Pick A Peck of Perfect Markets

Beautiful purple cauliflower from Shoua Vang

Pick A Peck of Perfect Markets

Mid-summer market season is upon us, giving market goers an overwhelming amount of options as you shop.

Field ripened tomatoes call out from one stall, while over at Bonde Bee baskets of pickling cucumbers (pictured) are too good to pass up, especially with this simple refrigerator pickle recipe.

While we must wait a bit longer for melon season to kick off, blueberries, raspberries, red & champagne currants, cherries and apricots are all to be found this time of year.

Produce may hog the spotlight of the mid-summer, but there's plenty of other winners to load up your market baskets with. Dream Sauce from Dreamfarm (pictured) never disappoints, adding that sweet caramelly goodness to your favorite desserts, even just as a topping for a nice bowl of ice cream.

This weekend Bryant Family Farms will be offering that something extra special in the form of their fresh, never frozen chicken with whole birds, bone-in breast, wings, leg quarters, hearts & livers and more available.

When it comes to shopping the market, we think think they're all winners, but we'd like to tip our caps to Stella's Bakery, Madison Sourdough and Farmer Johns' Cheese, all three of whom were winners in Madison Magazine's Best of Madison 2022. Kudos to you!

Another great market coming your way this weekend, though with the forecast headed into the 90's, it may be best enjoyed early in the morning.

We're looking forward to welcoming back Blue Moon Community Farm and their broad selection of certified organic produce. They've been sorely missed over these last few weeks and we're happy to have them back for the rest of the season.

We hope to see you bright and early this weekend, loading up on sweet corn, cheese curds, loaves of fresh bread and all the other great finds mid-summer has to offer.

See you at market!

Ben Zimmerman

Market Manager

manager.wcm@gmail.com

P.S. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

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:

https://markets.farmland.org/market/westside-community-market/

We thank you all for your neverending support!

Market Notices: July 23rd

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, Rude Brew Kombucha, & Ernie's African Kick Sauce will join us this weekend as daily vendors.

Steppin' Out Foods will be absent from the market this Saturday, July 23rd. They will return the first weekend in August.

The Double Dollars program returned June 4th. FoodShare shoppers can get up to $25 matched each week through October.

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.