Market Opening Delayed Due to COVID-19/ A Different Season for A Different Age
Dreams of morels to come
A Different Season for A Different Age
When we said goodbye to you all at the end of the 2019 market season, we never thought we'd be where we are now. Instead of tantalizing you with what you can expect from the opening day of the market season, we must instead tell you that the season is delayed. Rather than catching up with friends, vendors, musicians and more this weekend, we have to delay those happy reunions until we can all come together again in a safe manner. The good news is that we've been working hard to get going, despite the unprecedented circumstances keeping us apart for now. It's an age where creativity, compassion and patience are being held in high esteem. Farmers' markets around the country are adapting, we're one of them. Right now we're pursuing multiple routes to connect our customers and our vendors. We hope that soon, we'll be able to do that back at our home behind the UW Digestive Health Center. Whether in a safely designed walkable market, in a drive thru pick up market or a combination of both, the WCM is working overtime to bring the great products from our vendors to our loyal and supportive customers. Supporting our farmers is more important than ever, and so is bringing people the food they've come to rely on. With that in mind, we believe that getting the market open is essential to meeting those goals. Before we can do that however, we need to make sure we can deliver a safe and reliable experience for all involved. While farmers' markets have been deemed essential operations during this time, that doesn't mean we can rush to open without ensuring safety for our market community. We're working with Public Health of Madison and Dane County to make sure the market can operate in the safest possible manner before the tents go up. For 2020, in whatever form, the market season will be different. Until restrictions are lifted, it will mean no market event days, no musicians to dance to or Master Gardeners to seek advice from. It will be a season where shopping efficiently and quickly is essential. Instead of bringing the whole family to market, we'll ask you to send one person per household to help limit crowd size. While it hurts to lose so many of the aspects that put the "community" into the Westside Community Market, we keep faith that these temporary measures will help keep people safe and by doing so, we may again return to normal as soon as possible. While we're hoping to get back out there sometime in May, we're holding off announcing a date until we get the all clear from Public Health. For now, we ask for your patience as we work through these difficult times and thank you for sticking with us until we're back. In the meantime, many of our vendors are finding creative ways to get their products out there. Below we'll list the options we're aware of by vendor and we'll keep updating that list as we can. Check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more as they roll out. The market season may not have started yet, but the Weekly Updates will continue to arrive in your Thursday evening mailboxes. We'll keep you posted on updates for the season, alongside the ever evolving opportunities to get our vendors' products. Even without a weekly market, we're excited to be able to connect with you at home and look forward to seeing your mask covered smiles soon. Until we can see you at market! Ben Zimmerman Market Manager
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. Alsum Sweet Corn: Frozen sweet corn available at Metcalfe's Hilldale and West. Check their website for more information: www.alsumsweetcorn.com Black Earth Valley: Participant in Dane County Farmers' Market's Local Food Pick Up Pilot Blue Moon Community Farm: Online ordering now available for their organic seedlings, on farm pick up Wednesday evening and Saturday morning for pre-orders. Check their online store for more: https://bluemooncommunityfarm.square.site Bryant Family Farms: Webstore: www.bryantfamilyfarms.org Eggs also offered through Landmark Creamery's Special Local Delivery service: https://landmarkcreamery.com/collections/special-delivery Chris & Lori's Bakehouse: Weekly pick up orders available in Madison on Saturdays. Check their Facebook page for updates and email CLBakehouse@gmail.com to inquire about available selections. Check their website for more information: http://chrisandlorisbakehouse.com Don's Produce: Offering deliveries of their produce to the downtown Madison area. To inquire, call or text: 608-574-0294 Dreamfarm: Some products available at Willy Street Co-op and Metcalfe's locations. Contact via phone