Dane County Farmers' Market

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The Saturday Dane County Farmers' Market.

The weekly outdoor markets on Saturdays and Wednesdays on the Capitol Square are suspended for the time being. But the Dane County Farmers' Market is partnering with its vendors and the WhatsGood app to make local food available as the growing season ramps up. Sign up is at sourcewhatsgood.com (instructions can be found at the DCFM website), and it's a cart-based selection system; all vendors are paid via one transaction. However, do note you will need to find the individual vendors on pickup days to gather your items. Pickup slots are available 8 am-noon on Saturdays and 3-6 pm Wednesdays at the Alliant Energy Center's Willow Island. Make your selections by noon the prior day.  

May 23 update from DCFM:

At every stage of this crisis, we've been asked 'When will you be back on the Square?'  This question truly displays the deep affection so many have for the market and how much are community defined itself by those Saturday mornings. The market previously knew no event or circumstance that made it close in its 47 year history. Our community's hearts (and bellies) and 100s of farmers and food producers' livelihoods have been closely linked through the market's operation. 

With Dane County entering Phase 1 of the Forward Dane plan on May 26, we know that this yearning to be back on the square will grow even more for many. Folks are eager for wandering around the square with sweet baked good in hand, picking out the best of Wisconsin produce, meats, cheeses, and more from our farmers. Our farmers are eager to return to their 'vending home' that many of them have known for literally decades. But ultimately, the reopening of our community is not a return - at this time - to our pre-COVID lives. 

We will not overnight return to the Square with 150+ producers and 20,000+ customers without our own phased-in approach that continues to uphold public health guidelines. At this time, the State of Wisconsin has not reinstated our permit for the Capitol Square. Because our mission is always to provide our farmers with a thriving vending opportunity, we continue to critically evaluate what is the best course of action to serve our farmers and our patrons. 

At this time, we will continue to operate Local Food Pick Ups throughout June. And we will update you on our operations as we as a community progress through the phases of the Forward Dane plan.

These current operations may not have been our previous 'normal', but they are providing opportunities nonetheless for connection and joy and for that we are so thankful. Thank you to every customer who in addition to writing up their sign to post on their vehicle with their first and last name, also drew beautiful marker illustrations of produce or wrote 'We love our farmers!'  Thanks for all the excited hand-waving to both our vendors and our staff on site directing traffic. We love waving back.