Happy National Farmers' Market Week!

The celebration of the 2020 National Farmers Market Week looks a little differently this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but we still have plenty to celebrate.

In some ways, we've more to celebrate than ever this season as keeping the market running has been essential for so many.

For our farmers and producers who lost restaurant and wholesale accounts due to the pandemic, the market has been a reliable source of income as they share their labors with us shoppers.

For our customers, it's a small bit of normalcy in a time when normal is hard to find. We have to don our masks, and shop more quickly, but the chance to get out and immerse ourselves in the market experience is a much needed form of weekly relief.

At peak season that relief is in the form of fresh eggs from Bryant Family Farms, gladiolas from Yang Family Produce and early season apples from Ten Eyck Orchard.

While we can't celebrate with special events this season, we all get the opportunity to celebrate our love of the market with each meal we make with our market finds.

A grill full of Emerald Meadows Family Farm zucchini and burgers made from Highland Spring Farm beef is a delicious celebration of what the market brings us.

We hope you treat yourself to something extra special this week, knowing your purchase supports Wisconsin vendors whose efforts bring us the great farmers' market we know and love.

A few extra ears of sweet corn, that bag of fresh cheese curds, the box of market fresh cookies and a bouquet of brilliantly arranged flowers; so many ways to celebrate the farmers' market.

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!

Double Dollars are Back!

The Double Dollars program has returned, starting Saturday, July 4th. FoodShare shoppers can get up to $25 matched each market. Swing by the Information Tent with your FoodShare card and our market staff can assist you. This season the Double Dollars are in the form of green plastic tokens. If you still have a few white paper Double Dollars, you can still spend those with our vendors. For the 2020 season, the Double Dollars program is hoping to run through August, depending on funding. After the Double Dollars program ends, the market will still accept FoodShare Dollars.

Master Gardeners Helpline

We wanted to pass along a great resource from our friends the Master Gardeners. While they can't come out to table at the market this season, UW Dane County Extension is maintaining its Horticulture Helpline with Master Gardener volunteers daily 5 days a week, 9am-12 noon. You can reach them by answering machine (608-224-3721) or by emailing your questions and your photographs to horticulture@countyofdane.com.

Shopping Safely This Season

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 ask 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.

Vendor Updates & Pre-Order Options

Our amazing vendors are providing options for your shopping these season. Find all the latest pre-order options and weekly market offering here. Check back each week for notices about pre-ordering, vendor absences and other special vendor notices. Chris & Lori's Bakehouse is offering the following for this weekend: * Flower and Cow Cutout Cookies * Chocolate Chip Sconuts * Espresso Dark Chocolate Scones * Coconut Dark Chocolate Scones * White Chocolate Raspberry Scones * Vanilla Almond Scones * Cinnamon Oat Scones * Blueberry Scones * Cranberry Oat Scones * Banana Chocolate Scones * Whole Grain Dark Chocolate Chunk Scones * Whole Grain Raspberry Scones * Whole Grain Blueberry Oat Scones * Whole Grain Cranberry Orange Scones * Whole Grain Carrot Raisin Scones * GF Vegan Mocha Scones * GF Vegan Raspberry Scones * GF Vegan Banana Blueberry Scones * Keto Peanut Butter Cookies * Keto Almond Shortbread Cookies

All scones are $18/ Half Doz one flavor Or $30/ Doz one flavor

Email your order at CLBakehouse@gmail.com Orders due by noon on Thursday. 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. Door County Fruit Markets will not be joining the market for the 2020 season, but you can find their fresh Door County fruit at the Willy Street Co-op Grocery Stores. Dreamfarm is offering pre-orders for market pick-up by calling (608) 767-3442 or emailing diana@dreamfarm.biz Driftless Chocolates is offering pre-orders for market pick-up on their website. 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. Highland Spring Farm is offering pre-orders for market pick-up on their website. Honey Bee Bakery will be offering pre-orders for market pick-up on their website. JenEhr Family Farm will be offering a great array of their farm fresh organic products, from fresh broccoli, salads greens and head lettuce to great pasture raised chicken for the grill. Mad Maiden Shrub will be at market this weekend with their hand crafted shrubs (drinking vinegar). Madison Sourdough will no longer be offering pre-orders for the market as they've expanded the purchasing options for direct sales at market. Cash or check are accepted. McCluskey Brothers Shillelagh Glen Farms is offering pre-ordering on their website. Natalie's Garden & Greenhouse will be offering a weekly veggie box, available at the market, off the farm or for delivery. Each $25 box is packed with their great fresh produce. This weeks selection includes: Sweet Corn, Zucchini, Golden Zucchini, Slicing Tomato, Green Beans, Rainbow Chard, Curly Kale, Cucumber, and Sweet Candy Onions! Check out their website for more information and to place your order. Open Kettle Farms is offering pre-orders of their maple syrup. Contact them on their Facebook page to order. ParKelm Farm is offering pre-orders for market pick-up on their website.

2020 Edition Smiley Cookies from Chris & Lori's Bakehouse

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. Vendor Purchasing Alternatives (PDF)