Dane County Farmers Market

Capitol Square
Madison, WI

Submitted by: Janet Sarver

Situated in an idyllic setting in the heart of Madison, this market's fame extends well beyond the city.

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04/30/02 t green said:

It's truly an exceptional place, you must come out and visit. Throngs of folks visit every weekend, always something going on in addition to the many vendors. Cows on the Square is my favorite, when dairy farmers bring some of their animals to touch and smell. We moved to WI from MA in 1995, the farmers' market here has been a real highlight for me and family. Widest variety of product I've ever seen: dairy, eggs with the chicken poop still on them, baked goods, greenhouse tomatoes, honey, meat including buffalo plus the usual in-season products. Many Mong farmers participate. There must be funding somewhere in your program to come and see for yourself! Tom Green

05/01/02 J Zaremba said:

After recently moving to WI from the Northwest, the farmer's market has provided a haven of fresh fruit, vegetables and goodies that make the experience of living here all the more interesting. The vendors are very friendly, the prices are great and what more of a reason do you need to get up early on a Saturday! This is definately a "Great Public Space".

05/01/02 amy mertz said:

The Dane County Farmers' Market is one of the best I've been to. The diversity in terms of what is offered is great -- from maple syrup to ostrich to fresh pasta to unusual plants and vegetables -- and the location can't be beat. Madison is such a beautiful, liberal kind of town, and the vendors who come to this market are reflective of the city's style. They're all nice, hard-working people who do what they do so we can all enjoy the land. And it's nice to be able to get some decent tomatoes and avoid those horrible ones in the grocery store!

05/01/02 Ann Bowers said:

An early morning saunter around the Dane County Farmers' Market is almost a spiritual experience. For 15 seasons I've managed to at least one sojourn there, and as spring is almost here, I am longing to arrive early one Saturday morning before the crowds and breathe in the experience.

05/01/02 Sheri Rice said:

What's great about the Farmer's Market is there is something for everyone, and no matter how many times I go I always find something new to discover. What I particularly love about it is that we are supporting small local farmers by shopping here. I buy organic veggies, goat cheese, and apple cider from people who care that I'm buying their food. It makes me feel good to support our Wisconsin farmers. Also, I enjoy the heirloom vegetables that you can find here like purple peppers or yellow tomatoes - keeping genetic diversity alive is important. The market is educational for me. The sellers are always happy to share information with you about their honey, bison, trout, cheese, or fudge. Finally, I go because it's a ton of fun. There are street musicians, and in addition to the food there are folks selling homemake soap, jewelry, coffee, pottery, plants, clothes, and crafts. I consider the Dane County Farmer's Market a win-win for Madison - and summer wouldn't be summer without it.

05/01/02 C Coffin said:

I read recently that the Dane County Farmers Market has over 300 vendors who participate throughout the summer, and that it has more visitors than any other farmer's market in the country. Our favorite activity is to sit on the steps at the top of State Street and enjoy fresh pastries and coffee from the market, while scanning the crowd for our friends. We invariably run into several individuals or families who we havn't seen in weeks, or even months. I feel out of touch with Madison if I miss the market for more than a few weeks in a row. And it's not just for grown-ups -- our kids love it too and get very exited every Saturday morning when it's time to head downtown.

05/01/02 Lauren Rosen said:

I have lived in Madison for about 15 years except for a one year study venture in Minneapolis. I have attended the farmer's market nearly every Saturday I have been in town. We bicycle there, about 4 miles. First stop is always coffee or fruit smoothie and a muffin, all made fresh locally. As our family wanders around the market selecting a variety of produce, dairy and plants (whatever we can fit in our panniers) we see many friendly faces. The market both for its social aspects and its products was what I missed the most on my one year living in the Twin Cities, where they do have two farmer's market but neither one is the friendly social event found in Madison nor do they offer the variety of products seen here.

05/01/02 Bonita Westover said:

I have recently returned home to Madison after being gone for 15 years. Without a doubt, one of the aspects of Madison-living that I most pined for in my absence was Farmer's Market. Now that I'm back, I do my weekly grocery shopping at the Saturday Farmer's Market, and stop at the weekday "satellite" Farmer's Markets in between. There is a certain (perhaps, truly indescribable with words) feeling . . . an aliveness! . . . an embracing of things good in life at the Dane Co. Farmer's Market. Food, music, friendship, community activism are all well-respresented. And, because the Capitol Square is such a terrific, convenient location, I can combine multiple fun or practical errands in my weekly shopping trip to the market (stop by my credit union, stop by Kids at the Crossroads at the Civic Center, hang out to hear Andean music, old-time string band music, blues, or watch a local juggler, depending upon who has shown up that day). Sure, this is the "land of nice people", but unbelievably, folks are even nicer at Farmer's Market. It's kind of like we know we have a really good thing going with Farmer's Market, and it just makes everyone happy to be a part of it. Finally, during the interminable few months that we don't have Farmer's Market each year, I can buy the products of some of my favorite Farmer's Market vendors at my local grocery co-ops. Dane County Farmer's Market is truly THE coolest place to be on Saturday mornings!

05/01/02 scott johnson said:

you can visit with the person who grows the product and get tips on how to cook it and it is chemical free too

05/01/02 pamilyn hatfield said:

The Dane County Farmers Market is unbelievable! You have to see, hear, smell, and experience it to know what all of us are talking about. A true gem in this part of the world.

05/01/02 Lisa Lathrop said:

The Dane County Farmer's Market is something we eagerly await each spring. The combination of fresh local products and people are part of the charm of the Madison area. I've never experienced a market quite like this one. It's definitely the best!

