You Say Tomato, I Say Farmers Market!

I love farmers markets.

From perusing the vast selection of fresh fruits and organic veggies to taking in the incredible aroma of the various seasonal flowers and pungent herbs, farmers markets are a great alternative to supermarket shopping.

Actually, beginning last summer, I started taking full advantage of the East Town Market and The East Side Open Market almost every Saturday. They are close to my apartment and offer a great variety of produce.

While I’m usually an avid market shopper anyway, there’s another reason to shop there right now: for salmonella-free tomatoes. I’m serious!

Seventeen states including Wisconsin, Illinois, Virginia, Texas, California, and so on, have experienced salmonella outbreaks linked to three types of raw tomatoes – red plum, red Roma and round red tomatoes – and the list of supermarkets and restaurants yanking those varieties off the shelves and menus keeps growing.

Come to think of it, I went to Qdoba the other day and was shocked that they didn’t have any salsa for my nachos. It later donned on me that it was due to the tomato scare.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said to news sources that since mid-April, 167 people have been infected with salmonella of the same “genetic fingerprint” and at least 23 of those people have been hospitalized, and one person has died.

To be safe, the FDA suggests avoiding tomatoes unless they were grown in unaffected states. Additionally, cherry tomatoes and grapes tomatoes, homegrown tomatoes or those sold with the vine still attached are likely not the source of the salmonella outbreak. So, besides those tomatoes grown in your backyard, another place to get some red and raw tomatoes that aren't tainted is at your neighborhood’s farmers market.

Now everyone should be more inclined to visit their local farmers market, no? Not only will you find a fresh, organic and appetizing assortment of fruits and vegetables, you’ll be able to pick up tomatoes of the non-salmonella variety.

Open for the summer and always close to home, the markets give local farmers the chance to display their goods, while giving residents the chance to socialize and browse the homegrown produce lining the aisles in an open-air and inviting setting.

I did a little research online and found a list of Wisconsin farmers markets. I encourage you to take the time to find one in your vicinity. Let’s not fear the tomato anymore!

Beaver Dam Farmers Market
Beaver Dam Mall Parking Lot, 1645 N. Spring St.
(920) 887-3106
Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., May through October

Beloit Farmers Market
Downtown Beloit
Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., June through October

Bradley Road Farmers Market
Bradley Commerce Center, North 43rd Street and Bradley Road
(414) 354-6923
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 17 through Oct. 25

Brookfield Farmers Market
Civic Center Plaza, 2000 N. Calhoun Road
(262) 784-7804
Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to noon, May 3 through Oct. 25

Burlington Farmers Market
Veteran's Building parking lot, 588 Milwaukee Ave.
(262) 342-1171
Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 3 through Nov. 29

Delafield Farmers Market
City parking lot, at Main Street
(292) 968-4471
Saturdays 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 3 through Oct. 25

The East Side Open Market
Beans and Barley Parking lot, 1901 E. North Ave.
(414) 534-8492
Thursdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., June 12 through Oct. 9

East Town Market
Cathedral Square Park, Kilbourn Avenue and Jefferson Street
(414) 271-1416
Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 7 through Oct. 25

Fondy Farmers Market
2200 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
(414) 933-8121
May 10 through June 7 , Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
June 14 through Oct 31, Saturdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Mondays and Fridays
Saturdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Nov. 17

Fort Atkinson Farmers Market
Parking lot across from the post office, downtown
(920) 563-3210
Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon, May 17 through the end of October

Fox Point Farmers Market
Stormonth Grade School west parking lot, 7300 Lombardy Road
(414) 352-0555
Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon, June 21 through Oct 18

Greendale Open Market
Municipal parking lot, one block west of Village Center
(414) 423-2790
Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
June 28
July 12 and 26
Aug. 2, 16 and 23
Sept. 6 and 20
Oct. 4 and 18

Hales Corners Harvest on the Homestead
Stahl-Conrad Homestead, 9724 W. Forest Home Ave.
(414) 708-0584
Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
July 5 and 19
Aug. 9 and 30
Sept. 13 and 27
Oct. 11 and 25

Harbor Marketplace of Kenosha
56th Street and 2nd Avenue
(262)-498-4388
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 24 through Oct. 25

Hartford's Farmers Market
Two blocks north of Highway 60 Rec Center parking lot
(262) 673-7193
Saturdays 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 3 through Nov. 15

Howell Avenue Farmers Market
US Bank, 4015 S. Howell Ave.
(414) 881-1185
Fourth Saturday of the month, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., late July through October

Juneau Farmers Market
127 E. Oak Street
(920) 386-4431
Fridays 8 a.m. to noon, June through Oct. 25

