Fruits of Summer Days
Chamomile flowers from Urban Gourmet
Fruits of Summer Days
In the first few markets of the summer session, a buzz can be heard growing among the market crowd. It's a spoken anticipation of the things to come over the next few weeks. "When do you think sweet corn will be in?" "Any word yet on those Door County cherries?"
That excitement is more than the question posed. It's the thought of tasty meals to come, nights spent grilling corn and gobbling up cobbler to cap off a delicious dinner.
Sometimes patience is needed, and always is rewarded. We're excited to welcome back Door Country Fruit Market this weekend with the first sweet cherries of the season!
Flyte Family Farms is happy to announce their first organic blueberries coming in this Saturday, which alongside the organic blueberries from JenEhr Family Farms, means there's plenty of good fruit to take home.
will also still have strawberries to enjoy, while raspberries are also coming in from vendors such as Shoua Vang & Sai's Garden.
JenEhr Family Farm is also happy to announce their first sweet corn of the season coming in this Saturday.
In other new arrivals, Happy Valley Farm is back at the market with early zucchini, okra and eggplant (pictured) and more in their sure to be expanding offerings.
As the fresh produce piles up, many of us look for new ways to add a little extra flavor to our salads and main courses. Thankfully Campo di Bella has you covered with their marvelous red wine vinegar (pictured), produced from Mount Horeb grown grapes. Grab yourself a bottle next time they're at market on July 16th.
The new arrivals keep growing, with string beans coming in, along with early cauliflower, wax beans, sweet onions and more.
While fresh produce surely is eye catching, we are also drawn to the growing selection of cut flowers to enjoy, like the first sunflowers of the season or the pictured yellow daisy bouquets from Ka Vang Thao.
Our anticipation will keep growing from here, as we wait for the early season apples, field ripened tomatoes and other great treasures to come later in July and early August. We won't rush such treasures, but boy will we be ready to enjoy them when they come.
See you at market!
Ben Zimmerman
Market Manager
Call for Volunteers
The market is looking for a few new volunteers to help at the Info Tent during market Saturdays to answer customer questions, give directions to vendors and aide our FoodShare shoppers using their cards to shop the market.
We have two different shifts open, 9am - 11am and 11am - 12:30pm. Whether you'd like to come out each week or once a month, this is a great opportunity to give back to the market and help make good local food accessible to everyone.
Please email Market Manager Ben Zimmerman or stop by the Info Tent to find out more or sign up!
Polls Open for America's Farmers' Market Celebration
American Farmland Trust and the Farmers' Market Coalition are offering a share of a $10,000 prize to the winners of their favorite farmers' market poll. Market fans can vote for the Westside Community Market through September 19th.
Cast your vote here:
We thank you all for your neverending support!
Market Notices: July 9th
Swing by the Info Tent and pick up a free Westside Community Market yard sign, or grab one set out in the aisle.
Country Bloomer's Greenhouse, Kopke's Greenhouse, Rude Brew Kombucha, & Ernie's African Kick Sauce will join us this weekend as daily vendors.
Chris & Lori's Bakehouse & Savory Accents will be absent from the market this Saturday, July 9th. They will both return the following week.
The Double Dollars program returned June 4th. FoodShare shoppers can get up to $25 matched each week through October.
From Blue Moon Community Farm:
"Blue Moon Community Farm is taking a market break! We'll be back in late July. In the meantime you can find all of our produce at our Farm Stand at the farm Wednesdays 3-7pm! Visit our website for each week's offerings at www.bluemooncommunityfarm.com
Thank you for your support!"
Market on the Move in 2023
We've got some big news to share regarding the 2023 market season. Many of you have already seen the news that UW Health is planning on building a new clinic in part of the market occupied lots starting next year.
With construction slated to begin next spring, we're happy to announce we'll be relocating to the MG&E Innovation Center inside University Research Park in 2023. Located about 1.5 miles south of our current location, the new market site will offer room for our vendors, along with ample parking space for our shoppers, as well as a shaded picnic area for everyone to relax and enjoy their market goods while listening to music and taking in those great market mornings.
We'll have more details to come later in the summer, but rest assured that the WCM will remain a great fixture of the west side community for years to come. For the remainder of 2022, you can find us each and every week at 750 University Row into early November.
Country Bloomer's Greenhouse never disappoints with their bouquets
Our many thanks to Snaggle Tooth Arts of Wayward Tattoo for the market rabbit graphic!
