Do you look forward to the farmers markets?
My wife, Cheryl, and I enjoy visiting the local farmers markets, particularly the convenient Janesville Farmers Market downtown. Besides picking out plants, fresh produce and baked goods, we enjoy taking time to chat with friends and neighbors.
So it was nice to read, in today’s Gazette, separate stories about the downtown market reopening this Saturday and the Rock County Farmers Market, west of Janesville on Highway 11, reopening Sunday, May 20.
Unfortunately, I’ll miss the downtown market this weekend, but maybe I can talk Cheryl into stopping by to pick up a block of that award-winning Havarti cheese from the Decatur Dairy booth. That’s right, the Brodhead dairy you might have read about in a Gazette story April 19 has had a booth at the market in downtown Janesville. That Havarti makes for delicious sandwiches.
Which farmers market do you most enjoy and patronize—the one in Janesville, the Rock County Farmers Market on Sundays, or perhaps the Beloit one or the Dane County market on the Capitol Square? What most attracts you to your favorite?
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook
May 3, 2012 at 7:56 a.m.
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It looks like the Janesville market is all but a dead issue. There were great hopes when it opened but dreadful management by a bunch of control freaks led to the markets present state of decline.
I've been going to the Beloit Market for years and concur with the posts that are singing its praises.
May 1, 2012 at 4:56 p.m.
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I've enjoyed the Beloit Farmer's market for years! What a great asset for the city, county and state!
May 1, 2012 at 7:18 a.m.
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Definitely a great thing.
My Wife goes often, and the taste of fresh food is awesome, not to mention the prices!
This is a good thing for sure.
Apr 30, 2012 at 8:02 p.m.
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We'll be visiting all of them - downtown Janesville, the Speakeasy booth always has something interesting.
Apr 30, 2012 at 7:23 p.m.
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Oh yes the stores are open downtown Beloit...We have gone and done Bagles and more for a coffee in the am and a bagle sandwhich, shop the shoe store, and then I go into Bushel & Pecks grocery store. Very cool natural food grocery type store. Love the venders in Beloit, all so friendly and lots of choices! I can see and get the same selection as the Madison market, but much closer to home and as I said much more friendly in Beloit. Plus they have special events go on several times a year at the market. You have got to check it out if you have not been there.
Apr 30, 2012 at 5:21 p.m.
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Another option is the South Central Wisconsin Regional Harvest, an online farmer's market serving Rock County:
http://scwisc.locallygrown.net/
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It's unfortunate that Janesville's market is not more integrated with the downtown, or that there isn't as much of a functional downtown retail environment to integrate with it. Beloit has been winning both national and state kudos for its downtown redevelopment, becoming a Main Street Community, and the farmer's market is a part of that success. There are many lessons for Janesville (of course, without a Business Improvement District, there is very little that can be done to change this situation -- so to those property owners who voted it down, thanks loads!).
http://www.beloitnpa.org/neighborhood-di...
http://www.downtownbeloit.com/?page_id=7...
Apr 30, 2012 at 5:03 p.m.
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I'm getting a hankerin' to visit the Beloit farmers Market for some reason.
Apr 30, 2012 at 2:25 p.m.
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And they have STORES downtown that are OPEN for business!!
Apr 30, 2012 at 2:24 p.m.
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Beloit is huge!!
Apr 30, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.
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I will make a point to go to Beloit's this year. I always heard how good it is. I usually only go to the one on Hwy 11 between Janesville & Footvill on Sundays. Thats a good one too.
Apr 30, 2012 at 1:45 p.m.
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Yes, and if you want to see a market go to Beloit- nice!! Why cant ours look like this downtown and run it sat and sun
Apr 30, 2012 at 1:03 p.m.
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We have always enjoyed the Beloit farmers market. Love the Blacksmith metal works guy, and the leather crafter. Fresh flowers and the cheese are also favs of our. Can't wait till it is open :)
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