to connect with any vendor not listed. Alsum Sweet Corn: Frozen sweet corn available at Metcalfe's Hilldale and West. Check their website for more information: www.alsumsweetcorn.com Participant in Dane County Farmers' Market's Local Food Pick Up Black Earth Valley: Participant in Dane County Farmers' Market's Local Food Pick Up Blue Moon Community Farm: Online ordering now available for their organic seedlings, on farm pick up Wednesday evening and Saturday morning for pre-orders. Check their online store for more: https://bluemooncommunityfarm.square.site Bryant Family Farms: Webstore: www.bryantfamilyfarms.org Eggs also offered through Landmark Creamery's Special Local Delivery service: https://landmarkcreamery.com/collections/special-delivery Chris & Lori's Bakehouse: Weekly pick up orders available in Madison on Saturdays. Check their Facebook page for updates and email CLBakehouse@gmail.com to inquire about available selections. Check their website for more information: http://chrisandlorisbakehouse.com Participant in Dane County Farmers' Market's Local Food Pick Up Don's Produce: Offering deliveries of their produce to the downtown Madison area. To inquire, call or text: 608-574-0294 Participant in Dane County Farmers' Market's Local Food Pick Up Dreamfarm: Some products available at Willy Street Co-op and Metcalfe's locations. Contact via phone or email for more ordering options: (608) 767-3442 or diana@dreamfarm.biz Driftless Chocolates (New 2020 vendor): Online ordering available via: https://driftlesschocolates.com/ Emerald Meadows Family Farm: Check their Facebook page for details. Farmer Johns' Cheese: Pre-ordered pickup available near Hilldale on Tuesday and Friday. Message them on their Facebook page to order. Forgotten Valley Cheese (New 2020 vendor): Online ordering available, check their website: http://www.forgottenvalleycheese.com/ Fungi Farmers (Formerly known as Herb N Oyster): Offering Saturday delivery to the Madison area. Details and limited online ordering: https://www.fungifarmers.com/ Participant in the Madison Farmers Unite pickup program. Green's Pleasant Springs Orchard: Varieties of head lettuce available for on-farm pickup north of Stoughton. Call 608-852-4165 to pre-order for Wednesday or Saturday afternoon pickup. Highland Spring Farm: Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning farm stand sales at their farm just south of Madison. Check their webstore to order: https://highlandspringfarm.grazecart.com/store Products also offered through Landmark Creamery's Special Local Delivery service: https://landmarkcreamery.com/collections/special-delivery Honey Bee Bakery: Delivery & pickup options available, check website for details: https://honeybeebakery.org/index.html Participant in the Madison Farmers Unite pickup program. Products also offered through Landmark Creamery's Special Local Delivery service: https://landmarkcreamery.com/collections/special-delivery Kopke's Greenhouse: Greenhouse is open, with 8:00am-9:30am reserved for senior shoppers. Pre-orders via email, 608-835-7569 or SALES@kopkesgreenhouse.com, for pick up or delivery with small fee. Check their website for more details: https://kopkesgreenhouse.com/shopping-options/ Mad Maiden Shrub: Online ordering available: https://www.madmaidenshrub.com/shop Products also available at the following retail locations: Fromagination, Willy Street Coop, Jenifer Street Market, Hyvee (Whitney Way and Fitchburg), Orange Tree Imports, Metcalfe’s Market (West and Hilldale), and Regent Street Market Madison Sourdough: Online pre-order for Friday or Sunday pick on Williamson Street. Check their website for more: https://www.madisonsourdough.com/ McCluskey Brothers Shillelagh Glen Farms: Online ordering available on their website: http://www.mccluskeybros.com/store/index.php Beef available at Willy Street East, cheese available at Willy East and West, maple syrup available at Metcalfe's Hilldale. Natalie's Garden & Greenhouse: Online ordering now available for curbside greenhouse pick up, open daily 8am - 6pm and 9am - 5pm Sundays; delivery also available in the Madison area with a small fee. Website: www.nataliesgardenandgreenhouse.com Open Kettle Farms: No-contact pickup being offered for their maple syrup. Check their Facebook page for details. ParKelm Farm: Shop online via: https://parkelm.farm/buy-pasture-raised-products/ Saturday delivery to the Madison area also being offered: https://parkelm.farm/new-delivery-route-for-the-fox-cities/?fbclid=IwAR3tFELLKpptijfsc9gBjAtEblBHFzSZ_ROOgg39BpY9S6nyTPXZGt0vMQ8 Savory Accents: Online ordering available on their website: https://savoryaccents.com/ Phone/email orders accepted for on-farm pickup, 608-848-4938 or chilies@tds.net Products also offered through Landmark Creamery's Special Local Delivery service: https://landmarkcreamery.com/collections/special-delivery Participant in Dane County Farmers' Market's Local Food Pick Up Stella's Bakery: The bakery on Syene Road is open Tuesday through Saturday, 7am - 2pm, for curbside pre-ordered pickup. Preorder on their website: https://www.stellasbakery.store/ Check their Facebook page for updates. Participant in Dane County Farmers' Market's Local Food Pick Up Steppin' Out Foods (New 2020 vendor): Check their Facebook page for updates. Tortillas Los Angeles: Delivery available via partnership with Christine's Kitchen. Check out the website to order: https://www.christines-kitchens.com/ Underground Meats: Online store and limited local delivery: http://www.undergroundmeats.com/ Urban Gourmet: Seedlings available come May. Check their website: https://www.madurbangourmet.com/ or Facebook page for future updates. West Star Organics: Online ordering available for pick up at their greenhouse south of Cottage Grove. Check their website for details and to place your order: http://www.weststarorganics.com/ Wetherby Cranberry Co.: Check out their web store here: https://freshcranberries.com/buy-cranberries/

Didn't see who you're looking for? Not all of our vendors have product yet available or are offering purchasing alternatives at this time. We'll keep updating this list as new venues for connecting customers to vendors arise.