Read chapter 71 here
Photo by Retiring Guy
From mid-April through mid-November, the Dane County Farmer’s Market is one of the most popular Saturday attractions in Madison. It is also considered the largest producers-only market in the United States. Vendors selling organic produce, plants and flowers, baked goods, meats, cheeses, honey and other products line the curbside of the sidewalks on all four sides of the Capitol Square. Most visitors observe the protocol of walking in a counter-clockwise direction, but there are always some folks who go against the flow. By 10 a.m. the pace of walking slows to baby steps, sometimes coming to a halt due to human gridlock, people crowded together like sardines. For this reason, JoAnna and I usually make an effort to arrive early to avoid the crush.
Photo credit: Dane County Farmers' Market on Facebook
The Square has served as the site of the farmer’s market since 1972, and here it is 48 years later and still in operation.
Though not at the same location or with the same compact set-up. During
many of our farmers’ market visits, at least 20 people clustered within a circle with a 6-foot radius. Social distancing is not an option on the Square and, under these crowded conditions, masks would be practically useless.
Most of the vendors at the Covid edition are families who run small operations that are dependent on farmers’ markets for their livelihood. The show must go on! And in this case, it is now taking place on Willow Island on the grounds of the Alliant Energy Center on Madison’s south side, just off the Beltline. Willow Island also hosts Brat Fest, a 4-day event over the Memorial Day weekend that attracts tens of thousands of people. (But not this year. Add it to the long list of popular events that fell victim to Covid.)
The vendors are set up along the perimeter of the grounds. It looked to me that there weren't nearly as many as are typically set up on the Capitol Square, but during our 30-minute visit, the event attracted a steady stream of customers. Among the signs we saw as we walked to the grounds is one that announced NO CONGREGATING. Masks, of course, are required. In addition, there are no toilet facilities available, not even a row of porta-potties. Not a recommended outing for the incontinent. The location, with its treeless expanse, does not encourage lingering, which is probably why it was chosen in the first place.
We made our visit today both out of curiosity and to purchase some
ingredients for tomorrow’s stir-fry dinner. And to support local, independent businesses. We found broccoli and squash but no cauliflower and snow peas.
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