Gail Lamberty, Market Manager for the Lodi Valley Farmer's Market in Lodi, WI
While our president was giving his state of the union address last Wednesday evening, folks from L.O.D.I. (Lodi Area Opportunity and Development, Inc.) gathered at the Northern Edge Supper Club. It was the annual opportunity to review the business climate in the area. Certificates and awards were handed out and general encouragement was given to new businesses. A really terrific table of green energy saving options was set up for viewing. It was fabulous to meet young people starting new business adventures with the support of this seasoned group.
The Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market has for many years been the recipient of the generosity and support of L.O..D. I. Rog Severson invited me to report on the “state of the Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market”. It was a delight to thank them on behalf of the market team for their faith in the market from its early days. Their generous support has not only been financial by providing a critical portion of our very limited budget, but significantly participatory as well. Looking at the audience I recognized faces of both regular vendors and regular shoppers at our market.
At our December market team meeting, we decided to thank Rick and Annette Fassbender who are the owners of the Northern Edge Supper Club where we gather on Friday afternoons during the growing season. We wanted to publically acknowledge them and the L.O. D. I. annual event was the perfect opportunity. In 2009 the market initiated the 5th Friday Market Dollars give away program. In each month that has a 5th Friday a drawing is held to give away dollars that are spent exclusively at the market. It is donations from the community and groups like L.O.D. I. that make it possible.
As I presented Annette with her $50 certificate for market dollars, she announced to the group that she would use it to purchase items to be used in her restaurant kitchen this summer. Bravo Annette!! Buy Fresh, Buy Local at its very finest at the Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market, wouldn’t you say?
New Market Manger Gail Lamberty is excited about the Market's season
Northern Edge is busy with Rick and Annette’s offerings, but you might wonder how does the Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market hibernate for the winter? November and December are recovery months, while January starts the brainstorming for the 2010 market. You know your vendors are dreaming dreams of flowers and vegetables as they ponder the many seed catalogs in their hands. A good cup of coffee, visions of warm sunny days, and plans for spring help beat the cold of January and February. Seeds are being evaluated and ordered.
You might ask what is your market manager doing in January? Contemplating, evaluating, revising, plotting, planning, strategizing, scheduling, organizing, designing and looking forward to the next season. The market team meet in December to assess the 2009 season. We defined what we saw as good and examined areas that could use fine tuning. Most exciting is the 10th anniversary of the market in 2010. What a major accomplishment!! Congratulations to the entire community for making the Lodi market one of the very best around.
One of the best things about the market is the commitment to the vendors. Vendors enjoy the Lodi market for many reasons. The great location with easy access for the vendors ranks really high. The Lodi community support is outstanding. The special events not only bring shoppers, but bring delight to the vendors as well. The salsa contest brings out the best from the garden, the best from the recipe box and the best from the tasters. Fun is an important component for the almost 30 Fridays farmers truck their goodies from across town or down the road to market.
The commitment to the vendors extends beyond the Friday afternoons. I applied for a scholarship to attend the Midwest Value Added Agriculture Conference and Wisconsin Local Food Summit later this week in Eau Claire. With a simple explanation of the dedication to keeping vendor costs as low as possible, the generous donations of Lodi organizations, the wonderful partnership with the Lodi food pantry, the scholarship was graciously given. It will surely benefit our vendors in the information that will be shared our monthly newsletters. Breakout sessions “Help, Hints and How-to of Local Foods Policy” and “Projects for Value Added Farmers” will benefit the market and our vendors. Keynote speaker Will Allen of Growing Power (creating food systems in in the inner city of Milwaukee) and Michael Perry’s presentation titled “Never stand behind a sneezing cow”, would be reason enough to attend.
Market team members will be meeting in February to plan for the 2010. This is your market and we value your suggestions and opinions. All are welcome. Contact me at gail@shopstop and tell me what you would like to see at the market in 2010.
I’ll tell you what I learned about standing behind a sneezing cow when I return..
