by Ann Wondergem
I am sure we all remember. “To market, to market to buy…” On my trips to the local farmer’s market I find myself reciting this Mother Goose poem, thinking about what I am going to purchase – snap peas, leaf lettuce, romaine, Swiss chard, spinach, cucumbers, carrots and the list keeps growing. Once at the farmer’s market my mental list does not stop me from buying more than I planned as I often cannot resist other seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables plus the smoked fish, pork, breads and always at least one garlic bulb.
When I visit the farmer’s market in Sheboygan and Plymouth, I like to stop by and say hello to Judy. Judy, an employee of the Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization (SCIO), has managed the farmer’s market for years. I got to know Judy when United Way, as part of the Food for Tomorrow initiative, provided funding for the purchase of an electronic benefit transfer machine (EBT). This machine made it possible for individuals and families receiving FoodShare (formerly Food Stamps) to use their benefit card at the farmer’s markets in Sheboygan and Plymouth. The process is quite simple! Visit Judy at the SCIO booth, located on the sidewalk of North 8th Street between Erie and Ontario Avenues. Judy will swipe the EBT card for the amount of your choosing and give you wooden tokens. The tokens can be used at participating farmer’s market vendors. You can also find Judy at the Plymouth Farmer’s Market on Thursdays.
United Way has partnered with Nourish for four years to provide educational food opportunities at the farmer’s market. Two upcoming events at the Sheboygan Farmer’s Market, in which Nourish is partnering with the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, are an ‘Apple of My Eye’ starring apple cider and apple pies on Saturday, September 5th and the ‘Pumpkin Patch’ will feature pumpkin seeds and decorating pumpkins on October 3rd. Both events begin at 9 a.m. Nourish will also be at the at the Sheboygan farmer’s market on Saturday, September 19th and October 3rd at 9 a.m. As always, I look forward to sampling some delicious food and getting a copy of the recipes. The summer farmer’s market sponsored by SCIO are:
Sheboygan Farmer’s Market
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at Fountain Park, Erie Avenue and North Eight Street
Plymouth Farmer’s Market
Noon to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Fairfield Plaza parking lot on Eastern Avenue.
Of course on my way home from the farmer’s market the nursery rhyme stanza that pops into my head is “Home again, home again…” On your next visit to the farmer’s market please stop by the SCIO booth and say ‘Hi’ to Judy or maybe recite her a line from your favorite Mother Goose poem.
I also want to take this opportunity to let you know about a Community Conversation about Food Security – Collaborating to Develop and Support a Community Food System. This event will be held on Tuesday, September 1st from 6 – 8 p.m. at Ellwood H. Maywood Environmental Park Pavilion, 3651 Mueller Road. Sponsored by the UW Extension Sheboygan County, Nourish, the Sheboygan County Food bank, Lakeshore Technical College and the United Way of Sheboygan County, we will review the recommendations from two recent food system reports. Attendees will collectively use these recommendations as an information catalyst to participate in further discussion and planning in three key focus areas: Food Access, Food Education and Food Economy. To register for this free event you may call 458-3425 or e-mail Kathy at kathy@uwofsc.org. We will need your name and your organization affiliation. I look forward to seeing you on September 1st and at the farmer’s market.