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National Farmers' Market Week

Saturday - August 12 -- Market Update

Come on out on Saturday, August 12, from 8:00am - 1:00pm and CELEBRATE

 

NATIONAL  FARMERS'  MARKET  WEEK

 

  The market will have many special activities & prizes and Sweet Corn will be plentiful!

Kids Scavenger Hut

Vendor Product Samples

Instagram Photo Contest

Story Time w/ Monroe Public Library

Trivia Question for Mystery Prize

 

Instagram Photo Contest

 

 

Frequent Shopper Program 

Every time you make a purchase from a Vendor, receive a Frequent Shopper Card.

At the end of each month 2 Frequent Shopper Cards will be drawn.

Winners will receive a Gift Certificate to the Market!

It pays to SHOP!

 

 

  Currently, the Monroe Farmers Market is the only active farmers market in Green County. 

Come Shop Local and Support Local Producers

 

 Click the link and like us on Facebook

Monroe Farmers Market

Farmers Market Updates

Water Street Bridge

Tomorrow - August 5 -- 8am - 1pm -- Shop vendors who are local -- fresh picked vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, locally produced honey, beef, pork, lamb, arts & crafts, and wonderful crème puffs & grilled cheese sandwiches!  The Market is "the place to be" on Saturday mornings! 

This week - the Monroe Farmers Market is happy to bring you live music entertainment by Water Street Bridge (courtesy of funding provided by Monroe Fund - Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc.)   Shop, eat, sit down and tap your toes while listening to Celtic, Blues, Slavic, & Acoustic tunes!

Come join in the fun as Downtown Monroe Main Street District hosts - Maxwell Street Days with awesome sales from our local businesses.

So many great reasons to visit the Square this weekend!

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL FARMERS' MARKET WEEK

August 6 - August 12

 

Main Street Monroe Farmers Market is inviting you to come CELEBRATE National Farmers' Market Week by visiting the Monroe Farmers Market  on the Square in Downtown Monroe, WI (Market days 8/9 & 8/12).  This is the 18th year the USDA has supported local producers by encouraging families to meet and buy from local farmers & farmers markets.  The Monroe Farmers Market will be offering special activities** both Wednesday-August 9 (1pm - 5:30pm) and Saturday-August 12 (8am - 1pm).

 

 Currently, the Monroe Farmers Market is the only active farmers market in Green County. 

Come Shop Local and Support Local Producers

 

 

**National Farmers' Market Week Activities

Kids Scavenger Hut

Vendor Product Samples

Instagram Photo Contest

Story Time w/ Monroe Public Library

Trivia Question for Mystery Prize

Frequent Shopper Program

Our Producer-Only Market

You may have heard that the Monroe Farmer's Market is a producer-only market.  What does that mean and how does that matter to you as a customer?

Some markets in the area allow vendors to purchase their products from another source and resell it at the market.  Not in Monroe!  Our market rules are simple: vendors are required to grow, raise, or make everything they sell.  Even the vendors who sell craft items are required to utilize raw materials when handcrafting their products to ensure that items are not mass produced by a third party.

For the market customer, this means that you can get answers to all your questions about ingredients and production so you can make well-informed purchase choices.  Vendors often display pictures of their farms, fields and facilities, as well as offer literature for more information on their practices.

All vendors have to be approved and meet these qualifications before they are permitted to join the market.  While sometimes vendors may have someone fill in for them at the market or need to send their products with another vendor on occasion, you can know that you'll meet the producer sooner or later!

So that is the reason you aren't likely to find olive oil vendors or be able to pick up a bunch of bananas at the Monroe Farmer's Market....unless they're hauling them to Monroe from their farms halfway across the world, of course!  And it's also why you won't find tomatoes in January or apples in May.  But summer or winter, you'll be able to take advantage of the wide variety of locally raised, grown, and handcrafted products that our southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois region have to offer.

Breakfast at the Market

Customers who stop in to the Monroe Farmer's Market this winter may be surprised to learn that the market is offering a breakfast for purchase.  Some of our talented, energetic vendors have prepared and provided the market with their favorite breakfast dishes, like these cinnamon rolls.

