Farmers' Markets: Local Food, Close to Home

Farmers' Markets are a wonderful way to get fruit, vegetables and other farm products straight from the source. Usually picked close to market day, and with a shorter distance to travel than produce shipped in from out of state, farmers' market finds can taste better and more fresh than what you find at a grocery store. 

You can also sometimes find a new fruit or vegetable to try, and get first-hand information about the farms or the produce from the people who grew and picked it. It's a great opportunity to teach children about where food comes from, and could even lead to picky eaters trying something new that they're able to choose themselves from among the booths. 

If you're looking for a market near you, look no farther. Patch has you covered:

Fox Point Farmers Market

Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon at in the west parking lot of 

The market is a producer-only market featuring  produce and flowers grown in Wisconsin, animals raised on nearby farms, or products made in-state.  New vendors this year include Conti Coffee Roasters, Purple Door Ice Cream, Wellspring Organic Farm and Kick Out the Jams. The Sharp Brothers will be on hand every week to sharpen your knives and garden tools while you shop

Catch live music or a demo every week from 10 a.m. to noon.

See photos from the farmers' market on Fox Point-Bayside Patch and read about the market in this story.

Basse's Country Delight, Muskego

Open most days 10 am to 5pm - call ahead at (414) 422-0315 for hours

Since 1937, the Basse family has farmed in Muskego, and sold its produce along the roadsides during the summer and fall. By building the larger just east of the original farm and stand in the early '90s, the clan ensured that its legacy and that of Muskego's rural roots would continue.

The Basses still have their farm, but the market itself is under the care of new owners, who continue to provide the freshest in seasonal produce inside and out. Customers have a rich selection of produce to choose from, including strawberries in the spring and summer and fresh-picked apples, sweet corn, pumpkins and gourds in the fall. Basses's sells mulch and landscaping products in the spring and summer and flowers throughout the year.  

Along with the produce, Basse's Country Delight features a delicious selection of Uncle Harry's Frozen Custard, cheeses (seasonally), sauces and a wide variety of gourmet popping corn. An array of hand-made crafts and decor is also available for purchase.

Port Washington Farmers Market

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays

The expanded this year to be . It will now include more hot food for sale, as well as seating — so that attendees can enjoy a snack while listening to music and also enjoying the other sights at the fest. There will also be live music at most events.

Vendors will be there selling the following products: doll clothes and jewelry, wood crafts, dog and cat products and nail trims, flowers, baked goods, coffee, herbal soap, hand stitched pillows, apples, cherries, and other locally grown produce; one vendor will also be selling small menu of food choices, including egg rolls, and Taste of Africa will also have booth.

Market-goers should also make note: though the event had usually run from 8 a.m. until noon in years past, this year it will run from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. each Saturday.

Saukville Farmers' Market

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 28 inside Veterans Park in downtown Saukville. No market Sept. 2.

The market offers a wide variety of Wisconsin grown produce, flowers and plants, artisan quality crafts, food and more.

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2 to 6 p.m., Thursdays, May through October

1015 Four Mile Road in Caledonia            

Sturtevant Farmers Market

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays; Open through October 31.

8505 Durand Avenue, Sturtevant

, 

1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to noon Fridays, May through October at the corner of Washington Ave. and West Boulevard in Racine.  

Waukesha Farmers' Market 

8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 29 near the Fox River in the downtown area.

as it’s nearly doubled from approximately 60 vendors in 2011 to 103 vendors in 2012.

"We could have actually accommodated about 140 vendors if we had the space,” said Business Improvement District Executive Director Meghan Sprager. “We had that much interest.”

The 103 vendors will be located along the Fox River walk between North Barstow Street and West Broadway. " It will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through the end of October. The market has the possibility to run two weeks into November, depending on the weather.

Market on the Hill, Pewaukee 

Wednesday from 3:00 – 6:30 PM beginning May 23, 2012 through October 24, 2012.

Market on the Hill will is located at 800 Main Street, building Q, where there is plenty of room for vendors and parking. This location is just around the corner from downtown Pewaukee and close enough for Sussex and Waukesha residents. 

