The first CSA produce box of the season has arrived!  As with previous years, our membership is with Harmony Valley Farm.  We’ve been memberof this farm’s community supported agriculture for a number of years, and we can’t imagine a better program to join.

As in past years, I am going to kick this season off with a vow to use everything that we get in the produce box.  It can be a challenge at times.  I mean… burdock.  What do you do with burdock?  I haven’t gone out of my way in past years to find out, but this year I am going to!

And so, without further ado, here’s the produce that I got from the CSA on week one.

• Overwintered Parsnips
• Asparagus
• Sunchokes, aka Jerusalem Artichokes
• Ramps
• Sorrel
• Overwintered Spinach
• Rhubarb
• Burdock
• Chives
• Black Radishes

But, of course, I didn’t stop there.  I also had to hit the Westside Farmers’ Market and pick up more.  And do I also need to use this:

• Mixed Spring Greens
• Scallions
• Radishes

Wish me luck!

It’s that time of year again! The Farmers’ Market season kicks off in high gear in the upcoming weeks. Madison, WI and Dane County provide an amazing array of Farmers’ Markets around the area, giving locals the opportunity to buy fresh, buy local, and to meet their food suppliers in person!

Between Farmers’ Markets and CSA programs, many people abandon their mass grocery stores at this time of year and turn to the plethora of local food producers who deliver high quality, seasonal food. To make it easy, we’ve complied a list of local Farmers’ Markets. With a markets available almost every day of the week, there’s no excuse to not support your local farmer!

Madison-based Markets

• Dane County Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 6 AM to 2 PM, April 19th to November 1st, Madison Capital Square
• Eastside Farmers’ Market: Tuesdays, 4 PM to 7 PM, May 13th through October 14th, 201 S. Ingersol St.
• Fitchburg Farmers’ Market: Thursday, 3 PM to 6 PM, May through October, Agora Pavilion on E. Cheryl Parkway
• Hilldale Farmers’ Market: Wednesday & Saturday, April 26th through November 1st, Hilldale Shopping Center
• Northside Farmers’ Market: Sunday, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, May through October, Pierce’s Northside Market parking lot
• South Madison Farmers’ Market: Tuesday, 2 PM to 6 PM, April 26th through October, Labor Temple and Thursdays, 2 PM to 6 PM, Park St. at Villager Mall
• Westside Community Market: Saturday, 7 AM to 1 PM, April 19th through November 8th, Hill Farms Department of Trans. parking lot
• McFarland Farmers’ Market: Thursday, 2 PM to 6 PM, May – October, 5100 Farwell St
• Middleton Farmers’ Market: Thursday, 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM, May – October, Greenway Station
• Monona Farmers’ Market: Sunday, 9 AM to 1 PM, May – October, Ahuska Park, E. Broadway

Area Markets 

• Belleville Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 8 AM to 12 PM, May – November, Library Park
  Brooklyn Farmers’ Market: Wednesday, 3 PM to 7 PM, May – October, Douglas Drive and Rutland Avenue
• Columbus Farmers’ Market: Sunday, 9AM to 1 PM, May – October, Julie’s Java
  Darlington Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 8 AM to 12 PM, May – October, Darlington Festival Park, Main St.
• Janesville Farmers’ Market: Saturdays, 8 AM to 1 PM, May 10th – October 25th, 100 block of Main St.
• Lake Mills Farmers’ Market: Wednesday, 4 PM to 8 PM, May through October, Commons Park
• Mt. Horeb Farmers’ Market: Thursday, 3 PM to 6:30 PM, May – September, Heritage Park
  Paoli Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 8 AM to 12 PM, May – October, Paoli Park
• Stoughton Farmers’ Market: Fridays, 7 AM to 1 PM, May – October, Stoughton Plaza Shopping Center
• Sun Prairie Farmers’ Market: Fridays, 7 AM to 1 PM, May – October, 300 E. Main
• Waunakee Farmers’ Market: Wednesday, 3 PM to 6 PM, May – October, Waun-A-Bowl parking lot

If we’ve missed one, let us know by leaving a comment!

Just a heads up - it’s that time of year again!  If you are in the Madison, Wisconsin area and you are starting to plan your Farmers Market season, http://CookingOutOfTheBox.com is here to help!  Check out the 2008 season listing here!

