Milwaukee County Winter Farmers’ Market – Year 3
Tommy G Thompson Youth Center
Ag Village, Gate 5, Wisconsin State Fair Park
640 South 84th Street
through April 14, 2012
Saturday mornings 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Regardless of other events at State Fair, Parking for the MCWFM is always FREE

Flyte Family Farm

“If there was ever a food that was meant for this moment it is beans….Healthy, full of protein, inexpensive, wonderful for the environment (when compared to conventionally raised meat), and if cooked well, absolutely delicious.” So began an hour long paean to beans on a recent segment of NPR’s ‘On Point with Tom Ashcroft’. I was amazed at how well the timing fit with a prescheduled guest appearance by Flyte Family Farm of Coloma. MCWFM enjoys opportunities to highlight agricultural crops that are somewhat unexpected at Wisconsin farmers’ markets; dry edible beans certainly fit that category. This Saturday we should have Black, European Soldier, Great Northern, Horto, Red Kidney, Navy, Pinto, and Yellow-Eye beans along with an Eight Bean blend and bean flour (milled at Cress Spring Bakery). Along with dry edible beans, the Flyte family grows 125 acres of sweet corn and 40 acres of vegetables and melons in Waushara County. They also have 5 greenhouses devoted to hydroponic tomatoes and cucumbers that are harvested beginning in April.

• The aforementioned NPR ‘On Point’ show featuring a conversation about The World of Beans
• Cookbook written by featured ‘On Point’ author: Bean by Bean
• A very handy website for reference material on bean cuisine, storage and descriptions of the most common varieties US Dry Bean Council
• For heirloom bean aficionados you can’t beat Rancho Gordo in California

Customer Survey

In an effort to continually improve the Milwaukee County Winter Farmers’ Market, and to prepare for next year's market, we ask that you take some time (it will take approximately 7 minutes) to complete a customer survey on Saturday. This will help us know a bit more about whom our customers are and how we can better serve you through the market. All responses are anonymous. We greatly appreciate your help with this project and request that you stop by the information table to fill out the questionnaire. The University of Wisconsin – Waukesha assisted with development of this survey and will help us evaluate the data.

News from the Field

Looking for a nice Sunday excursion? Water House Foods of Lake Mills has completed their short move to an expanded space and plans to inaugurate their first ‘Market Friends Sunday’ on February 26. MCWFM patrons who come out to the bistro and mention that they've seen Shawn at our market will receive 10% off their total purchase. On the last Sunday of every month, the Rediske’s will welcome market friends to their new bistro located opposite the Commons Park gazebo. It is a nice opportunity to sample their expanded breakfast, brunch, and lunch menus, music, special events, and classes. See the Water House events calendar for details re this Sunday’s wheat free baking class that requires a RSVP.

As of Friday morning

We have four market spaces where vendors rotate on a weekly basis; this allows the market to have more variety and maximizes the number of food producers we can help promote. Arranged by category, here is the complete vendor lineup for this Saturday. For further information on individual food producers, please go to the MCWFM website vendor page.

Specialty Food Producers: Cocina DeLeon, Aleka’s Kitchen, River Valley Ranch, Wisconsin Soup Company, Thymely Herbals, Eden’s Market, Becky’s Blissful Bakery (caramels), Mia Famiglia, Kick Out the Jam*

Bakery: Water House Foods, Amaranth Bakery

Produce: JenEhr Family Farm, Ela Orchard, Brightonwoods Orchard, Witte’s Vegetable Market, Springdale Farm, Flyte Family Farm

Honey, Maple Syrup, Sorghum: Rolling Meadows Sorghum Mill, McCluskey Brothers (maple syrup)*

Dairy: Saxon Homestead Creamery, McCluskey Brothers*, LaClare Farm*

Meat: Dominion Valley Farm (pork, beef), Jeff-Leen Farm (beef) Bolzano Artisan Meats (dry-cured sausage), McCluskey Brothers (organic ground beef) *

Game: Golden Bear Monarchs Elk Farm; Lakeview Buffalo Farm will have FRESH buffalo steaks, brisket and roasts this week.

Fish: Rushing Waters

Poultry: Jeff-Leen Farm, JenEhr Family Farm, Lakeview Buffalo Farm (smoked)

Eggs: Jeff-Leen Farm, Lakeview Buffalo Farm

Oats: Oly’s Oats

Soap: Thymely Herbals

Coffee: Valentine Coffee Roasters

*Returning this week