The Fondy Farmers Market, Milwaukee’s premier urban, producer-only market, kicks off the 2010 Farmers Market season on Saturday, June 26, 2010 with an Opening Day Celebration featuring dance, music, children’s activities, and a juried BBQ cook-off. Opening day festivities take place at the market from 7 am-3 pm on Saturday, June 26 at 2200 W. Fond du Lac Avenue. Free parking is provided in an adjacent lot. Entertainment is provided between 10 and noon.
Entertainment includes music, dance and a juried BBQ cook-off that pits Milwaukee- area BBQ kings and queens against each other in two categories: pork ribs and chicken. A $400 prize will be awarded to the first place winners in each category. Judging of the chicken takes place at 11 am and pork at 12 pm. Celebrity judges include Common Council President Willie Hines, Jarvis Williams (executive Chef, Carnevor Restaurant), Kyle Cherek (host of WISN’s Wisconsin Foodie TV show), Martha Davis Kipcak (regional governor for Slow Food), Karen Herzog (food writer for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal) Larry Adams (co-founder and VP of Walnut Way Conservation Corp.), and two community judges.
Between 10 and noon, the market hosts music and dancers from two Milwaukee area dance troupes: Nefertari African Dance Company (African dance) and the Milwaukee Boppers (steppers). The Boppers are also holding a free stepping workshop for the public.
Over 25 market vendors will be present opening day, including Craigland Farms, SeedFolks Garden Mosaics, and Walnut Way Conservation Corp. (the only producer of honey in central city Milwaukee). New vendors include Adam’s Sweet Corn and Quednow’s Heirloom Apple Orchard. Southeast Asian food, gumbo, and soul food will also be available for sale from returning vendors Corn Man (roasted corn), Vi Nai Cafe and Egg Roll Lady, plus new vendors Gumbo Man and Wade’s Southern Cooking.
“The Fondy Market’s 2010 season is going to be great,” said Young Kim, executive director of the Fondy Food Center. “Thanks to a grant from WI Dept. of Health and Human Services, we’ve invested record levels of time and money over the winder recruiting vendors and dreaming up new activities. This year, Fondy will feature a Youth Booth with healthy, nutritious activities for kids and teens. Returning again this year is our award-winning Taste the Season live cooking demonstration workshop, held every Saturday at the market. This energetic and interactive program introduces new produce as well as cooking and food preservation techniques to market customers, using recipes that highlight the best way that Wisconsin farmers have to offer and reflect the cultural culinary diversity of Milwaukee residents. We raffle off produce baskets every week. Finally, Fondy is offering our state’s first Women Infants and Children (WIC) Match program, where clients from the federal program get their market produce vouchers doubled.”
