It must be spring here in Wisconsin – the Dane County Farmers' Market is back on the Capitol Square in Madison from 6:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. every Saturday through November. On Saturday, I enjoyed the sunrise reflecting from the golden “Wisconsin” statue on top of the Capitol and everything else about the farmers market.
Each season, visitors will find a bounty of vegetables, flowers, meats, cheeses and specialty products from approximately 275 vendors. It’s reported that the Dane County Farmers' Market, which was started in 1972 to unite the urban and the rural cultures, is the largest producer-only farmers market in the country. That means that when you visit the Dane County Farmers' Market, you get to know the people who grow and raise your food and produce agricultural-related products.
A longtime friend was one of the first vendors at the farmers market. At first, her family baked sweet rolls, doughnuts and breads, but decided that the rolls and doughnuts didn’t fit into a healthy lifestyle they advocated for. They continued to bake and distribute several varieties of bread including sourdough, sourdough rye, organic raisin, sunny oatmeal and a seven-grain bread that is still raved about in conversations. Still baking bread and caring for family and friends, she died last fall at the age of 100.
Before children, I’d invite friends, neighbors or Doug’s mom to go to the farmers market – at age 93, she still has fond memories of our trips to the market. Our sons learned at a young age that Saturday mornings meant predawn wake-up calls: “If you want to go to the market, we’re leaving in 15 minutes.” Most of the time, I had a market buddy, and what I treasure the most is that each of our sons continues to go to the farmers market with their significant others – just not as early. When our youngest son is home from college, I can count on a market buddy – he’s hoping that I’ll splurge for a loaf of Stella’s Hot and Spicy Cheese Bread.
Along with the stunning sunrise, early risers get prime no-pay-until-8 a.m. parking spots, the best selection of produce and products, opportunities to catch up with vendors and the best photo opportunities without the crowds.
While at the market, some weeks we’d see our adored pediatrician trekking around the square, local restaurant staff with wagons full of produce for their farm-to-table menus or a former co-worker and fellow journalist who used to sell the best-ever asparagus at a reasonable price during the early spring markets.
Years ago, to satisfy my entrepreneur spirit, our family ventured to start a farmers market in Belleville with the boys selling biscotti and items from our garden. With just a few other vendors, the market lasted a few years, but wasn’t sustainable. Currently, Belleville has a weekly farmers market during the summer months and, if time allows, I make biscotti to sell along with produce, plants or flowers from our garden.
While making our first “check out what’s available, prices, take photos round,” I would take photos of flowers and other product displays. It soon turned into a “Picked Just for You” photo-card business. The boys earned college funds when they helped with photo-card production. Traditionally, our second round is the purchase round, and we always come home with our favorites and must-haves.
In a few weeks, we’ll celebrate June Dairy Month, and the Dane County Dairy Promotion Committee will host Cows on the Concourse in conjunction with the Dane County Farmers' Market. Thousands of visitors will enjoy hot-off-the-grill cheese sandwiches and other dairy products, learn more about the dairy industry, pet a calf or two, be up close to a cow and learn what they eat, plant seeds, participate in a scavenger hunt and stroll around the farmers market.
The energy and enthusiasm that flows around the square from dawn until midafternoon confirms the farmers market’s success and that the early bird gets the worm … and a whole lot more.
