Eat Healthy, Live Well: A Sampling of Area Farmers’ Markets
Brookfield Farmers’ Market
2200 N. Calhoun Rd. is the place to be on Saturday mornings in the City of Brookfield. Peach Tree Gardens offers certified organic fruits and vegetables. Make your own salad dressings using Aleka’s Kitchen’s olive oil (grown in the family grove in Greece).
www.brookfieldfarmersmarket.com
Cathedral Square Farmers’ Market
As if Jazz in the Park and Bastille Days weren’t enough to bring you downtown into the open air, Cathedral Square Farmers’ Market happens Saturdays from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Yoga enthusiasts, come by 9 a.m. for OM-age, sponsored by the Wisconsin Athletic Club. Dance lessons from Danceworks follow, along with live music.
530 E. Wells St.
www.easttown.com
CORE/El Centro Farmers’ Market
Home by day to a nonprofit devoted to natural healing therapies, wellness, and nutritional counseling, and sharing a building with Clock Shadow Creamery, CORE/El Centro hosts a farmers’ market on every third Thursday in summer. Try the honey and see if you can spot the bee hives situated on top of the green roof.
130 W. Bruce St.
www.core-elcentro.org
Fondy Farmers’ Market
Fondy is a North side gem that bustles with activity four days a week, all summer long. While short on meat, they’re long on affordable, quality produce grown with a minimum, and in many cases, no spraying. Look for lesser-known Asian veggies to add an exotic twist to your stir-fry, along with herbal salts from Alice’s Garden for seasoning.
2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Working downtown? Check out Fondy’s popup on Tuesdays at Schlitz Park, 1543 N. 2nd St.
www.fondymarket.org
Jackson Park Farmers’ Market
A relative newbie on the block, Jackson Park Farmers’ Market opened last year at 3500 W. Forest Home Ave. Swing by Thursdays from 3:30–7 p.m. and get to know the nice folks at Morning Star Family Farm—they offer grassfed beef, and pastured pork and lamb, along with different delicious flavors of homemade kombucha. Thymely Herbs and That Salsa Lady bring herbs, spices, guacamole and sauces.
www.jacksonpark.us/farmers-market
South Shore Farmers’ Market
A Bay View delight, where you can shop with the lake breeze in your hair. Start your Saturday morning with a strong cup of Anodyne coffee and breakfast from the National. Follow up by picking up some of Oly’s locally-grown oats and mixes for tomorrow’s breakfast, or some pastured eggs and pork from LotFotL. Pinehold Gardens has produce grown by organic methods, and River Valley Ranch has all your fresh and pickled mushroom needs.
www.southshorefarmersmarket.com
Tosa Farmers’ Market
Acoustic guitarist playing in open air? Check. Valentine pourovers all morning long? Check. Tosa Farmers’ Market, located at 7720 Harwood Ave., positively bustles on Saturday mornings. For veggies, look for Jen Ehr, situated on 110 acres of certified organic farmland. Meet your meat with the great farmers at Jeff-Leen Farm, Morning Star Family Farm, or Kettle Range Meat Co. (a part-time vendor). Water House Foods has whole-grain and gluten-free products galore. Mushroom Mike will be there, too, with the full spread: local and imported mushrooms, maple syrup, foraged greens, wild rice, flowers and more. www.tosafarmersmarket.com
West Allis Farmers’ Market
There are markets where people go to saunter with strollers down the aisles, and then there are markets where cooks go to shop. On Saturdays (from 1–6 p.m.), West Allis Farmers’ Market is a bit of both, packed to the seams. Go there on Tuesdays or Thursdays from noon–6 p.m. for a quicker, quieter experience. Keep an eye out in the first row for Weston Antique Apple Orchards—Genevieve can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about heirloom apples. Mi Famiglia offers an array of gluten-free options. Fer-Li Grass Fed Beef raises animals without hormones or antibiotics; in addition to cows, they also raise pork and chickens. www.westallisfarmersmarket.com
