Hooray for Halfway
Baby green beans from Yang Family Produce
Hooray for Halfway
Fifteen weeks down, fifteen to go. That's right, we've made it halfway through our 2022 market season.
From a cool start in the spring to over 90° last Saturday, watching the market grow into the mid-summer is a pleasure. Vendors return as more produce comes in until the market and every booth is packed with Wisconsin goodness.
These mid-summer markets swap sweet corn for asparagus, sunflowers for daffodils, and orchards for greenhouse growers. Another mid-summer staple we're happy to see again are green beans in from folks like Yang Family Produce and Don's Produce.
Basil is another sign of summer with fresh bunches of opal, Thai & classic sweet basil available from Ka Vang Thao. If you're feeling the urge to batch up some pesto for the winter, both Urban Gourmet and Blue Moon Community Farm offers kits to get you started.
It wouldn't be mid-summer if there weren't a few nights spent grilling out. Highland Spring Farm has you covered with a great selection from their Scottish Highland cattle. Round out your next cookout with this grilled eggplant pasta recipe, perfect for the beautiful Listada eggplants available from Emerald Meadows Family Farm (pictured).
While we're on the subject of grilling, Alsum Sweet Corn is back at the market with their Randolph grown corn, which is delicious grilled up and served with BBQ & herb butter.
As we move into the second half of the season we have plenty to look forward to. Apples and melons are still a few weeks away but will be here before long. Big bell peppers are starting, along with candy onions, fresh garlic, shishito peppers and new potatoes.
Field tomatoes are just kicking off, and we look forward to seeing the tables loaded down later in August as shoppers load up for canning.
Whether you've joined us every week so far or are just getting back into the market swing, we're looking forward to enjoy the next fifteen weeks with you.
See you at market!
Ben Zimmerman
Market Manager
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 30th
Swing by the Info Tent and pick up a free Westside Community Market yard sign, or grab one set out in the aisle.
McCluskey Brothers' Shillelagh Glen Farms, Country Bloomer's Greenhouse, Rude Brew Kombucha, & Ernie's African Kick Sauce will join us this weekend as daily vendors.
Don's Produce & Landmark Creamery will be absent from the market this Saturday, July 30th. They will return the first weekend in August.
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.
Butterfly sugar cookies from Chris & Lori's Bakehouse
Our many thanks to Snaggle Tooth Arts of Wayward Tattoo for the market rabbit graphic!
Comments