or email for more ordering options: (608) 767-3442 or diana@dreamfarm.biz Driftless Chocolates (New 2020 vendor): Online ordering available via: https://driftlesschocolates.com/ Emerald Meadows Family Farm: Pop up market event Saturday, April 18th at Beans n Cream in Sun Prairie. Check their Facebook page for details. Farmer Johns' Cheese: Pre-ordered pickup available near Hilldale on Tuesday and Friday. Message them on their Facebook page to order. Forgotten Valley Cheese (New 2020 vendor): Online ordering available, check their website: http://www.forgottenvalleycheese.com/ Fungi Farmers (Formerly known as Herb N Oyster): Offering Saturday delivery to the Madison area. Details and limited online ordering: https://www.fungifarmers.com/ Participant in the Madison Farmers Unite pickup program. Green's Pleasant Springs Orchard: Varieties of head lettuce available for on-farm pickup north of Stoughton. Call 608-852-4165 to pre-order for Wednesday or Saturday afternoon pickup. Highland Spring Farm: Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning farm stand sales at their farm just south of Madison. Check their website for details: https://www.highlandspringfarm.com/products Products also offered through Landmark Creamery's Special Local Delivery service: https://landmarkcreamery.com/collections/special-delivery Honey Bee Bakery: Delivery & pickup options available, check website for details: https://honeybeebakery.org/index.html Participant in the Madison Farmers Unite pickup program. Products also offered through Landmark Creamery's Special Local Delivery service: https://landmarkcreamery.com/collections/special-delivery Kopke's Greenhouse: Greenhouse is open, with 8:00am-9:30am reserved for senior shoppers. Pre-orders via email, 608-835-7569 or SALES@kopkesgreenhouse.com, for pick up or delivery with small fee. Check their website for more details: https://kopkesgreenhouse.com/shopping-options/ Mad Maiden Shrub: Online ordering available: https://www.madmaidenshrub.com/shop Products also available at the following retail locations: Fromagination, Willy Street Coop, Jenifer Street Market, Hyvee (Whitney Way and Fitchburg), Orange Tree Imports, Metcalfe’s Market (West and Hilldale), and Regent Street Market Madison Sourdough: Online pre-order for Friday or Saturday pick on Williamson Street. Check their website for more: https://www.madisonsourdough.com/ McCluskey Brothers Shillelagh Glen Farms: Online ordering available on their website: http://www.mccluskeybros.com/store/index.php Beef available at Willy Street East, cheese available at Willy East and West, maple syrup available at Metcalfe's Hilldale. Natalie's Garden & Greenhouse: Online ordering now available for curbside greenhouse pick up or delivery in the Madison area with a small fee. Website: www.nataliesgardenandgreenhouse.com Open Kettle Farms: No-contact pickup being offered for their maple syrup. Check their Facebook page for details. ParKelm Farm: Shop online via: https://parkelm.farm/buy-pasture-raised-products/ Saturday delivery to the Madison area also being offered: https://parkelm.farm/new-delivery-route-for-the-fox-cities/?fbclid=IwAR3tFELLKpptijfsc9gBjAtEblBHFzSZ_ROOgg39BpY9S6nyTPXZGt0vMQ8 Savory Accents: Online ordering available on their website: https://savoryaccents.com/ Phone/email orders accepted for on-farm pickup, 608-848-4938 or chilies@tds.net Products also offered through Landmark Creamery's Special Local Delivery service: https://landmarkcreamery.com/collections/special-delivery Stella's Bakery: The bakery on Syene Road is open Tuesday through Saturday, 7am - 2pm, for curbside pre-ordered pickup. Preorder on their website: https://www.stellasbakery.store/ Check their Facebook page for updates. Steppin' Out Foods (New 2020 vendor): Check their Facebook page for updates. Tortillas Los Angeles: Delivery available via partnership with Christine's Kitchen. Check out the website to order: https://www.christines-kitchens.com/ Underground Meats: Online store and limited local delivery: http://www.undergroundmeats.com/ Urban Gourmet: Seedlings available come May. Check their website: https://www.madurbangourmet.com/ or Facebook page for future updates. West Star Organics: Online ordering available for pick up at their greenhouse south of Cottage Grove. Check their website for details and to place your order: http://www.weststarorganics.com/ Wetherby Cranberry Co.: Check out their web store here: https://freshcranberries.com/buy-cranberries/
Didn't see who you're looking for? Not all of our vendors have product yet available or are offering purchasing alternatives at this time. We'll keep updating this list as new venues for connecting customers to vendors arise.
