As winter comes to a close, the Dane County Farmers Market will be in full swing this Saturday, bringing fresh produce and local goods to Wisconsin’s capital.
Known as the largest producer-only farmers market in the United States, the area surrounding the capitol transforms into a collection of 75 local vendors from April to November.
With a total of 220 rotating vendors that vary each week, the market will welcome 16 new vendors in 2024, including two new fish vendors.
Among the newcomers is Far Breton Bakery, a small bakery on Madison’s north side specializing in croissants. Far Breton Bakery was initially expected to join the market in 2023, but they got busy quickly and delayed their start, said Marie-Arzel Young, who started the business as a UW- Stout undergraduate student in 2019.
“We are prepared to offer a limited selection of our best sellers in order to bring the largest quantity to keep pace with the large crowds at the market, an average of 20,000 people per day,” she said. “To start the season, we are baking our top four favorites: all butter croissants, pain au Chocolat, spiced sugar buns, and Kouign-Amann.”
Beyond the fresh produce and crafts, the market is a place for community engagement and features musicians as well as nonprofit and political advocacy.
The Dane County Farmers Market will be open every Saturday from 6:15 a.m to 1:45 p.m around the Capitol Square from April 13 to Nov. 9.