28 Friday afternoons, sometime sunshine, sometime rain, hot weather, cold weather, over 500 vendor visits, shoppers, shoppers and more shoppers–that’s just a small sketch of the Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market for 2009. Our 9th season provided you with the best local and freshest garden goodies you could possibly hope for. We started with plants in April and finished with pumpkins in October. In between we had everything from apples to zucchini, with bison, honey, fish, maple syrup, organic pizzas and meat added. Who could say we lacked in variety?
We gave trees away, we gave market dollars away, we sampled salsa, Susie sweets, and pressed apples. We sang to you and brought you goats and chickens to play with. We searched for Larry the Leek and found him missing. We filled the barn week after week with our vendors and your generous donations to the food pantry.
And like the fields and farmers, we’re going for our “long winter’s nap.”
We worked hard to serve you well. We’ll rest well to serve you again next year. We’ve got our 10th anniversary coming next season and we’ll be planing various celebrations to share with you and our vendors. Send your ideas–the wilder and crazier the better. We’d love to hear them. We think there is no limit to what we can do.
Thank you for your support of the market farmers, your most gracious welcome to me (the new kid on the block), and your support of our efforts to make the Lodi Valley Farmers’ market the best we can bring you.
See you next April at the market!!
At the last market of the season, Rob Nurre owner of the 1900's apple press gives Gavin Schroeder a sample of the fresh pressed juice being pressed by his brother Lawson. The Schroeder boys are sons of Larry Schroeder regular market vendor. Photo by Cindy Miller
The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market wrapped up its 2009 last Friday. The market had a great year and would like to extend a hearty thank you to all who attended or vended. We are already looking forward to next year!
Rob Nurre looks into his 1900's apple press while Gavin Schroeder (son of Larry Schroeder, regular market vendor) turns the handle to "squish" Hazard's (regular market vendor) apples into juice. (Photo by Cindy Miller)
Things haven’t slowed down at the Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market….even though we’re got just two weeks left. Vendors are bringing the very best of their gardens to share the bounty and beauty of fall. We’ve seen folks stocking up for the winter ahead for the table and for their fall decorations.
Fun at the market is almost always equal to the abundance of the farmers. Our salsa contest winner, Roger Ripp’s mom, cleaned out the last of Roger’s garden. She and her market partner, Viola, came by to share the last of the watermelons with the food pantry. What a treat to have watermelon in October! Viola told me that many years ago, her parents used to take watermelons and bury them deep in the grainery to preserve them. At Christmas time, the watermelons would be dug out of the grain pile. Just imagine the delight of that!
Our sculptured vegetable lacked in the number of entries (vendors are working hard in their gardens these cold fall days) but not in imagination. The winner was a vegetable sculpture in the “personification” of one of our vendors. Delightful!! This Friday is Jack o lantern day at the market. Come out to see the variety of pumpkins carved and decorated for your viewing pleasure.
See you at the market on Friday afternoon.
The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market is held on Friday afternoons from 2 – 6 May through October at the Northern Edge Restaurant, located at N1430 Highway 113, Lodi, WI.
Gail Lamberty, Market Manager for the Lodi Valley Farmer's Market in Lodi, WI
Friday market cool winds and clouds don’t stop our vendors from bringing you their very best. The fall harvest is in full swing. But our vendors know how to hang on to the last of those traditional summer staples. There were a few bouquets of flowers. There was fresh dill and carrots that were young and tender. We even had sweet corn that was as sweet and tasty as if it was August. What a breath of summer for your palate on a chilly fall day!
We had many visitors to the market stocking up for the winter ahead. Squash and potatoes were filling market bags to the brim. Stop by to pick up your vegetables and don’t forget to pick up your Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market bag. Please support our vendors and your market that brings the vendors for your shopping delight.
My heart was moved by a delightful surprise on Friday. A woman sought me out and put a check in my hand for the food pantry. She had come from her uncle’s funeral and wanted to make a donation in his name. She told me that her uncle always welcomed people to his table and there was always an open door and an extra plate. That’s a gift of continuing his hospitality and appreciation of good food for others. What a wonderful memorial!!
