Waunakee Farmers Market

Blink and you'll miss itWhile I appreciate having a local farmer's market, the limited selection of products is going to make it difficult for this farmer's market to ever achieve critical mass. There are only six stands this year (three vegetable, one honey, one bread and one garlic and onions). The produce quality is hit and miss (sweet-smelling melons and fresh sweet corn were the highlights, the zeppelin-sized cukes and kohlrabi as big as your head looked pretty sad). At this week's market, there was not much in the way of fresh herbs, greens or hot peppers. While you can pick up a couple of items, you'll still need to go to the grocery store to complete your menu. While the location offers high viability, the sound of traffic rushing by doesn't create much in the way of ambiance. I wonder if moving the market to the more shaded Village Park would create a better atmosphere?I know I'm spoiled by the Dane County Farmers Market and something of that scale is never going to happen in Waunakee. Even something half the size of the Hilldale Farmers Market would be nice.

To Matt W.;First and foremost I would like to thank you for stopping by the Waunakee Farmers Market. Unfortunately the limited selection of products is not only due to the fact that there has been drought for more than two years now and farmers are finding it hard to find ways to keep their produce watered. Have you seen the corn fields lately? They are drying up and that is not suppose to happen until fall? Can you now imagine what the produce is looking like? And second the limited selection actually means that the vendors can make some money at the market unlike the HUGE markets out there. There is only a certain amount of parking for the vendors and to be honest I limit my market for the simple reason that I actually care about my vendors and hope that they make money coming to my market. And there are not only six stands this year- sorry but I don't know where you got that information from? I have six produce vendors alone, one honey vendor, one bakery vendor, one jewelry vendor, and had an asparagus vendor in the spring time. Maybe you did not walk completely around to see this.Produce is hit and miss only because the true farmers wait until they have it ready for the market patrons. So if something was missing, it most likely was not ready yet. As far as the over sized produce, did you take the time to ask the vendor what exactly it was? Because the kohlrabi as big as your head is actually suppose to be just that. It is a high breed and is guaranteed not woody like your normal sized ones. That is why that vendor grows them.As far as fresh greens, herbs, and hot peppers, I have two vendors who have fresh herbs, greens and almost all my vendors have hot peppers. Maybe the patron needs to actually walk around the market and look at what my vendors have on their tables.And as far as going to the grocery store, you will always have to go to the grocery store because the market can not sell soda, or milk, or processed foods per regulations from the State. I never seem to have a problem finding what I needed for a meal unless it was those items.I too wondered about moving the market to a different location only to find out that years ago it was in the park and my vendors did not make money there. So they asked the Waun-a-Bowl if they can park there because it was on a main hwy way. Thus brought them more income. If patrons are so worried about the atmosphere they would not come out period. I for sure would not go to the Madison market now since people are up there rioting because that is not a great atmosphere either right now.As far as having a bigger market, I am sorry to say this but that is not going to happen. I have been market manager for eight years now and I care about my vendors to know that if it gets too big, they don't make money. I want my vendors to make money. And that is not all that easy either when you have vendors who want to give this market a shot and then quit on me after two or three weeks. The vendor has to stick it out as well. They have to gain the trust of the patron. Several of my vendors have been with this market since day one, and have continued to show me they want to come back every year no matter how tough it gets.So as far as this market goes, I would say it has ran pretty good considering it has been around for more than 16 years. It is there for anyone looking for great, locally grown food, and friendly vendors. I have yet to met someone not friendly at my market. And I am so thankful that my vendors are loyal to this market.So it may lack something that you did not find there, it has plenty of produce for the next patron. And I sincerely hope that your posting didn't ruin it for the next patron of the market.Sincerely,Cheryl LohryMarket Manager