The market has also received donations from local businesses, such as Odyssey yogurt from Klondike and cheese from Alp & Dell.

The selection changes monthly, so when you stop in to shop you can see what the market has cooked up this month!

The winter market is held on the 3rd Saturday of every month from November to April.   The hours are from 9-2 in the Masonic Temple on the north side of Monroe's courthouse square.

The Farmer's Market--More than Produce

When you come down to the Monroe Farmer's Market you know you'll find all the produce, baked goods, fresh coffee, local meat, honey, maple syrup and other products that you've come to expect.  But this year, we've added a dose of entertainment to make the market even more interesting.  You never know what might be going on!  Here are a few of the things you may have seen, or on the other hand, the fun you've missed:

Trent Weber, the Mystical Kid, a magician

 Pottery vendors demonstrating their craft

 John Waelti with his accordion

 a wandering violinist, entertaining shoppers

"At the farmer's market, every day brings new opportunities for sharing, for catching up with friends, for strengthening ties of friendship, for supporting each other.  We value and treasure these relationships.  Our market does more than distribute fresh, locally grown, wholesome food.  It is a social, cultural event that brings many of the people of our area together."

The Plain Reader: Essays on Making a Simple Life, edited by Scott Savage

Get the most out of the market

Getting the most out of the Monroe farmer's market boils down to one easy tip: get to know the vendors.  And it's pretty easy, since all it requires is sauntering up to a vendor's booth.  Vendors are happy for the company and will gladly explain their products, answer questions, or just chat with you.

Some market attendees walk through the center of the market walkway, peering at the wares on either side without getting too close to any booth.  You might get a general idea of a vendor's offerings browsing this way, but you'll miss so much!  A farmer's market shopping experience is more personal and unique, unlike a shopping trip to your local "mart".

Why should you get to know the vendors?

1. They know their business!  They've spent a lot of time perfecting and honing their skills, some for years. Those unusual vegetables you see piled high on their table?  They are sure to be able to give you several recipes and tips on using them.  You may not know much about alpacas or homegrown beef but the vendors can give you a better understanding of how to use or prepare the products, as well as answer your questions.

2. They love what they do and it shows in their products.  Whether it's a passion for tomato soup, coffee, or soap, they are offering their very best to you and chances are, you'll also come to appreciate the skills they've developed.  It's quality that can't be found in mass-produced products.

3. They are your neighbors.  They may not live across the road from you, but most of the vendors at Monroe's market live in Green County and the rest come from surrounding counties.  Being a small, mainly rural county, chances are good that you have some connection to the friends, family, and colleagues of the vendor. Wouldn't you rather support other members of your own community than see your money go to faraway economies?

4. It might get you some perks!  Vendors appreciate feedback and suggestions and are often happy to accommodate special requests.  Can't find your favorite pie?  You might be able to find someone that will make one just for you.  Need a few bushels of cabbages for a giant batch of sauerkraut?  Ask around and you'll likely find someone that can help you out.  Vendors value steady customers who take an interest in their wares, and most will go out of their way to show their appreciation and keep you a happy customer.

Come to the Monroe Farmer's Market on Wednesdays from 1-5:30 and Saturdays from 8-1 on the Square...and take your time!

2016 Monroe Farmer's Market season begins!

It's May!  The market is now in full swing with an impressive array of homegrown and handmade products of all kinds from more vendors than ever.  And now with the warmer weather, produce is starting to appear--asparagus, spinach, kale, rhubarb, with more arriving every week.

We're also excited to introduce you to our new market manager, Danielle Zimmerman.  She's been involved with the market as a vendor with her Meadow Ridge Alpaca products and has served as secretary on the market committee.  Danielle has great enthusiasm and energy and has already implemented a lot of new ideas to make the market an even better experience.

Whether you have never attended the Monroe Farmer's Market before or are a market regular, you'll want to come out regularly--even twice a week--to catch the ever-changing selection of goods, vendors, and entertainment all season long!