May 8, 2010

Farmers' market opens with asparagus and shivers

It was slim pickings Saturday morning, as Racine's Farmers' Market opened for the first time this season.  Farmers and patrons alike were bundled in sweaters and coats, which should not be surprising given the morning's cold -- and a frost warning issued for tonight for parts of Wisconsin.

Nonetheless, ten farm booths were present, huddled along the west wall of the CNH parking lot on State Street, selling fresh asparagus, rhubarb, eggs, meat and plants. Along with cookies, painted gourds, goat's milk soap and the world's smallest tomato plants.

Farmers present promised a greater selection soon -- as the growing season progresses and warmer weather returns. The downtown farmers' market is open from 8 a.m. to noon through October. Other farmers' markets include: Elmwood Plaza, Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to noon; West Racine, Wednesdays, 1 to 5 p.m.; West Racine, Fridays, 8 a.m. to noon.



Luanne Gall shows how much her 'world's smallest tomato plants' will grow.
Belinda Copus with a few of her 46 varieties of goats' milk soap. "It's hypo-allergenic, without lye and chemicals and full of vitamins," she says. Smells great, too.

Hub Braun, 86, hand-paints these delightful gourd animals.

14 comments:

  1. Very excited! Racine has a great selection of Farmer's Markets. I am so looking foward to the day when it's full of various tomatoes, herbs, and cut flowers!

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  2. Farmers Markets can go along way to provide fresh produce to areas that do not have access to Grocery stores.
    Too bad that Brian O'Connell can not see his way to back one in the Inner City IMHO Low income housing is more critical to him then say preventing malnutrition or say infant mortality in the Inner City.
    After all they nor rich or white just a burden on the City

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  3. Racism starts at the top, then works its way down.

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  4. How much property taxes are being paid on this property that the city is making it a burden to buy, and let others use it for free, and at the same time MY property taxes go up as MY property value goes down? I like Farmers Markets I just don't want to pay for someone else's free enterprise.

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  5. The one Downtown is not on City property, so the owner of that land is. The one in West Racine be it where it is now or it gets moved is, and does not pay anything.Tell you what you do the math on how much they should pay for the 14-21 days they are on it and Iwill give that money to the City.

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  6. Soon they will be able to sell chickens too. What a foul thought.

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  7. 9:10

    How much? Come on!

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  8. Anon 9:17 = Dickert or his trolls

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  9. I think not, Dickert is not a fan of Farmer's Markets if he was IMHO we have one on the Old Danish Ground site. We also have more Urban Agriculture but since the real power Brian " I love low income housing and hate to see the empowering inner city neighborhoods" O'Connell hates Urban Agriculture- Farmers Markets guess we will be fighting to keep what we have. A true ally in this Fight is Tom T who 100% backs Farmers Markets and has a good reason to do so he will make more money.
    Can we please fire Brian O'Connell?

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  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  11. The location on State St is donated by CNH - so quit whining about taxes you idiot.

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  12. I'm white and middle-class and I can't afford the food at the farmer's markets - I can get much better deals at Woodman's and Walmart. So what makes anyone think people in the inner city can afford tomatoes at an inner city farmer's market for $2.99/pound when they can get them for $1.29/pound at a store? What are they gonna do? Issue food stamps for the farmer's market?

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  13. It's changed to Elmwood Plaza on Tuesday AM now??? Good turnout from vendors? I certainly hope so.

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