Welcome to Fondy Food Center

Fondy Celebrates the Return of Fresh and Local

Fondy Farmers Market's June 14th Opening Day Celebration was a great success. The 1st annual BBQ Cook-off and Greens Contest made three talented people $400 richer. Scott Banwart of American Pig Boars won top honors in the Pork Ribs category. First prize for best BBQ Chicken went to Larry and Shauna Butler of Super Ribs, and Joyce Lee was the hands-down winner for her delicious greens. Look for Joyce Lee to come back to our market to guest on Taste the Season and give a cooking demo on preparing award-winning greens. Check out the calendar of events to see which Saturday she will be joining us.

Children had their faces painted and planted seeds for the Sunflower growing contest. Musicians, singers and dancers added a world-beat flair honoring the many cultures and people who regularly shop our market. And of course, our farmers were selling the freshest, best-tasting, locally-grown, seasonal vegetables in all of Southeast Wisconsin. For all of those who lamented not being able to participate in the contest or attend the festivities, keep in mind that this was Fondy's 1st Annual Celebration. It's never too early to plan for 2009--keep the 2nd Saturday in June open for our 2nd Annual Celebration.

Fondy Market is on TV!
Fondy's cooking-based nutrition education program, is broadcasted on MCM Channel 14:

2008 Episodes

Download Recipes

2007 Episodes

Download Recipes

WATCH VIDEO

Download Market Recipes

Download Market Recipes

2006 Episodes

A Farm-to-Fork Solution to Hunger and Poor Nutrition in Milwaukee
“The survival of our communities and all people is linked to the destiny of our food and our ability to feed ourselves. We know that food is medicine – not only for the body but also for the soul – and traditional foods and agriculture are key to restoring and maintaining good health and healthy ecosystems” – Winona LaDuke

The FFC was established in 2000 as a response to Northside Milwaukee’s “food desert” – an area underserved by grocery stores and overpopulated with fast food restaurants, corner convenience stores and free food pantries. The chronic shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables, when combined with poverty and a lack of transportation and culinary know-how, create “food insecurity,” or the inability to obtain and consume affordable food. Food insecurity is proven to create disproportionate levels of health problems, including diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.

Food insecurity is a symptom of a broken food distribution system. The Fondy Food Center’s response is a holistic “farm to fork” strategy that encompasses growing, harvesting, selling, and cooking nutritious foods:

Fondy Farmers Market is the centerpiece of the agency’s anti-hunger efforts. Open six days a week during the growing season and home to 35 local farmers, it is one of the largest producer-only markets in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Taste the Season is a live cooking demonstration workshop, held on Saturdays at the market. This energetic and interactive program introduces new fruits and vegetables to market customers, using simple recipes that highlight the best that Wisconsin farmers have to offer. In 2007 the program will be expanded to a local charitable food pantry, thanks to a grant from the Project for Public Spaces. The program is also taped at studios of MATA Community Media and broadcast on Milwaukee cable access TV. DVDs of the shows are shown continuously in the waiting rooms of area WIC and W-2 agencies.
Girls Chef Academy is a new cooking-based food system and nutrition education program for middle school-aged girls. With 79% of the households with children in the agency’s service area headed by a single parent, the chores of meal and snack preparation usually fall to these adolescent girls. Not surprisingly, almost all of these young women prepare uneconomical, unhealthy convenience meals that use highly-processed ingredients. The goals of the program are to: 1) Impart to low-income girls an understanding of the importance of a whole foods, plant-based diet and to engage in economical shopping and dietary habits that will improve the health of their families; 2) Teach participants healthy culinary techniques and how to cook simple one-pot meals from scratch; and 3) Educate participants about global and local food systems.
The market is one of two markets in Wisconsin to accept Wisconsin QUEST Foodstamp Cards. Fifteen farmers currently accept food stamps using wireless handheld card readers, developed by VeriFone Corporationand serviced by eFunds Corporation.
Local farmers form the backbone of the agency, and the GrowRight Program is designed to strengthen farmer relationships by providing agricultural education and marketing assistance. Market staffers conduct on-farm visits to learn about each farmer’s challenges and opportunities. During the market season, weekly wholesale pricelists are emailed restaurants, cafes, child care centers, and other large customers. If you are interested in receiving these pricelists, please email us.

The Fondy Food Center’s Farm-to-Fork strategy provides the tools to Milwaukee’s Northside residents to stretch their food dollars and take control of their food, their diets, and their health.

To arrange a tour of our market, please contact Young Kim, Executive Director.

Fondy Farmers Market: Rooted in the Community and Growing Every Day

When:
May 10th - July 3rd:	Saturdays 9:00AM — 12:00PM
July 4th - October 31st:	Monday Closed Tuesday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM Thursday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Friday Closed Saturday 7:00 AM — 3:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
November 1st - 22nd:	Saturday only 7:00 AM — 3:00 PM Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 is the last day to shop at the Fondy Farmers Market this season.
December - April:	Closed for the season.

Where:	2200 West Fond du Lac Avenue, just north of North Avenue. Map to Fondy Food Center