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FARMERS MARKETS AROUND SOUTHERN WISCONSIN
Seeking a local, healthier alternative to the grocery store produce from California and beyond? Find locally grown produce, fruits, artisan cheeses, meats, bakery items right here in Southern Wisconsin from April to early November at town farmers' markets across the region. Plan your own agrotourism day trip, choose a market closest to your destination or on your way. Please note that some markets are open only on weekdays, while most are open on Saturdays. Markets are a great way to meet local farmers and thank them for providing fresh local produce.
AREA FARMERS MARKETS
(Photos above Courtesy of Dane County Farmer's Market)
Outdoor Farmers Markets In Southern Wisconsin Begin
The 2025 Season This Saturday, April 12th In Madison
April weather is a tumultuous combination of Summer and early Spring. This Saturday, the forecast for the 52nd annual Dane County Farmers Market (DCFM) looks to be more of a Summer day, with highs in the mid 60s for the 1st market of the year on the Capitol Square. Find microgreens, ramps, early flowers, vegetable starters plants, watercress, and early spinach in addition to Winter market items such as artisan cheeses, bakery, sauces from local farmers and vendors. DCFM is the earliest opening farmers market in Southern Wisconsin, and the largest locally sourced market in the U.S. The Whitewater Farmers Market begins in April as well. The majority of area farmers markets begin their seasons in May include:
Downtown Beloit Farmers Market
The 2021 Beloit Farmers Market will feature a limited number of vendors, due to the pandemic. Additionally, the market will be limiting the number of shoppers. All attendees are required to wear masks.
When: May - October
Time: Saturdays, 9 am - 12 pm
Where: 300 Block of State Street, downtown Beloit, Wisconsin
Brooklyn Farmers' Market
Where: N7720 Sandy Hook Rd
Brooklyn, WI, 53521 :(Brooklyn Community Building)
Phone: (608) 535 - 9835
Cambridge Open Air Market
This market is put on by Cambridge Market Cafe.
Address: 100 East Main Street and Water Street, Cambridge, WI
Phone:
608-423-2182
The Ft. Atkinson Farmers Market
The season kicks off May 29th. The market features 36+ vendors selling produce, baked goods, jellies, jams, eggs, meats cheese, honey and much more. And don't miss their monthly Arts Saturdays which features over 50+ vendors, its' the market plus DIY crafters. Live music every Saturday and wellness and community programs. The market asks that all visitors and participants wear masks and that you remember to stand at least six feet away from others.
When May - October
Saturdays, 8am - 12pm
Where: 19 East Milwaukee Avenue West, Ft. Atkinson, Wi. (between South Water and Milwaukee Avenue)
Market Manager: Alisha Bade,
Email: Manager.FortFarmersMarket@gmail.com
Phone: 920-397-9070
The Janesville Farmers Market
Recently located to downtown Janesville's newest jewel the river walk. The locally focused market features fresh produce, meats, cheese, eggs, honey, baked goods, plants, cut flowers, soaps, hand cream, jewelry, herbs, seasonal products, great art pieces and more!
When May - October
Saturdays, 8AM - 1PM
Where: 15 Dodge Street
(The Towns Square, Downtown Janesville)
Monroe Farmers Market
When: May 3rd to the end of October 29th.
Saturdays, 8 am - 1 pm, and Wednesdays 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the south side of the Square
Where: Around the Green County Courthouse Square, 1016 16th Avenue, Monroe
Website: https://www.mainstreetmonroe.org/farmers-market
Phone:
(608) 328-4023
Rock County Farmers Market
Free to all vendors!
When: May 16 to the end of October
Sundays, 9 am - 1 pm
Where: Address: 5013 West State Road 11
Janesville, WI (Nature's Touch Garden Center)
Website: www.rockcountyfarmersmarket.com
Phone: (608)-449-4900
Stoughton Community Farmers' Market
Producer only market, volunteer powered, benefits the food pantry, community programs. 2021's version of the markets observes all CDC COVID-19 guidelines. Attendees must wear masks and practice social distancing.