05/01/02 Patricia Brooksbank said:

Impressive! I moved here from Canada 4-1/2 years ago and met many Milwaukeans who raved about this market. Have only visited it once (last fall) while vacationing nearby in Wisconsin Dells - best I've seen since leaving Canada. (Not sure if your site is US only, but Canada has some great sites - and markets - too!). I have NEVER seen so many varieties of garlic. Was tempted to head back for the NEW! winter market, but didn't make it. But I will definately be a regular this summer and in those to come. It's worth the 1-1/2 hour commute!

05/01/02 Sara Burr said:

Dane County Farmers Market is colorful, sociable, delectable, entertaining. The venue is magnificent--the beautiful Capitol Park Gardens overlooking two lakes and the University of Wisconsin's urban campus. One aspect of the Market that is often overlooked, but which preserves its mellow, diverse and safe character, is the excellent management system for the Market. Vendor selection and qualification is well-organized and based on the values of: locally-grown or made produce and products, organic husbandry, diversity of ethnic farming, and so on. Furthermore, families and children are safeguarded through sensible rules regarding dogs, circulation of crowds and the like. The market has flourished not only because it expresses Dane County's unique combination of agricultural and urban cultures coming together, but also because it reflects the solid management values that make the county's farms, schools, communities and businesses prosper. The Dane County Farmers Market is a great example of how good organization fosters great liberty, diversity and energetic participation in social institutions. God bless the Dane County Farmers Market. It's fun!

05/01/02 Marsha Cannon said:

The Madison Farmer's Market is our summer garden. Farmers provide the goods, the State capitol (in the center of the Square) is the major ornament, and the lawn is always mowed! Saturday mornings in the summer would not be complete without a stroll to greet our favorite vendors and stop for latte at Ancora Coffee Roasters. The Market is a favorite destination when we have friends here from out of town. And don't forget the Wednesday market!!

05/02/02 Anna Lappe said:

We write about the Dane County Farmers Market in our book Hope's Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet. It is an incredible place and the forerunner of the positive trends of farmers markets blossoming around the country. We would love it to be celebrated by PPS. Anna Lappé and Frances Moore Lappé (www.hopesedge.com)

05/02/02 Lisa McGinnis said:

My husband and I have lived in downtown Madison for 9 years. The Farmer's Market is definitely a big part of why we have stayed. To be able to roll out of bed, grab a coffee and stroll around the Capitol is wonderful. The produce is so amazingly delicious and fresh (and cheap- 1 dollar for a huge bag of spinach just picked that morning!). We have gotten to know vendors that we would never have met if it weren't for the Farmer's Market. I actually prefer the Wednesday market, even though it is smaller. It is less crowded and I can chat with the vendors.In a world where people are rushed it feels nice to slow down and connect with others. We feel lucky to have such an amazing market right up the street!

05/02/02 Julia in Waunakee said:

The Dane County Farmers Market is special for the diversity that it packs into a manageable area. I moved here from San Francisco, and there are some fine markets there, but none with the same breadth of products available. Vegetables both conventional and organic, commercial varieties and heirloom, cultivated and wild collected--meats of all sorts--mushrooms wild and grown--common windowbox flowers and unusual native species, woodland and prairie plants--handmade products, from wreaths to preserves. Oh! and don't forget the cheese! Plus, you've got all the informational tables manned by people passionate about a wide variety of causes--political campaigns, prairie restoration, bike trails, railroads, family planning, avoiding nuclear war--the list is endless and endlessly varying. And finally, the most wonderful thing about this diversity is that everybody is all mixed up (e.g. there is no "special organic section") and everyone is friendly and open.

05/02/02 Majid Allan said:

When I first moved to Madison 7 years ago from Central Pennsylvania, I was unprepared for the incredible spectacle and unparalleled bounty of the Dane County farmers' market. Vendors offer every conceivable variety of vegetables, cheeses, meats, flowers, plants, jams, sauces, fish -- a veritable full service supermarket of fresh, local, wholesome foods set among the verdant, tree-lined grounds of the state capitol. The market provides more than just an opportunity to buy food. It provides a much needed public space for advocates of various local, national, and international causes to reach and interact with fellow citizens. It provides opportunities for customers to learn about how and where their food is produced, and about the producers themselves -- providing the space to develop relationships that can last for years and that ultimately help to bridge the urban/rural divide. As one of the largest open-air markets in the country, the Dane County farmers' market is arguably the greatest public space in the region.

05/03/02 Joanne Smith said:

I drive 1-1/2 hours from Illinois to visit the Farmers Market. There are so many venders with so much to offer and reasonable prices. The fruits and produce are very fresh and you find things you cannot find in a grocery store. The flowers are plentiful and the baby rice popcorn is outstanding!

05/04/02 Sylvia Sinclair said:

Our family moved here from Texas three years ago, and the Dane County Farmers Market tops the list of wonderful things we have discovered in Wisconsin. My 3 year old son and I arise early each Saturday to make our weekly pilgrimage to the Square. Our trips combine ritual (fresh cheese curds) with adventure, since there's always something new to see or do while there.

05/06/02 carolyn haack said:

I come all the way from Milwaukee to pick up top quality produce and lots of specialty items (cheeses, preserves, breads) that are hard or impossible to find elsewhere. It's a magical outing, well-organized & civilized even though very well attended. Everyone takes care of looking out for the (many) kids, for instance, and the vendors are all friendly.

05/07/02 Jennifer Haldeman said:

The Farmers Market is a wonderful place! It is one of the first things I tell people about when I tell them about the school that i'm going to and it is one of the things I will miss the most when I graduate. The feeling one gets from being there is simply that of being ALIVE! The opening of the Farmers Market is a sure sign that spring is here and classes are almost out. What else but a great public space with wonderful camraderie could oust college students from their beds early on a Saturday morning....oh, i mean besides food! :)