The farmers' market features area businesses selling everything from fresh food to soap, with a few shops even featuring gardening and landscaping items. 

And according to Market on the Hill's website, "The Mission of the market is to provide opportunities for farmers and artisans to sell their offerings directly to consumers while providing consumers opportunities to buy locally grown and made products. By doing this, the market hopes to create, expand and enhance the economic strength and viability of farmers and artisans in Southern Wisconsin." 

Menomonee Falls Village Centre Farmers Market

Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. May through November and Sundays 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. July through October. Located one block west of the corner of Appleton & Main streets in the North Junior High campus parking lot.

The Menomonee Falls Village Centre holds a farmers market with between May and November. What's more, is the farmer's market doubles up the number of times you can shop locally by opening the market on Sundays between July and October. 

Held at the North Junior High parking lot,

"Vendors offer a variety of produce, home-made bakery, flowers, garden plants, specialty items, and unique arts and crafts," the farmers market's website says.  

Oak Creek Community Center Summer Market 

5-8 p.m. Aug. 8 and Aug. 22 at the

The Oak Creek Community Center is holding two outdoor summer markets in conjunction with its .

The markets will be held Aug. 8 and Aug. 22 on the community center grounds, 8580 S. Howell Ave. Last year, they featured items like jewelry, flowers, bakery and canned vegetables.

The markets will be held as residents enjoy the music of In Black N White on Aug. 8 and Mt. Olive on Aug. 22. Applications are still available at the community center.

Whitefish Bay Farmers Market 

July 28-September 29; 8 a.m. to noon

Whitefish Bay will kick off its this year in downtown Whitefish Bay. 

The seasonal, open air market is a family-friendly community event with local vendors selling fresh and organic produce, meats, eggs, and honey and more. The family-friendly market features kids crafts and live entertainment.

Last year, the market had weekly themes, such as Wellness Weekend, Green Homes and Gardens and Dog Days of Summer. Stay tuned for this year's themes.

Greendale Open Market

8 a.m. to noon July 7 & 21; Aug. 4, 18 & 25; Sept. 8 & 22; Oct. 6 & 20 at the Village Center on Broad Street

A wide variety of unique vendors and community groups feature their wares from flowers to fresh produce to bakery and arts and crafts. Live music has been added to this year's market, which is . See in this story on Greendale Patch.

Tosa Farmers Market 

The is open from 8 a.m. to noon each Saturday from June 2 through Oct. 13.

The Tosa Farmers Market is held in the middle of the scenic Wauwatosa Village, next to the Menomonee River and flanked by a wooded bluff on one side and views of the classic architecture of the Village on the other.

With nearly 50 vendors, there's something for every taste, including not only fresh produce but plenty of prepared foods that can .

The new “Makers Market” on the first Saturday of each month features handmade arts and crafts of local artisans. There is also live music every week.

Brookfield Farmers' Market 

7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays through October

In its 22nd year with more than 60 vendors, theLocated in the parking lot and Civic Plaza next to City Hall, 2000 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield's market features seasonal produce, bakery, plants, and specialty items such as elk and bison meat, honey, jams and jellies, maple syrup and garden items.

Every third Saturday of the month is 'Market and More,' in which non-produce vendors, arts and crafts and local businesses add their booths to the weekly market items. Over the course of the season, more than 100 vendors join Market and More.

Dogs are allowed. Musicians often play. For more information, including a list of vendors, see the website.

South Milwaukee Downtown Market

3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 11.

The market, located at 11th and Milwaukee avenues, features more than 60 vendors selling produce, organics, arts, crafts, baked goods, prepared food and more.

Attendees can also find a sampling of area restaurants, live entertainment and special events as part of what is a destination for families, foodies and everyone in between. A concert series begins July 5 and features a variety of local acts on its stage every Thursday. Most shows begin around 5 p.m.

Launched in 2009, the South Milwaukee Downtown Market has grown to become one of the largest in the area. For more information, check out its official website.