Roll the Credits

3 hours ago

4 min read

A lovely water color from Madison Urban Sketchers of Alsum Sweet Corn

Roll The Credits

Another season in the books. Thirty-one weeks from the early spring to the final call last weekend on a frosty November morning. While we miss you all this first week off, we are so grateful to have had the chance to share the 2026 season with you.

This was our fourth season inside University Research Park, and we are so grateful to our gracious hosts. The URP location has blessed us with ample room, occasional wildlife spotting, lovely prairie flower blooms, plentiful parking and new in 2026, gravel paths between the market aisles.

2026 brought us a great array of vendors, who make this all possible through their efforts, both in the fields and the kitchens. From longtime favorites to new finds, we tip our caps to the exceptional group of farmers, growers and producers who filled the market with wonders each week.

The market needs a community to find success and to that end we want to give a shout out to those who add so much to the experience.

To our Info Tent volunteers, we'd be adrift without your support especially in running our FoodShare program that helps shoppers kept their dollars in our local economy while supporting our farmers.

Our thanks to the Community Action Coalition of South Central Wisconsin for once again facilitating the Double Dollars program for area markets like ours, extending those benefits and sending customers home with more fresh fruits and vegetables for so many weeks of the market season.

To our smelliest (in a good way) friends from Sustain Dane, we are so grateful to have you out collecting food scraps throughout the 2026 season. Their efforts in 2026 diverted nearly 20 tons of food scraps from our landfills, truly amazing!

Of course, it wouldn't be a market morning without the tunes of the Market Ramblers and the gathering of kids playing, dancing and drawing with sidewalk caulk. Our thanks for putting a little zip in our step all season long.

While the market lays dormant over the winter, the planning never stops and we give our thanks to the WCM Board of Directors for guiding the market to success year after year. An extra shout out to longtime market supporter and guiding hand, Barry Orton. From laying the groundwork for the first season in 2005 to supportive guidance today, the market simply would not be here without you.

Now comes the credit due to the heart of the market, all you wonderful shoppers and supporters! After 15 seasons with the market, this manager can say truthfully I have never seen such an amazing community of people who come together rain or shine to support their farmers and producers. People who come out, even when the shopping list is short just to gather with their neighbors, check on their producers and spend time in a welcoming place where for a few brief hours each week we narrow the lens to something so special. It's a humbling experience and one missed every off-season.

Keep an eye on your inboxes in the next week or so for a full list of options for purchasing from our vendors during the winter months, including retail locations, pop-ups, online ordering and more.

Rest well and a lovely winter to you all. Spring will come soon enough.

See you at the market April 2027!

Ben Zimmerman

Market Manager

manager.wcm@gmail.com

As a reminder to everyone, dogs are prohibited within the market area, though we welcome service animals at all times.

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

Hats Off:

It takes a village and then some to run this show. We owe an extra thanks to the following for taking the lead and making it all come together.

University Research Park:

- Aaron Olver, Managing Director

- Grace Maass, Executive Administrative Assistant

- Matt McConnell, Assistant Director of Facilities and Asset Management

Market Staff, Volunteers & Double Dollars Program Support:

- Sue Brown, Info Tent Volunteer

- Margit Moses, Info Tent Volunteer

- Sandi Estep, Info Tent Volunteer

- Barry Orton, on-site market help & market planning

- Nina Comiskey & The Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Double Dollars Program

- Mary Zimmerman, Newsletter editing

Musicians/Artists/Tablers & More:

- The Market Ramblers

- Tobias Chin, Cello

- Sustain Dane - Food Scrap Collection

- University Houses Preschool

- DISC Lab -UW

- Cognitive Origins Lab - UW

- Social & Moral Learning Lab - UW

- Nicholas Wootton, Madison Street Poetry

- Urban Sketchers - Madison

The WCM Board of Directors:

- Kevin Oppermann, President, Highland Spring Farm

- Mary White, Vice President, Honey Bee Bakery

- John Shadle, Secretary, Community Board Member

- Kristen Kordet, Treasurer, Blue Moon Community Farm

- Diana Murphy, Dreamfarm

WCM Tote Bags for Sale

Offered in a natural-tone canvas, these spacious bags feature our market bunny logo designed by Snaggle Tooth Arts of Madison. On BOGO sale for two for $15, cash, check or Venmo (including Tap-to-Pay cards). Over the winter months, bags can be ordered via email (manager.wcm@gmail.com) for in-town delivery.