Vital’s 2007 Farmers Market Guide

By Amy Elliott, Evan Solochek, Jon Anne Willow

In the urban epicenter of metropolitan Milwaukee, it’s far too easy to forget that we live in Wisconsin, a major player in the nation’s agricultural life and a leading producer of cranberries, corn, oats, potatoes, cherries, green beans and, of course, fresh dairy. Enter the farmers market – arguably the best way for urbanites to participate responsibly in our rich agricultural infrastructure. While some markets still feature trucked-in fare, more are focusing on what we have right here. There aren’t many downsides to buying locally. Healthier produce raised with fewer chemicals comes to us across far less distance and with shipping costs minimized and no middle man to pay off costs are drastically reduced, and the effect on the environment is alleviated. But most of all, it’s good to know where your food comes from, how it gets here and who’s dealing with it. And with lots of markets offering flowers, baked goods, coffees and teas, artwork and even live music, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more pleasant way to spend a few precious summer hours.

NOTE: Some information is unconfirmed and noted with an (*).

Bauer’s Farmers Market
11813 7 ½ Mile Rd., Caledonia
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily, July through November. 262-835-4386.

Brown Deer Farmers Market
Bradley Commerce Center,
N. 43rd St. and Bradley Rd.
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wednesdays through October. Annuals and perennials, herbs, roses, and fruits and vegetables. 414-354-6923.

Brookfield Farmers Market
City Hall, 2000 N. Calhoun Rd
7:30 a.m. – noon, Saturdays through October. Flowers, fruits and vegetables, Piedmontese beef, maple syrup, chickens, eggs, bison meat, baked goods, dried floral, garden art and much more. Weekly entertainment and demonstrations. 70th annual Dahlia Show September 23, with more than 600 blooms on display for judging. 262-784-7804 or brookfieldfarmersmarket.com.

Burlington Farmers Market
Echo Park, 588 Milwaukee Ave.
8 a.m. – noon, Saturdays through November. 262-342-1171.

Cudahy Farmers Market
4700 S. Packard Ave.
10 a.m. – sold out, Fridays through November. Locally grown and produced baked goods, fresh produce, apples, honey, flowers, crafts and more. ci.cudahy.wi.us.

Delafield Farmers Market
514 W. Main St.
7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturdays through October. Producer-only market; locally grown vegetables, fruits, herbs, honey, cider, flowers, annual bedding and perennial plants, ironworks, homespun woolen yarns and other locally handcrafted items. 262-968-4471.

East Side Open Market
1901 E. North Ave.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturdays, June 30 through October. Produce, agricultural products, flowers, herbs, CSA, amazing artists and marvelous local musicians. theeastside.org.

East Town Farmers Market
Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells
7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Saturdays through October. Farm-grown produce, baked goods, specialty foods and arts & crafts. Free entertainment and children’s activities. easttown.com.

Elmwood Plaza Farmers Market
Durand Ave., Racine
8 a.m. – noon, Tuesdays and Fridays through November 2. Seasonal asparagus, rhubarb, beans, tomatoes, corn, melons, bedding plants, apples, baked goods, chickens, eggs and fresh flowers. 262-886-3284.

Fondy Farmers Market
2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
7 a.m. – 2 p.m. weekdays, 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturdays through November. Largest central city market, offering fruits and vegetables, chickens, ducks and turkeys. fondymarket.org.

Germantown Farmers Market
Village Hall
N112 W1700 Mequon Rd.
7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturdays through October. 262-250-4750.

Fox Point Farmers Market
Stormonth School
7300 N. Lombardy Rd.
8 a.m. – noon, Saturdays, June 16 through October 13.Wisconsin-grown fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, native plants, flowers, honey, bakery, cage-free eggs, pastured beef, cheese and herbal soap. 414-352-0555.

Grafton Farmers Market
Twin City Plaza
1720 Wisconsin Ave.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursdays, July through October. 262-377-1650.

Greendale Open Market
Municipal lot, Parking St.
8 a.m. – noon, June 23, July 7, 21; August 4, 18, 25; September 8, 22; October 6, 20. Farmers’ produce, apples, jams, syrups and flowers. gpr.greendale.k12.wi.us.

Hales Corners Harvest
on the Homestead
Stahl-Conrad Homestead
9724 W. Forest Home Ave.
8 a.m. – noon, June 30; July 14, 28; August 11; September 1, 15 and 29; October 13. 414-708-0584.

Hartford Farmers Market
Recreation Center, 147 N. Rural St.
7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturdays through November 17. 262-673-7193.

*Howell Ave. Farmers Market
U.S. Bank, 4015 S. Howell Ave.
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., July through October. Fresh produce, plus music and activities for kids.

Jefferson Farmers Market
Rotary Park
4 p.m. – 8 p.m., June 13, 22; July 6, 25; August 8, 23. 920-674-4511.

Juneau Farmers Market
Courthouse Square, 127 E. Oak St.
8 a.m. – noon., Fridays, June through October. juneauwi.org.

Kenosha Farmers Market
Various locations
6 a.m. – noon (1 p.m. Saturdays) through November. Columbus Park, 22nd Ave. and 54th St. (Wednesdays and Saturdays); Lincoln Park, 22nd Ave. and 69th St. (Thursdays); Baker Park, Sheridan Rd. and 66th St. (Fridays).
kenosha.org/departments/parks/farmers.html.

