Equinox Weekend
A lovely autumn tableau from Garden Gate Flowers;
catch them for their final market of the season this weekend.
Equinox Weekend
How can fall be on the doorstep when it's been in the upper 80's all week?
Believe it or not, this weekend we'll welcome the season change as the Autumnal Equinox arrives, even if the temps haven't quite got the message.
At market, we've seen the signs coming for a while now. The first big pumpkins of the year came in last weekend from Country Bloomer's Greenhouse, along with their great variety of colorful mums (pictured).
Elsewhere it's the early caramel apples from County Line Plants & Produce that announce the season change in the sweetest way possible.
Giant sunflower heads from Happy Valley Farm (pictured), also sing of the end of summer and call out to be grilled in this amazing recipe.
Across the city, all of Madison seems to be in the fall spirit, with Badger football back in full swing and autumn festivals on the doorstep. We'll be missing a few vendors this weekend, like Madison Sourdough & Green County Hemp, due to the Willy Street Fair.
Thankfully market goers will still have plenty to shop from with great bakeries on hand like Stella's Bakery (pictured), Honey Bee Bakery & Noellie's Deli, who feature some great gluten-free offerings.
Summer's heat looks to last on into the next week, if not further, but for us market goers, we're happy to cheers a glass of fresh apple cider and revel in the fall season to come.
See you at market!
Ben Zimmerman
Market Manager
For the safety of our shoppers, we ask you to please walk your bikes through the market.
As a reminder to everyone, dogs are prohibited within the market area, though we welcome service animals at all times.
WCM Tote Bags for Sale
New Westside Community Market tote bags are now for sale!
Offered in a natural-tone canvas, these spacious bags feature our market bunny logo designed by Snaggle Tooth Arts of Madison and will be available, while supplies last at the Info Tent for $15 each, cash, check or Venmo (including tap-to-pay cards).
Vendor & Weekly Market Notices
Madison Sourdough & Green County Hemp will both be absent from the market this Saturday, September 21st for Willy Street Fair. The will return the following week.
Savory Accents will be absent from the market Saturdays, September 21st & 28th. They will return to the market October 5th.
Daily Vendors - Saturday, September 21st:
Garden Gate Flowers
Hope & Hill Flower Co.
Pecatonica Valley Farm
Steppin' Out Foods
Flyte Family Farms, Live Jewelry Farm & Door County Fruit Market have finished vending for the 2024 season. They all wish to thank their customers and look forward to returning next season.
Dane County Farmers' Market
Cookbooks for Sale!
We are very happy have the wonderful "The Dane County Farmers’ Market Cookbook: Local Foods, Global Flavors" by amazing food writer Terese Allen available for purchase at the Info Tent.
The book is bursting with great stories and recipes built around the unique and vibrant farmers market scene Madison has to offer. Find new and delicious ways to utilize your market finds, while supporting the market.
Copies will be available each Saturday at the Info Tent. The books sell for $35 and can be purchased with cash, check or Venmo (including Tap-to-Pay cards).
Food Scrap Collection at the Market!
Beginning July 20th, Sustain Dane is expanding its free Food Scraps Drop-Off program to the Westside Community Market. According to the Wisconsin DNR, our landfills consist of 14.5% food that would be traditionally edible, and 6% “food scraps” (like peels). Take action and bring your food scraps to Sustain
Dane’s Westside Market booth on Saturdays from July 20th to November 2nd*, from 7:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
They can accept the following materials:
Raw Fruits
Raw Vegetables
Coffee Grounds
Loose Tea
Plain Pasta/Rice
Eggshells
Gourds
They cannot accept the following:
Meat
Dairy
Cooked Foods
Bread
Produce Stickers & Twist Ties
“Compostable” Bags
“Compostable” Utensils (Forks, Plates, Cups, etc.)
Paper Products
To date, this free public program has composted over 36,000 pounds. Compost buckets will be available at the first market to use for the remainder of the program.
Missed a market day? Bring your scraps to one of their other locations at the South Madison or Eastside Markets on Tuesdays.
All collected scraps are taken to Neighborhood Food Solutions (NFS) Farm which supports formerly incarcerated individuals in urban agriculture and teens in entrepreneurial and agricultural training. NFS
provides farming opportunities for community members who may not normally have access and resources to learn about and participate in farming. With this partnership, food scraps collected at the farmers markets will help to rebuild and create healthy soil at the farm to continue growing produce.
This program is in partnership with the City of Madison and Neighborhood Food Solutions. Learn more about the program here.
*The extension of the Westside Community Market food scraps recycling site is part of a youth led Sustain Dane initiative through the Youth Climate Action Fund focusing on youth engagement in food composting.”
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