Shop local: why you should support your neighborhoods farmer’s market

On a calm Tuesday night, the sun sets over the capital on the eastside of Madison. The accordion howls as local families, community members, and students purchase fresh produce, baked bread and golden honey. The enthusiastic vendors bare a smile as their hard work is celebrated and the circulation of money, interest, and care uplifts a neighborhood.

The Eastside Farmer’s Market, located at McPike Park every Tuesday from 4-7 p.m., is more than just a market. The benefits of the Eastside Farmer’s market go beyond just food by sourcing a community with health, knowledge, and access, according to vendors.

To start, Lovefood Farm has been in the game for 10 years and the Eastside Farmer’s market is a staple in their weekly routine.

“We have 70 families that come here to pick up for their CSA,” David Bachhuber, Lovefood Farm’s co-owner and farmer, said. “We can make facetime with the people who come and meet the kids, it’s all very precious and sweet.”

Lovefood Farm, located in Stoughton, Wis., was built on the foundation of growing and preparing food for yourself and those you love. Bachhuber, with his wife Abby, farms organically on 30 acres of land and contributes to the local economy by doing so. They work with four local grocery stores, two farmer’s markets, around 30 restaurants, and have over 300 CSA shares.

“We love using the local CSA program pick up option here,” Casey, mom of two and CSA member said. “It makes it really easy for us, we live only a few blocks that way, so it’s less thinking and we can just grab and go.”

Casey and her husband, John, use their CSA share to expand their cooking repertoire and raise their children with a low carbon footprint.

“It makes me feel good that our food is coming from a local farm,” Casey said. “It’s not being transported that far and it’s fresh and comes right to our table.”

Vitamins and various nutrients leave produce within a couple days of harvest, according to Bachhuber, which is why having insight to when your food is harvested, where, and by who is crucial. In addition, understanding the effects of pesticides and GMO’s is necessary for good health.

Sheryl Bauman at Bauman’s Natural Meats farms her cattle, pigs and chickens on acres of pasture with zero chemicals and no antibiotics.

“There is a lot of cancer in my family, including myself,” Bauman said. “I have stage four lung cancer, but I am here, and I am blessed. So, I try to minimize my exposure to chemicals, and I encourage my children to-do the same.”

Bauman farms with her two children and five grandchildren and believes simple agricultural practices will lead to a healthier life. Farming animals this way, however, comes with a cost. Bauman’s farm has lost chickens and cows to natural predators like hawks and coyotes, but that is a risk she is willing to take.

This is just one example of practices these farmers prioritize for the betterment of their community. Farmer’s Market all over Dane County have eliminated the middleman and directly sell to their consumer. In doing so, accessibility has increased for those who otherwise may not be able to afford local foods.

Dane County Farmer’s Markets have partnered with the Community Action Coalition to make healthier, whole foods affordable for everyone. Amanda Ikens, the Willy Street Coop’s Owner Resources Coordinator works with families to bring their Double Dollars, Snap Benefits and EBT’s to life each week at the market.

“I think it’s unfortunate that some people don’t know that they can use their EBT’s at the markets,” Ikens said. “But the people that do really love it and really benefit from it.”

The Eastside Farmer’s Market is a prime example of why you should support local farmers.

“If you want access to farm fresh, not factory made, support your local farmers market,” Bauman said. “Support your local farmers.”