Kenosha Harbor Market
Kenosha HarborPark
9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturdays through October. Supporting small agriculturalists, food producers and artists, especially from the Kenosha area. Fresh produce, herbs and flowers grown within 150 miles. Art, music and demonstrations weekly. kenoshaharbormarketplace.com.

Lake Geneva Farmers Market
Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad. St.
8 a.m. –1 p.m., Thursdays through October. 262-248-7598

Lake Mills Open Market
Common Park, East Lake St.
4 p.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesdays through October. lakemills.org.

Mayville Farmers Market
Main St.
7 a.m. – 11 a.m., Wednesdays through October. Fresh vegetables, local home-grown produce. 920-387-1167.

Menomonee Falls Farmers Market
Menomonee Falls Jr. High
8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesdays through November 21 (except July 4). 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Sundays, August – October (except September 23). Fresh vegetables, eggs, poultry, bakery, fresh flowers (annuals and perennials), honey and collectibles. 262-251-8797.

Milwaukee Public Market
Outdoor Farmers Market
400 N. Water St.
8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays through August. Featuring an array of Wisconsin-grown and crafted products. One-hour free parking in adjacent lot. Entertainment and chef demonstrations throughout the season. milwaukeepublicmarket.org.

*Mitchell St. Market
1002 W. Maple St.
8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, June through October.

New Berlin Farmers Market
New Berlin Plaza
3600 S. Moorland Rd.
7 a.m. – noon, Saturdays through October. 262-786-9165.

Oconomowoc Farmers Market
City Hall, 212 E. Wisconsin Ave.
7 a.m. – Noon, Saturdays through October. Fruits, vegetables, crafts, homemade honey and soaps. 262-567-2666 or
www.oconomowoc.org.

Port Washington Farmers Market
E. Main St.
8 a.m. – noon, Saturdays, July 7 through October (except July 21).
portwashingtonchamber.com.

Racine Market on the Square
Main St.
9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturdays, June through September 1. 262-634-6002

Riverwest Gardeners Market
Garden Park, Locust and Bremen
11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sundays, June 17 through October. Fresh produce and craft items. Live music from noon to 3 p.m.

Sherman Park Farmers Market
Sherman Perk, Roosevelt & 49th
8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays through September. 414-875-7375.

Skelly’s Farm Market
2344 Hayner Rd., Janseville
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily, June through October. Pick-your-own or pre-picked pumpkins, fall produce and decorations, weekend wagon rides (by reservation for groups of 10 or more). skellysfarmmarket.com.

South Shore Farmers Market
2900 South Shore Dr., Bay View
8 a.m. – noon, Saturdays, June 23 through October 20 (except July 14). Fresh produce, jams, honey, coffee, spices, baked goods, grapes, herbs, flowers and dog bones. 414-744-0408.

South Milwaukee Farmers Market
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1304 Manitoba Ave., South Milwaukee
9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thursdays through October. Bedding plants, fresh and dried flowers, apples, berries, baked goods, chickens, eggs, occasionally lamb and a large range of locally grown produce. 262-835-4386.

Thiensville Farmers Market
Village Hall, 250 Elm St.
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesdays, June through October. 262-242-3720.

*Uptown Farmers Market
N. 49th St. at W. North Lisbon Ave.
8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sundays, June through October. Wisconsin-grown produce, fruits and out-of-season goods provided by local wholesaler.

Walworth County Farmers Market
Elkhorn Town Square
9 a.m. – noon, Saturdays, June through October 20. uwex.edu/ces/cty/Walworth/ag/farmersmarket.html.

Watertown Fair Day
Riverside Park, 850 Labaree St.
7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesdays through November 13. 920-261-6320.

Watson St. Farmers Market
Village Green, 400 Watson St., Ripon
7 a.m. until 1 p.m., Tuesdays and Saturdays, June 6 through October. Locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, preserves and numerous other products. riponmainst.com.

Waukesha Farmers Market
Riverfront Plaza
7 a.m. – noon, Saturdays through October. Beginning July 17, the market will also run 2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. County-grown produce. 262-549-6154.

*Wells St. Farmers Market
N. 29th St. and W. Wells St.
9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturdays, July through October.

West Allis Farmers Market
1559 S. 65th St., at National Ave.
Noon – 6 p.m.,Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Saturdays through November. Locally grown plants, produce, flowers, meat, herbs and much more. All items sold grown by the farmer or on family farms. ci.west-allis.wi.us/health/health_farmers_market.htm.

West Bend Farmers Market
Old Settlers Park
7:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., Saturdays, June through October. A one-stop shop for locally grown and made products. Fresh fruits and vegetables, Door County cherries, baked goods, jams and jellies, eggs and honey. Live music and demonstrations. downtownwestbend.com.

West Town Farmers Market
Zeidler Union Square, 301 W. Michigan St.
10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wednesdays, June through October (except July 4). Milwaukee’s oldest city market offers fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers, organic products, herbs, prepared foods, art, jewelry, crafts and more. Entertainment by local musicians and artisans. westtown.org.

Whitewater Farmers Market
1609 Turtle Mound Circle
8 a.m. until sold out, Saturdays through November 3. All home-grown produce, fruits, plants, some crafts and bakery. ci.whitewater.wi.us.

Whitewater Mid-Week Farmers Market
Cravath Lake Park, 341 S. Fremont St.
5 p.m. – 8 p.m., Thursdays, June 14 through August 16 (except June 28, July 5). Kayak and paddle boat rentals and live entertainment. ci.whitewater.wi.us.