Sculptured vegetables for your viewing pleasure on Friday. Get creative and combine your gourds, pumpkins, indian corn, and potatoes to make the winner. No limit on the amount of Krazy Glue you can use!
See you at the market on Friday afternoon.
The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market is held on Friday afternoons from 2 – 6 May through October at the Northern Edge Restaurant, located at N1430 Highway 113, Lodi, WI.
Larry the Leek has yet to show his face at the Lodi Farmer's Market, held Friday afternoons in Lodi, WI
Sorry, folks, I can’t report to you on last Friday’s market. I can tell you the mighty Mississippi was gray and cloudy and cold. Welcome to fall in the midwest. You’ll have to tell me about what I missed in Lodi last week.
However, this Friday at the market, we know the vendors will have the fall harvest on full display for your shopping pleasure–for your table, or for your fall decorations. You can find it all at the Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market.
We’ll be “playing” with the garden bounty by creating sculptured a vegetables . Let your Krazy Glue flow. On the way to the Mississippi last weekend I passed Peck’s farm market outside of Spring Green. They had combined large squash and put on a horse’s harness and it did look like a pair of yellow/orange horses pulling a wagon of pumpkins. It certainly caught your eye as you drove by. I don’t expect anything quite that elaborate in Lodi, but what ever we create will bring smiles, I’m sure.
See you at the market on Friday afternoon.
The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market is held on Friday afternoons from 2 – 6 May through October at the Northern Edge Restaurant, located at N1430 Highway 113, Lodi, WI.
The rain drops came, the vendors came, the daffodil bulbs came and the shoppers came to collect the best of the fall harvest. In spite of the rain, we had a really good time at the market because it was time to vote for the annual mutant vegetable contest winner. The garden freaks of nature were on display with photos taken through out the year. Vegetables operate on their own schedules, so we use pictures in order to allow corn and cucumbers to compete with potatoes and tomatoes for the championship.
Gail Lamberty, Market Manager for the Lodi Valley Farmer's Market in Lodi, WI
We had over 30 entries with a wide, wide range of mutants. At 3 o’clock we tallied the votes with (would you believe this?) a tie for the championship. Although a lot of mutant tomatoes were entered (you remember our cold dry summer) it wasn’t tomatoes that racked up the votes. It was Carrie Stollfus of S & S farms with her coiled cucumber that looked like a snake and Duane Clemens with 2 spuds that looked like Pillsbury dough boys. There was ONE trophy to award with winner with a certificate and Lodi Market magic dollars. Just like our vendors and shoppers it was time to improvise…so Krazy glue, a vase tipped upside down and plastic vegetables made trophy number TWO come into existence. All were great sports about it with enough laughter and delight for the two winners and everyone else.
The vendors were generous (as usual) for the food pantry. When Judy was taking her 2nd wagon full of produce to the cooler I chatted with her. She mentioned no names, but said there was an Iraq vet with a family who couldn’t find work that would be sharing in the bounty. The reality of our economy can get so personal and sad.
Vendors tables will be laden with the bounty of the early fall. We even had a vendor with some last sweet corn that was fabulous. Last week I saw many pumpkins heading to new homes. We’ve got the tried and true and the new just waiting for you. I tried a new variety of squash that I hadn’t seen before that was fabulous. Talk to the vendors. They’ll tell you about it.
Sorry, I won’t see you at the market on Friday. I’ve off to a houseboat on the Mississippi River to watch the colors change and the birds migrate along the great “fly-way.” You’ll have to tell me what is happening at the market this week.
The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market is held on Friday afternoons from 2 – 6 May through October at the Northern Edge Restaurant, located at N1430 Highway 113, Lodi, WI.
