Fondy Farmers Market
2200 West Fond du Lac Ave, Milwaukee
Young Kim, Executive Director
Ten years after its founding in 1997, the Fondy Farmers Market hosted 35 vegetable vendors and four prepared food vendors in the summer of 2007.
Prepared food vendors offered roast corn, egg rolls, soul food and spices.
About 90% of the vegetable vendors are Hmong farmers, according to FFM Executive Director Young Kim. Their farms are located on relatively small plots of land, from five to 15 acres, mostly north of the city in Saukville or Germantown, or south of the airport in Oak Creek.
“These are real farmers,” Kim emphasized. “Everything is done by hand – no tractors or irrigation systems.”
The Market opened in May and was open on Saturdays through June. July through October, the Market was open seven days a week. In November, it returned to the Saturday-only schedule, and closed for the season on November 17.
The Fondy Market offers more than fresh-from-the-farmer food. They feature a number of cooking and educational programs through the Fondy Food Center.
The Taste of the Season cooking demonstrations feature locally-grown produce prepared by chefs throughout the summer. They also offer demonstrations of simple, one-pot meals at the local food pantries.
“Sometimes our customers only have a hot plate to cook on,” explained Young Kim.
Kim also addressed a need for adequate cookware that he noticed in the neighborhood. The Fondy Food Center began offering vouchers for cookware, as well as vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables, at local food pantries.
Another unusual offering provided by the Fondy Food Market is a “Chef Academy” cooking program for 13 to 15 year old girls. This 12-week class presents cooking basics on how to prepare fresh fruits and vegetables in nutritionally-balanced family meals.
Along with other farmers markets throughout the city, the Fondy Market is a vital link in Milwaukee’s “farm to fork” distribution network. These outlets offer reasonably-priced fresh food options to inner city residents.
For more information, see their MUAN member profile page, and visit http://fondymarket.org
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