The Marshfield Farmers Market entered its summer season Friday, with stands going up at the Young’s Shopping Center through October.
“We had success with our winter markets but we’re excited to enter this season and we invite everyone to join us each Friday through the fall,” said Farmers Market Board Member Elizabeth Hamann. “Even though our market is smaller, it does have a fantastic variety.”
The Marshfield Farmers Market offers fresh produce, plants, homemade pies, breads, cookies, chocolates and other baked goods. There are also vendors for local meat, honey, soaps, lotions and more.
“Getting your vegetables here is different than getting them at the grocery store,” said Marshfield 5th grader Saiya Reece. “It’s cool to meet the people that make or grow the stuff that you’re taking home.”
Saiya is a member of the Farmers’ Market’s Power of Produce (POP) Program, which provides children a free and fun opportunity to engage in the food system through direct interaction at the local Farmers’ Market. Program Coordinator Kim Zahn of Zahn Farms said they saw record involvement last year and look to further expand participation in the program this year.
“Anyone 12 or under can participate and they get free tokens and shopping totes just for joining,” Zahn said. “The coolest thing about this is that it is 100% free to children and runs off direct community funding from all of our fantastic sponsors.”
Parents simply bring their children to the market on Friday through the summer season, fill out a registration form and each market they attend, they’ll receive $2 to spend.
“This program is so neat because there are vegetables that she’s tried because of POP that she’s never eaten, or she’s tried them cooked different ways and loved it,” said Saiya’s grandmother, Debby Reece. “The activities that the market does with this program is wonderful for our local youth. I highly recommend everyone participate in it this year.”
The Two-Bite Club is a program within the POP Program which encourages kids to taste a fruit or vegetable that is brought in for the demonstrations.
“We try to get the kids to try it twice… you can’t just look at it and taste it one time,” Zahn added. “You’ve got to try it twice!”
Activities schedules for the POP program this year include:
May 12 – Planting for summer 3:00-5:30 p.m.
May 19 – Cheese Tasting 4:00 p.m.
May 26 – Observational Beehive 3:00-5:00 p.m.
June 2 – Tasty Snacks 4:00 p.m.
June 9 – Summer Salads 4:00 p.m.
June 16 – Veggie Pillows 4:00 p.m.
June 23 – Seed Balls 4:00 p.m. (Grass Roots Garden Center demonstrates)
June 30 – Making Bird Feeding Cakes 3:00-5:00 p.m.
July 7 – Scavenger Hunt 3:00-6:00 p.m.
July 14 – Veggie Kabobs 4:00 p.m.
July 21 – Nutritional Bingo 4:00 p.m.
July 28 – Taco Stuffed Crescent Rolls 4:00 p.m.
Aug. 4 – Poster Contest 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Aug. 11 – Eggscellent – Muffin Pan Fritatas 4:00 p.m.
Aug. 18 – Don’t Squash Me 4:00 p.m.
Aug. 25 – Thank a Vendor/Sponsor 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Sept. 1 – Staying YOUNG 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Sept. 8 – Apple Coloring and Puzzle Apple Treat 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Sept. 15 – Saving for a Rainy Day 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 – Staying YOUNG 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Sept. 29 – Winter Salads 4:00 p.m.
Oct. 6 – How Many Can I Name 3:00-5:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 – Pumpkin Painting 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Oct. 20 – Pumpkin Games and Prizes 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Oct. 27 – Trick or Treating at Market 2:30-6:30 p.m.
“This program is such a great example of community bonding,” Zahn added. “I appreciate all of the sponsors, truly. Some give hundreds of dollars, some give $5… They're all very important, because this program cannot exist without them.”
To see a full list of scheduled activities, visit this article at www.marshfieldmail.com. The market will run each Friday at Young's Shopping Center (900 W Washington) from 2:30 - 6:30 p.m. now through October. For more information, visit the Farmers’ Market Facebook page.
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