On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Elma
My travel plans for this summer fell apart. The company that I had traveled with many times filed for bankruptcy at the beginning of June. Fortunately it happened while I was still at home rather than somewhere on the road. But my suitcases were out and the cat had started to sleep in one, so it was getting close. I have received notices from the Bankruptcy Court, but I doubt that I will get any of my money back.
So here I sit, in Wisconsin. Now it is true that if you re going to stranded in Wisconsin, June, July and August are a much better time for it than say December, January and February. Still I have felt at loose ends. Trying to make the best of it, I have put together an On The Road about our fun Farmers Market.
The Market is held every Saturday morning from May to late in the fall, in a big parking lot next to the river. One Saturday it was moved to a local park because of another event being held in the lot. I thought it was much nicer, but no one asked me.
An overview of the Market looking east.
Garlic and onions are currently at every stand.
A pickup truck full of sweet corn. They will bring in another truck as soon as this one is empty. It will happen several times during each market day.
Since it is Wisconsin, there must be cheese. This vendor’s cheese factory is in Door County, so they have come 60+ miles to sell their squeaky curds.
The Mennonites bring their produce and baked goods to the Market by tractor. I’m not clear whether the several young women who are tending the stand ride to town inside the trailer.
A lot of the vendors are Hmong. Early in the season, a lot of what they were offering could not possibly have been locally grown. But their displays were always so beautiful and the quality so good that we will excuse their carbon footprint. By this time, it will all be local.
Sometimes organic.
“No Dogs Allowed” doesn’t prevent this pair from strutting their stuff.
In my experience, there are two places to meet and greet your neighbors, the Recycling Center and the Farmers Market. The latter is definitely a more pleasant experience.
JPL
Nice looking produce!
HinTN
@JPL:
Yes, indeed. That Hmong display is impressive for the variety.
I was once in line for the free tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, which in and of itself is a great experience, and we were hungry. Mrs H held the spot while I went searching the upper west side for something transportable. I found an amazing farmers’ market one block off Central Park West and scored some fabulous pastries. These markets are great community!
Reboot
Our farmers markets have good stuff, but this one looks above and beyond. Also, now I know what cheese curds look like.
Dorothy A. Winsor
Bummer about your cancelled trip, but as you say, it’s good you were at home when it happened.
Unsurprisingly, there was a good farmer’s market where we lived in Iowa. The one in town here is sad.
mvr
Good use of your loose ends time. Thanks for showing us the market!
Wisconsin near the lake seems like a good place to be in the Summer, but it can be very disappointing when travel plans fall through.
Albatrossity
Sorry about your disrupted travel plans, but thanks for this tour and some local color!
Cabinhen
I’m from Manitowoc too and these are great pictures – thanks!
Anyway
Bummer about your travel plans. Hope the money is reimbursed and you’re off on a trip soon.
Nice farmer’s market!
Jerry
Seeing the name Elma reminds me of this classic Nirvana photo
Miki
Sorry about your trip issues. Nice photos of a beautiful market!
I’m a big fan of our local Farmer’s Markets (St. Paul, MN). Everything is grown within a 100 mile radius so it is, indeed, local. My BFF grew up on a truck farm that serviced the market and local grocery stores. I try to visit the satellite markets weekly (the downtown one is too damned crowded and it’s near impossible to park nearby).
The Hmong farmers do an incredible job with their produce and flowers at the markets. Most of the farmers rent land, but, for the first time ever, there’s now a Hmong American farm on the scene.
eclare
That dog, wow!
Jerry
LOL. And how much do you want to bet that the little dog rules the roost?
OzarkHillbilly
As often as not, the best trips to take are right outside our doors.
Thanx for the pics, Elma.
stinger
Great pics! Love the Irish Wolfhound and its little buddy! And their owner, who is rocking his therapy support animals!
Elma
Thanks everyone for the sympathy. I have rebooked a similar trip for next summer through the Smithsonian. I’m pretty sure they won’t go bust. And I do have several trips coming up later in the year. So I will live.
I have seen those dogs around town frequently. The dachshund is always in the lead.
randy khan
Markets are the best.
When we go to the Alexandria, VA farmers market (billed as “one of the nation’s oldest continually operating farmers markets in one location,” and in operation since 1753, probably with a bit of a hiatus when they rebuilt the plaza in the 1970s), my wife always sees people she knows – some I know, too – partly because she worked for the city for a while before we married, and lots of current and former city employees or people who worked with her agency come every week.
I’d also put in a pitch for visiting outdoor food markets in foreign cities, which often have amazing things. I love Parisian markets, but really almost anywhere is worth it.
dnfree
I may have mentioned before that my husband and I, practically newlyweds, were in Manitowoc in early 1968, canvassing voters for Eugene McCarthy. The organizers had a rule that you had to come “Clean for Gene”, meaning for men no long hair or beards that might offend potential voters. My husband had to shave off his beard with a rusty razor in a public restroom, as I recall.
The people of Manitowoc were polite as we trudged through the slush door to door. Glad to hear you have a nice farmer’s market!
Uncle Lefty
Are you keeping up on your ‘Manitowoc Minutes?’
karen marie
Here in Maricopa County, there is no farmers market during the summer. The one I like – in Scottsdale’s Old Town – runs on Saturdays from Labor Day (or the first Saturday after?) until the Saturday before Memorial Day.
I don’t go for the produce. Little of it is actually local, and it’s overpriced. I go for the other stuff – like fresh pasta, breads, honey, baklava, and lovely, thin, proper pita bread made by Syrian women. There’s also a knife guy who I gratefully pay once a year to properly sharpen my knives. I had no idea that serrated blades could be sharpened. My bread knife is 45 years old and, until last year, had never been sharpened. It’s better than new and now cuts like the devil!
currawong
It’s good to see an ‘On the Road’ aboout someone’s backyard. More please.
Elizabelle
@Elma: The wolfhound is the wingman.
@Miki: Enjoyed the article about the Hmong farmers. Thank you.
Agree with currawong. Local and backyard is good, too. Although always up for France and Italy and vicarious travel.
Elma
@Uncle Lefty: Charlie Berens is coming to town next month!