Lake Geneva Farmers Market. Bob Kukuwich from Spring Prairie selling his produce at the market. Candice Finnegan buying some veggies after her walk uptown with the dogs and getting a cup of coffee and then to the market. Terry Mayer/Photo

I had anticipated this year’s opening of the Janesville Farmers Market with glee. I’d been dreaming of Skelly’s strawberry donuts, and I’d run out of my beloved goat’s milk soap from the Misty Meadows Farm. I also was yearning to sit in Fireman’s Park, sip coffee with my husband and watch our son monkey around as the serene Rock River flowed by.

After settling back in this area after a number of years away, I found that the farmers market was one way in which our family most quickly put down roots in the community. One of the reasons we returned was to be in closer touch with our food sources. We also wanted to participate in a community where the economic and political choices we made had more of an immediate impact on our surroundings. We’d become really enamored of the “buy local, eat local” philosophy. So, by supporting our local market, we knew we’d be helping our neighbors and promoting economic viability for the area.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the Janesville market is strong and growing. I can’t help but believe that a large reason for this is the force of nature that is manager Teri Huber. Fresh-faced, clear-eyed and the possessor of a mega-watt smile, Huber bursts at the seams with dedication, passion and enthusiasm.

Although she started as a vendor, selling her made-from-scratch baked goods, Huber accepted the task of being manager when her colleagues and friends, Bonnie Davis and Randy Thompson, recommended her for the job.

“I’m the market mom,” Huber said “I see so much pride in our vendors, and I’m so proud of them. We’re here to help each other and help Janesville by giving the consumers a wonderful product and experience. My two biggest goals are to see my vendors succeeding and my community succeeding. Especially in this hard economic time that Janesville is going through. It is crucial that we give people an event that they can look forward to that is free to attend, and affordable when they choose to spend their money.”

In fact, Huber’s got a fantastic lineup of free activities at the farmers’ market, including a cooking contest every third Saturday, a kids’ event every fourth Saturday and, starting in July, a cooking demonstration that’ll happen every second Saturday.

“One of the biggest things I hear is, ‘What is this? And what do I do with it?’ ” Huber said with a laugh, referring to the many produce offerings at the market. “So the demo would be based on food that is at the market that day and done in such a way that anybody can make it.”

And with 87 vendors already signed up to attend this year’s market, visitors will have plenty to choose from. While some vendors only will come the first or last few weeks of the market, the bulk of them will participate weekly.

Antony Jay, the maker of my favorite soaps and owner of Misty Meadow Farms, is one of the regulars.

“What Laura and I really love are the regulars who come back to us week after week,” Jay said. “The Janesville Farmers Market is wonderful.”

With wares ranging from goat cheese to lotion to seasonal items such as garlic, his stand is one of my favorite places to visit.

I also enjoy checking out the nonprofit organizations that set up booths every weekend. The market rotates organizations so each of them has a chance to present. This was how our family found out about the amazing Welty Environmental Center last year. This week, Elizabeth Hough, public information coordinator for the Hedberg Public Library, was staffing a booth to let people know about upcoming events.

“As soon as we start putting out books or information on the table, we always have people heading over immediately,” Hough said. “Obviously, our mission is to be an important part of the community, and we love that the farmers market has been a fantastic support of that.”

From fantastically fresh food to great, free family events to amazingly dedicated and passionate people, the Janesville market — as well as those in Beloit and Walworth County — is a spectacular way to support your community and spend a lovely Saturday morning.

List of farmers’ markets

• Burlington Farmers Market, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day, Wehmhoff Square, Washington Street, Burlington. (262) 763-3631, www.burlingtonchamber.org.
• Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to noon, Fridays, June 5 through Aug. 31, Northwind Perennial Farm, 7047 Hospital Road, Burlington. (262) 248-8229.
• Honey Creek Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, July through September. Honey Creek Community Hall, 35512 Washington Ave., Honey Creek,  (262) 534-6956.
• Lake Geneva Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Thursday, through Oct. 15. Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad St., Lake Geneva. (262) 248-4416. www.lakegenevawi.com.
• Mukwonago Farmers Market, from noon to 6 p.m. every Wednesday, June 10 to Sept. 23, in the parking lot at Tractor Supply, Highway 83 and Bay View Road, Mukwonago. (262) 363-7758, www.mukwonagochamber.com.
• Walworth County Farmers Market, Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, June through Oct. 18, on the Elkhorn town square, highways 67 and 11, downtown Elkhorn. Contact Peg Reedy, UW-Extension at (262) 741-4961.
• Whitewater Farmers Market, from 8 a.m. to noon, every Saturday, June through Nov. 14, Wal-Mart parking lot, 1362 West Main Street, Whitewater. (262) 473-4005.
• Beloit Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays (June through October), 300 block of State Street, downtown Beloit. (608) 365-0150 or www.downtownbeloit.com.
• Clinton Farmers Market, 8 a.m. Saturdays (though Oct. 3). Country Pride Meats, 109 Church St., Clinton. More info: (608) 676-4181.
• Henry Street Farmers Market. 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays (June 5 through October). Henry Street, downtown Edgerton. (608) 921-1601 or www.henrystreetmarket.com.
• Janesville Farmers Market. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays (through Oct. 25). North Main Street, downtown Janesville.More info:www.janesvillefarmersmarket.com.
• Rockford, Ill., Farmers Market. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays (through Oct. 30). Colonial Village Mall, 1240 S. Alpine Road, Rockford. More info: (815) 398-3350.

Tags: Farmers Markets