Wagon Train
A lovely table load of tomatoes from Blue Moon Community Farm
Wagon Train
We had a perfect day for the last market of August this past weekend, with sunshine a light breeze and finally a day that wasn't so hot. The relief from the heat was much appreciated as we saw many folks out there taking multiple loads back to their cars. Our favorite sight was the kids' pull behind wagon full of tomatoes, children walking behind.
It may not be the Oregon Trail, but those wagonloads are sure full of future promise. They'll become the flavorful jars of homemade tomato sauce that will keep you going through the winter ahead. For the wagon-less, it was a workout week for the arms, as shopping totes and baskets filled up with Dreamfarm eggs, Don's Produce potatoes and a dozen ears from Alsum's Sweet Corn. The tops of some baskets were brimming with Madison Sourdough baguettes and bouquets of Lor Farm flowers.
Other market baskets were loaded down with an abundance of fresh vegetables like bok choi from Shoua Vang (pictured), or beautiful bell peppers from Happy Valley Farm. Fresh fruit could be seen filling up the corners of shopping bags, with the first Honeycrisp apples of the season in from Atoms to Apples and plums from Bonde Bee (pictured). We'll kick off the fall session of market this weekend, meaning there's just 10 weeks to go before we pack it in on November 7th. Soon enough we'll be seeing wagons loaded down with pumpkins and winter squash, but before we get there, we'll take all the summer goodness we can get. 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!
Our Many Thanks to Willy Street Grocery Co-op!
We want to give a huge shout out to the Willy Street Grocery Co-op for funding our new EBT card reader this season! The market works hard to offer FoodShare acceptance for our shoppers and the 2020 season found us needing to purchase a new card reader during these already trying COVID-19 times. Thankfully Willy Street Grocery Co-op stepped up and offered to fund the new reader and setup so that we could continue to offer FoodShare acceptance this season. Our hats off to them and their amazing generosity.
Double Dollars Extended Thru October!
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. The Double Dollars program has wonderfully been extended to run thru October. 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. Bryant Family Farms will be offering the following fresh chicken specials this weekend: - Boneless skinless breasts - Legs - Thighs - Wings - Whole birds - Hearts n Livers - Backs n Necks - Feet & **Frozen Ground Turkey in 1lb tubes*** 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. 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: Watermelon, Cucumbers, Sweet Corn, Lettuce, Onions, Cabbage, Hot Peppers, Slicing Tomatoes, and Curly Kale! 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.
Weekly offerings from Highland Spring Farm
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)