Kenosha Farmers Market
Union Park, 7th Avenue and 45th Street
(262) 248-7598
Tuesdays, 6 a.m. to noon
Columbus Park, 54th Street and 22nd Avenue
Wednesdays 6 a.m. to noon, Saturdays 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lincoln Park, 68th Street and 18th Avenue
Thursdays 6 a.m. to noon
Baker Park, 66th Street and Sheridan Road
Fridays 6 a.m. to noon June through November

Lake Mills Open Market
Common Park on East Lake Street
(262) 248-7598
Thursdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 1 through Oct. 30

Dane County Farmers Market
Capital Square
Saturdays 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 19 through November 8

Mayville Downtown Green Market
South Main Street
(920) 387-1167
Wednesdays 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., May 14 through Oct. 22

Menomonee Falls Farmers Market
North Junior High School parking lot, Main Street (one block west of Appleton Avenue)
Wednesdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 7 through Nov. 19

Milwaukee Public Market
400 N. Water Street
(414) 336-1111
Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 24 through Oct. 25

New Berlin Farmers Market
New Berlin Plaza, 3600 S. Moorland Road
(262) 549-6680
Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon, May 10 through Oct. 25

New Mitchell Street Farmers Market
1002 W. Maple Street
(414) 383-2334
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., June through October

Oconomowoc Farmers Market
St. Paul's Lutheran Church parking lot, 210 E. Pleasant Street
(262) 567-2666
Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon, June 7 through Oct. 25

Port Washington Market
East Main Street, between Franklin and Wisconsin Streets
(262) 305-4220
Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., July 5 through Oct. 25

Racine Downtown Farmers Market
700 State St. in the Case Corp. parking lot, downtown
(262) 634-6002
Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon, May through Oct. 25

Racine Southside Farmers Market
5538 Durand Avenue, Regency Mall parking lot
(262) 886-3284
Tuesdays and Fridays 8 a.m. to noon, May 6 through Oct. 31

Riverwest Gardeners Market
Garden Park, Locust and Bremen Streets
(414) 265-7278
Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 15 through Oct. 26

Sherman Park Farmers Market
Sherman Perk Coffee parking lot, corner of 49th and Roosevelt
(414) 875-7275
Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m., May through Sept. 1

South Milwaukee Green Market
St. Mary's Catholic Church, 13th Avenue
(262) 835-4386
Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 8 through Oct. 23

South Shore Farmers Market
South Shore Park, Bay View, 2900 S. Shore Drive
(414) 727-8744
Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon, June 23 through Oct. 25

Thiensville Farmers Market
Main Street and Freistadt Road
(262) 376-1812
Tuesdays 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., June 10 through Oct. 28

Uptown Farmers Market
Lisbon and North Avenues at 49th Street
(414) 527-1908
Sundays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June through October

Walworth County Farmers Market
Elkhorn Town Square, North Wisconsin Street
(262) 741-3181
Saturdays 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., June 7 through Oct. 25

Watertown Fair Day
Riverside Park, 812 Labaree Street
(920) 261-6320
Tuesdays 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 6 through Nov. 11

Waukesha Farmers Market
Riverfront Plaza, at the river in downtown
(262) 549-6154
Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon, May 10 through Oct. 25
Tuesdays 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., July 15 through Oct. 28

West Allis Market
1559 S. 65th Street
(414) 302-8600
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays noon to 6 p.m., May through November

Westown Market on the Park
Zeidler Union Square, 3rd and Michigan Streets
(414) 276-6696
Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 7 through Oct. 25

Wills Roadside Farm Market/Silver Spring Farmers Market
5500 W. Silver Spring Drive
(414) 527-1908
Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., June through October

Note: This information is subject to change. Also, if I’ve missed any Wisconsin farmers markets, please feel free to leave the market’s information in the comments section and I’ll gladly add it to the list.

So, shop your local farmers market and enjoy tomatoes once again!

Comments

[Amanda]

I love farmers markets and try my very best to buy a lot of the fruits and vegetables I eat in the summer from them.

I remember reading your recap about the East Town Market last summer. I really loved the Battle of the Chefs competition. Will they be doing that again? It sounded like a great draw.

[wfbdoglover]

I love Farmer's Markets too! I took photos, to blog about our farm shopping experience, but I found out I am having unexpected company so I have been getting ready for that - it will have to wait a bit..

[dudeman brosef]

let us not forget the farmers market that is held from june thru october on saturdays from 7-11 in west bend:

http://www.downtownwestbend.com/

my friend grows a garden and peddles her wares here also.

just thought i would add one more. i mean if you have port washington and hartford... west bend is right in between.

[Karen]

How could I forget West Bend? Thanks for the info, brosef!

[Julia Legath]

I shop the farmer market at Howell Avenue
and its a small one . But i was impress with what the one farmer had. Everything was great.
and i want to thank the local farmers and also say to the public some of these farmers had to reseed there farm because of the flood. Thanks for them for who replanted and suppling us with delious home grown veggies.
Julia Legath