When: May 29 - September 25 (Saturdays) 8:30-Noon
Where: 207 South Forest Street (City Hall)
Stoughton, WI, 53521
Website:https://stoughtoncommunityfarmersmarket.org/
Phone: (608) 535 - 9835
Stoughton Farmers' Market
When: May 1 - October 30th, every Friday
Where: 1050 West Main Street, Stoughton
(Stoughton Plaza Shopping Center)
Phone: (608) 535 - 9835
The Whitewater Farmers Market
A producer only market established in 1991 to bring locally grown, and made produce to the community.
When: May - October
Where: 301 W. Whitewater St.
Whitewater, WI, 53521
(The Depot Museum Parking Lot)
Phone: (608) 535 - 9835
EVENTS
Ft. Atkinson - Spring Preview Days (the first three Saturdays of May.) See above.
BOOKS, BAGS AND APPAREL
The Dane County Farmers Markets Cookbook is Available Now
Noted author Terese Allea's DCFM Cookbook is here! Celebrating 50-plus years of one of the country’s most renowned farmers market the book is filled with recipes that feature local ingredients with an international spin, it’s also is a gorgeous, warm-hearted salute to the vendors, shoppers and chefs who make the market a community. All proceeds benefit the DCFM!
HOW T0 Get The Cookbook
Purchase the cookbook at the Dane County Farmers’ Market on Saturday or Wednesday at the info booth.
To order for shipment from Little Creek Press, click here.
To order for shipment from Amazon, click here.
You can also find the cookbook at many bookstores, gift shops, and other retail outlets—scroll down to the bottom of this page for a list of locations and upcoming author events.
For wholesale orders, contact Little Creek Press at 608.553.1953 or info@littlecreekpress.com.
For questions or inquiries, contact cookbook@DCFM.org.
FEATURED ARTICLE
2025 Marks The 53rd Year Of America’s Largest Producers-Only Farmers’ Market
(Photos courtesy of Dane County Farmer's Market)
This year's Dane County Farmer's Market (DCFM) looks and operates much like previous years pre-pandemic at Madison's Capitol Square. Unlike 2020's farmer's market held as a drive-up and limited walk-up gathering on Willow Island the 2025 version will have longer hours and a more typical, row layout of vendors. This year's market has again returned to the Capitol Square. It will be open from 7 am to noon and like last year customers can still pre-order online through market's website. Arrive early at 7 for easy access to all the vendors as crowds accumulate by 8:30. Summer crowds bring families and curious out-of-towners to the square for one lap.
Jill Carlson, Co-manager of DCFM, is ecstatic about the market's reopening. "I am a little bias I love markets I love local food. I’m so excited we’re gonna be outdoors again." says Carlson.
Traditionally, Dane County Farmer's Market is the earliest to open in the region starting in mid-April and ending mid-November. This year will be no different. However, unlike early starts pre-pandemic Carlson is seeing about the same number of vendors showing up for the first market this weekend compared to previous years..
What's fresh and local at the market?
Carlson says to look for artisan baked goods, local meats, farm fresh eggs, artisan cheese curds. For the vegetable lovers there are early season radishes, spinach, arugula, micro-greens, nettles, and storage crops such as carrots. There are also jams, jellies, shitake and oyster mushrooms. 50 vendors in total will bring their produce and products to the Alliant Energy Center site this Saturday.
Farmers' markets unite
2020 hit out local farmers hard gone was the stability of restaurant orders, and constant stream of walk-up customers. Carlson and her team were living their pain. Farmer's markets around with region were hurting to, so DCFM decided to work with them to help out area farmers how ever they could. "From the outset of COVID pandemic we partnered with FairShare CSA Coalition to create an emergency fund for farmers," says Carlson.
The Farmer Fund made grants up to $500 available to all DCFM and FairShare members. "Every single penny donated to it helps make up for the farmer's lost income, or pays for PPE, and cleaning supplies," Carlson added.
And in this time of COVID ptsd, nourishing the body and mind with a little good food is what we all need right now. Our farmers' markets are our local economies, our neighbors, our community.
Directions
Turn right onto W Fulton St. Keep left onto WIS-59. Keep left onto WIS-59. Turn right onto US-14. Continue onto S Park St toward Park St. Turn right onto W Washington Ave. Continue onto W Washington Ave. Turn right onto S Carroll St. The destination is on your left, please enjoy!
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