Southside Community Farmers Market Opens Saturday, May 11

May 09, 2002
Cheryl Wade, (608) 226-9496 Majid Allen, (608) 267-2536
County Executive

The Southside Community Farmers Market opens for its second year of business this Saturday morning (May 11), in the parking lot of the Villager Shopping Center, in the 2200 block of South Park Street. The market received a grant award of $12,700 through the Dane County Agricultural Enterprise Program, which will help the market recruit more vendors, provide outreach to neighborhood youth and senior citizens, and sponsor special events like free cooking demonstrations and health screenings. The Southside Community Market will be held every Saturday morning and Tuesday afternoon. Market hours are Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm, and Tuesday from 2:30pm to 6:00pm. A Grand Opening event is being planned for June. “The community is really behind this farmers’ market,” said Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. “I’m happy we could provide some help to support their efforts.” This Saturday the market will offer a limited variety of early greens, plants and hanging baskets. A wide array of fresh, local produce, including early season favorites like asparagus and strawberries, will follow in the upcoming weeks. The market will also provide space for local vendors and artisans offering handcrafted goods. The market began last year through the combined efforts of a coalition of groups including the Dane County Hunger Prevention Council, Genesis Development Corporation, Dane County-UW Extension, the South Metropolitan Planning Council, Community Action Coalition, the Madison WIC program, South Madison Health and Family Center (Harambee), Dane County Planning and Development, neighborhood associations, and local residents. Funding from Dane County was used to hire a market coordinator. Some new groups have joined the effort this year, including students from the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology. Market coordinator Cheryl Wade anticipates another successful season. “We’re expecting more vendors this year with a wider variety of produce and crafts, and more activities for families and children,” Wade said. Neighborhood residents are also looking forward to the market this year. Bay Creek neighborhood resident, Rose Brothers, said, “the market is a wonderful addition to the Southside, and I can’t wait to see that parking lot transformed into a garden again this year.” The Southside Community Market will run through late October. Interested vendors and artisans are encouraged to contact market coordinator Cheryl Wade (608-226-9496) for more information. # # #