Summer Dreams, Summer News
Sugar snap peas from Shoua Vang
Summer Dreams, Summer News
Ten weeks down, twenty to go as we move officially into summer and session two of the market season.
While dreams of sweet corn, watermelons and Door County cherries are still several weeks away, the early part of the summer session is filled with great market finds sure to please.
Sugar snap peas are here at last, popping up around the market from vendors like Don's Produce and Yang Family Produce.
Kopke's Greenhouse is awash with flowers and plants to offer, like the pictured basil planter, perfect for harvesting as you need over the season. That basil would work great with the cucumbers coming in from Emerald Meadows Family Farm (pictured) for this tasty Cucumber Salad recipe.
In another sign of the emerging summer, garlic scapes are in! We spotted the first of the season over at Urban Gourmet this past weekend (pictured).
Garlic scapes, for the unfamiliar, are the flowering shoots of hard-neck garlic varieties. As this delicious and milder tasting part of the garlic plant draws nutrients away from bulb production, it's a win-win to harvest them before they flower and enjoy a "second harvest" from the plants. Give this garlic scape pesto recipe a try or enjoy them added to a stir-fry or grilled.
For the last Saturday in June, we're looking forward to welcoming back The Deliciouser with their tasty spice blends, offering you many options to pack in the flavor with all the summer produce rolling in.
We've got lots to look forward to in the coming session, including more visits from the Master Gardeners (starting July 2nd), visits from new UW Market Science group later in July and ending the session with the return of our Zucchini Car Races on August 27th.
While we are pumped up about all the great things to come, we can't do it alone. To that end, we are looking for a few new volunteers to aide us at the Info Tent during markets. The volunteering details can be found below and we encourage anyone who likes reveling in the market community on Saturday mornings to consider spending some time with us!
Last, but far from least this week, we 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.
Seasonal favorites, new offerings, great people; all the things you can expect and continue to love when you shop locally right in your neighborhood.
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!
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!
Market Notices: June 25th
Swing by the Info Tent and pick up a free Westside Community Market yard sign, or grab one set out in the aisle.
Live Jewelry Farm, The Deliciouser, Rude Brew Kombucha, & Ernie's African Kick Sauce will join us this weekend as daily vendors.
The Double Dollars program returned June 4th. FoodShare shoppers can get up to $25 matched each week through October.
From Blue Moon Community Farm:
"Blue Moon Community Farm is taking a market break! We'll be back in late July. In the meantime you can find all of our produce at our Farm Stand at the farm Wednesdays 3-7pm! Visit our website for each week's offerings at www.bluemooncommunityfarm.com
Thank you for your support!"
Farm & Market Job Openings
Whether you're looking for something part-time or more involved, working for one of the market vendors is always a rewarding experience. Delicious produce as a job perk? Yes please!
County Line Plants & Produce, north of Deforest, is hiring for a field position this season. Contact farmer Cathy via email at dalmationlover101@msn.com
Emerald Meadows Family Farm, outside of Columbus, is hiring for their field crew this season, which includes working some market Saturdays at the WCM. Check out their website here for more info, including how to apply.
Crunchy fresh baguette from Stella's Bakery
Our many thanks to Snaggle Tooth Arts of Wayward Tattoo for the market rabbit graphic!
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