The Colors of Fall Market

The Dane County Farmers’ Market season may be nearing the end, but it’s certainly not fading into the cold unnoticed. For the past two weeks, the market has been alive with vibrant colors and hearty produce. Pumpkins, squash, peppers, corn, carrots, onions, and cucumbers—glisten in the sunlight like precious jewels.

My parents came to town for the day on Saturday and our first stop was of course to the market. It was a beautiful fall morning, and the market was definitely busy and crowded as always. Before starting our first loop, my mom and I grabbed coffee and my dad, the ultimate sweet tooth, proceeded to stop at every single bakery vendor as we made our way around the capitol square. By the end, my dad had enjoyed a cider donut, a rhubarb breakfast bar, an oatmeal raisin cookie, and a large apple fritter (I helped, of course). But that’s my dad! The healthiest person alive, save a wicked sweet tooth.

My mom and I packed our bags with produce along the way. We ended up doing two loops of the market, so as to experience the full range of offerings and prices before “committing” to purchases. We came away with filled bags and stuggled to haul everything back to the car.

One of the most interesting events of the morning was that we happened to run into my brother, Kelly’s, roommate Ben’s family, who was in from New Hampshire to visit Ben’s younger sister, Cecilia, who is a student at UW. Ben is my brother’s best friend, college roommate, and current roommate and business partner in Austin, Texas. It was cool to chat with Ben’s family, and I couldn’t believe how much Cecilia reminded me of Ben! But they said the same thing about Kelly and me...

I have a few more weeks before the last market of the season on November 8, after which the market moves indoors to the Monona Terrace for the winter. It's nice to have the winter option, but of course it just doesn't compare to the outdoor market, which won't be back until April. And that just seems like an eternity from now.