New Market Manger Gail Lamberty is excited about the Market's season
An invasion occurred last Friday at the market. Squash and pumpkins are on the march. Pumpkins and squash of every size and color took over the vendors stands. You thought pumpkins came in orange and yellow? Ah, but there is so much more. For the first time ever, I saw the pumpkins that were covered with a peanut like shell for the skin.–very unusual to say the least. Squash was common with hubbard, acorn and crown, but have you every seen the baby blue striped? We have every size and almost all the colors of the rainbow for your dining and decorating pleasure. We’ve even got a blue cat squash at the market table. You’ve got to stop by to see it to believe it.
As we talk about the fall vegetables, we’re skipping right past the winter snows to think spring. Jan and Bill Haupt have daffodil bulbs almost as big as baseballs for you. They will be next to the barn selling them again this Friday. Remember when the boy/girl scout motto was “be prepared”? The time is now.
Great plans for Friday at the market this week. The bees are coming. Kerri Bahr of Sweet Wisconsin Honey is bringing the bees to show you where that wonderful honey comes from. We’ll have special recipes for you as well.
The mutant vegetable contest closes at 3:00 on Friday afternoon. Since early spring we’ve taken pictures of vendors and their freaks of nature veggies. We’ve got photos of twisted tomatoes, wild potatoes and other mutants from their seemingly gentle gardens. Some of the vendors have named them—“grandma before she got her false teeth” and “creature from the deep”. Stop by the table and vote for your favorite.
Tomatoes, raspberries, carrots, pickles, garlic, potatoes and the last of the sweet corn are waiting to find a home on your table. Stop out for the freshest, locally grown treasures for your dining pleasure.
See you at the market on Friday.
The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market is held on Friday afternoons from 2 – 6 May through October at the Northern Edge Restaurant, located at N1430 Highway 113, Lodi, WI.
While we had a perfect day at the market last Friday, true perfection showed up in the “Super Sassy Salsa Contest.” 14– yes 14 – entries pleased our taster/judges. The range was from (sorry) bland to (holy cow) hot. And we did have a winner. Roger Ripp sent his mom with his salsa. Roger’s mom and aunt are market regulars each Friday selling the produce that Roger raises. Our second place was John Bednarek our buffalo vendor. He followed in the voting by only one ballot. I wonder who his wife Mary voted for. Stop by the market table on Friday for the recipe.
Well, we just got the sad word. It’s official now–at least according to our master gardner, Pam (a.k.a. the world wide web chicken chic). She saw a leek headed to the barn for the food pantry distribution and recognized Larry sadly announcing “Larry looks limp. Looks like Larry died.” Amen. RIP Larry. Be at peace in the big garden in the sky.
Vendors tables are overflowing with the best fresh produce you can find. We had a delightful surprise when our neighbor to the north brought plums, pears and apples from his orchard. At the Lodi Valley Farmers’ market “buy fresh, buy local” is not some marketing phrase. It’s the real thing for you and for us.
Hard to think of spring on days like this. Seems to me that in September we are having the weather that we used to call July. Come to the market on Friday to purchase your daffodils for spring to make Lodi yellow. But while your thinking of spring, think of Friday night dinner. Our vendors will supply you with every kind of vegetable you crave. Meat and potatoes, the old stand by’s, are also there for your pleasure. Don’t forget the flowers to dress your table! You can get it all at the market.
See you at the market on Friday.
The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market is held on Friday afternoons from 2 – 6 May through October at the Northern Edge Restaurant, located at N1430 Highway 113, Lodi, WI
New Market Manger Gail Lamberty is excited about the Market's season
Delightful day at the market last Friday! Market vendors brought Labor day garden abundance and there were shoppers to match.
Way back in early spring we had our rain barrel making day. Our winner stopped by to tell us what a delight his rain barrel was turning out to be. He added some personal touches to make it a rain barrel masterpiece. You’ve heard of hot rod cars–only in Lodi can you imagine a souped up rain barrel. He’s promised a picture on Friday.
