Dane County Farmers Market on the Square Madison Wisconsin

I enjoy a good farmers market.  I had a friend in college whose summer income was selling her flowers, hanging baskets, and bedding plants at a popular, local farmers market.  It’s a lot of work, you have to be a good manager -at a time in your life when staying out late on Friday night is more popular than waking up at 4am on Saturday morning but with the right market and the right product, there is money to be made.

I have from time to time gone back and forth about trying my hand at the farmers market set.  In another life, maybe.  I am lucky to live in an area where there are a couple really good farmers markets.  Of course I have a few favorite products at each one and it would take me all day going from one to the next to get all my favorite things.  Cheese at Madison, Cinnamon rolls at Platteville, cut-flowers in Galena, I guess every saturday I just need to choose what I want most.

Dane County farmers market in Madison is the largest producer only farmers market in the country.  In my opinion, producer only, is the only way to be a true farmers market.  Right now there is a five yr. waiting list to have a stand at the farmers market. Then, once you are in you are required to be there or you will lose your spot.  I suppose if you wait 5 yrs your going to take every opportunity you can to showcase your product.

My daughter and I got there really early to beat the crowds.  Her first score was a small bouquet of yellow roses.  Mine was a larger bouquet of dahlias. 

Then, you don’t have to tell us twice where the cheese is.

Raw Milk Gouda made by Bleu Mont Dairy was my cheese of choice that day.  It was fantastic.  So many great artisan cheese makers in Wisconsin.  Dane County Farmers Market has many from around the state in one spot.  It’s a cheese lovers paradise.

Then we sat down to enjoy more of our great finds.

We had a good time.  We could do without the political madness that seems to swirl around our state capitol, but we kept to ourselves and enjoyed the fresh, local, farm products.

The Farm Wife