I have been spending a lot of time working on my Cooking Out of the Box blog. It is a blog dedicated to the challenge involved in the participation in a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA). Why is that taking a priority in my life? Because we get our first box this weekend! It’s been a really long winter, and I can’t wait to get the fresh, organic produce box each week.

In addition to CSA-related info, this blog will also discuss farmers’ markets, etc. In fact, I have replicated my latest post here (which won’t become habit, trust me… so go visit Cooking Out Of The Box now, and bookmark it!)

Each market has a unique personality of it’s own. Needless to say, that personality changes throughout the growing season as well. As the season goes on, I’ll highlight these markets individually. But here’s my master list of local Farmer’s Markets, with links to each of their sites if they are available.

Don’t see one of your favorite markets listed below? Drop me a comment and I’ll be glad to add it!

Madison Farmer’s Markets:

• Dane County Farmer’s Market: The Granddaddy of all farmer’s markets, this is held on the capital square every Saturday, from the end of April until the beginning of November. It is open from 6AM – 2PM. On Wednesdays there is a mini version, which holds court on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Those hours are from 8AM until 2PM.
• East Side Farmer’s Market: 201 S. Ingersoll Street, Tuesdays from 4PM – 7PM
• Hilldale Farmer’s Market: Hilldale Shopping Mall, Wednesday & Saturday, 7AM – 2PM
• North Side Farmer’s Market: Corner of North Sherman and Northport Dr. Sundays 8:30AM – 12:30PM
• South Madison Farmer’s Market: Tuesdays (2PM – 6PM) & Saturdays (9AM – 2PM) at the Labor Temple on Park Street; Thursdays (2PM – 6PM) at Villager Mall on Park Street.
• West Side Community Market: Saturdays, 7AM – 1PM, Sheboygan Ave & Segoe Rd.

Area Farmer’s Markets:

• Fitchburg Farmer’s Market: Thursdays, 3PM – 6PM, Corner of Fish Hatcher & E. Cheryl Parkway.
• McFarland Farmer’s Market: Thursdays, 2PM – 6PM, 5724 Farwell Street
• Monona Farmer’s Market: Sundays, 9AM – 1PM, Ahuska Park, East Broadway
• Oregon Farmer’s Market: Tuesdays, 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Waterman Triangle Park
• Stoughton Farmer’s Market: Fridays, 7A – 1PM, Plaza Shopping Center, W. Main St.
• Sun Prairie Farmer’s Market: Saturdays, 7AM – Noon, 300 E. Main St.
• Waunakee Farmer’s Market: Wednesdays, 3PM – 6PM, Waun-a-bowl parking lot

The morning started with an early call (pre-6:00 AM) from my partner in crime on Cuisine Capers. He had an itch to go to the Farmer’s Market on the Square. I was game, so I threw on some sweats and headed into the 45 degree clear morning.

It was the perfect time to go to the Farmer’s Market – the crowds hadn’t arrived yet. We strolled around once as the farmers were setting up their stands. I showed some restraint and didn’t buy anything. Then we went around the second time, and all previous restraint disappeared. I ended up with tomato, morels, snow peas, fresh brown eggs, beef brisket, and Tuscany bread.

That accomplished, I stopped and picked up my CSA produce box, then headed home with a car full of produce.

I dumped the produce on the counter, then went to work out. Good thing too, after you click the link below to see what we had for lunch!

After the workout I made lunch (below). A Tuscan sandwich. I wrapped it in plastic, put a brick in a box, set it on the sandwich, and put it in the fridge. We then went out looking for brick for the house we’re building.

We came home to sunny skies, 55 degrees, and lunch on the back deck.

(Click to enlarge the images)

Tuscan Panini with tomato, prosciutto, genoa salami, olive pesto, arugula, and shaved asiago, served with antipasto and Terrale Carignan-Syrah

… that must mean snow.

Beautiful day for the market	No refrigeration needed!	Snow, everywhere	Spring Flowers
Springtime in Wisconsin requires that you have a sense of humor. Snow on May 2nd, just in time for the premier of the first ever Monona Farmer’s Market. Ah, well, it keeps out the riff-raff.