Many laughs and smiles from the vendors at the mutant vegetables that are showing up. Check out the photos on the barn door. (Note, Larry the Leek doesn’t count as a mutant. He’s socially twisted but that doesn’t qualify for the mutant vegetable contest.)
Lots of excitement and anticipation for the Market Super Sassy Salsa Contest on Friday. Please join in the fun. Bring your salsa and chips by 3:30 to the market table. It is our annual fund and fun raiser for the market. We request a $3 entry fee. Everyone at the market gets to sample and vote for the favorite. We vote Chicago style on this–vote early vote often. You can buy as many as $1 ballots as you would like. Ballot box stuffing is encouraged.
See you at the market on Friday.
The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market is held on Friday afternoons from 2 – 6 May through October at the Northern Edge Restaurant, located at N1430 Highway 113, Lodi, WI.
Gail Lamberty, Market Manager for the Lodi Valley Farmer's Market in Lodi, WI
Last Friday’s market brought lots of sunshine, garden goodies galore, but not as many shoppers as usual. Could it be folks trying to capture and savor last gasp of summer before kids go back to school?
Our vendors were out in force with good spirit and garden abundance. We celebrated Vendor Appreciation Day by treating them to root beer floats. It was obvious that the appreciation went both ways. It was delightful and delicious.
And we’re looking forward to the September markets, starting with the Labor Day market this Friday. Make your plans and get ready– Super Sassy SalsaContest is on deck for September 11. With your help, it will be a successful fund raiser for the market. Bring your chips and salsa to the market by 3:30 and vote for your favorite. We do this with the Chicago style voting method. Buy as many ballots as you’d like and vote for your favorite– one, five or 10 times. I promise you an afternoon of fun and the best salsa you can find anywhere. All the ingredients you need are at the market this week–peppers of all color and heat intensity, tomatoes of many varieties and fresh herbs waiting for you to add your personal touch.
After the market on Friday night (September 4th) the full moon will light the sky. Remember when you thought the September moon was the harvest moon? Well not in 2009. The September full moon will be the “Full Corn Moon”. The Harvest moon is the moon closest to the equinox (September 22) –this year making it on October 4th. Reminds me of Larry the Leek. not where he is supposed to be, when he is supposed to be there.
The Lodi Valley Farmer’s Market is held on Friday afternoons from 2 – 6 May through October at the Northern Edge Restaurant, located at N1430 Highway 113, Lodi, WI.
Lodi, WI
8/31/09
by Ken Leiviska/ReedsburgTimes-Press
LOGANVILLE — No matter how hard he works, local organic farmer Ralph Reeson and his family are losing money every day. Because of it, his lifelong dream of making a living as a farmer might end after only eight years.
Reeson is just one dairy farmer of thousands in Wisconsin and the U.S. who can’t make ends meet with today’s milk prices. Since late 2008, the price to produce the milk is far outweighing what farmers are getting paid for every one hundred pounds — hundredweight. Farmers are losing money to stay in business.
“Prices are horrible,” said Reeson, who worked as a concrete finisher for years prior to becoming a full-time farmer. “They’re saying we’re losing about $100 per cow every month.”
He said he hadn’t run the numbers exactly, but that it means the 25 cows on his 40-acre farm just south of Loganville are costing Reeson about $2,500 a month. Pat Skogen, Reeson’s wife, said losing money just makes him work that much harder.
“He’s one of those guys who thinks if he puts his head down and works hard that things will get better,” Skogen, a special education teacher for 27 years and mother of three, said. Unfortunately, the situation is so dire that it doesn’t matter if Reeson keeps working 12- to 20-hour days like he has, she added. Read more »
Lodi Valley News serves the Lodi, WI and Lake Wisconsin area with news and information from local writers. We serve Columbia, Dane and Sauk Counties in Wisconsin
Farmer's Market, Human Interest, Local | Free Speech | 
February 11, 2010 8:25 AM | 
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The Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market, is, as always, NOT responsible for anything that we can ever imagine!
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