Fun in the sun
Inaugural season of Marathon Farmer’s Market will be back providing fresh produce for its second year
By Casey Krautkramer The Record-Review The Marathon City Farmer’s Market far exceeded its board of directors’ expectations last summer and organizers of the event hope it continues to grow in popularity this year.
Last summer, the inaugural Marathon City Farmers Market began on June 23 after its board of directors received approval from the Marathon Village Board. The farmer’s market was held from 2-6 p.m. each Thursday until October 27.
The Marathon City Farmers Market hoped to start last summer with 12 full-time vendors selling vegetables and other items each week, but it ended up with well over 30 weekly vendors. The farmer’s market was a huge success in its first summer.
Randy Wokatsch, president of the Marathon City Farmers Market board of directors, has announced the farmer’s market is coming back again this summer during the same time frame every Thursday on the gravel parking lot where George’s Market once stood in the center of Marathon City. The farmer’s market has an earlier start date of Thursday,
See FARMER’S MARKET/ Page 5
FRESH PRODUCE FOR SALE - Left: Damaris Nolt stands in front of her “Our Maker’s Acres” stand at the farmer’s market. Right: Chang and See Lee display a healthy gaggle of vegetables.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS/SHELLEY KAGE Farmer’s Market
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June 15, this year.
Other original Marathon City Farmers Market board of directors besides Woktasch are Shelley Kage, Dale Oestreich and Randy’s wife, Kerry Wokatsch. Barb Parlier, a Marathon village board trustee, is a new member of the Marathon City Farmers Market board of directors.
Randy Wokatsch is pleased to have Parlier as a new board of director because she was instrumental in helping the Marathon City Farmers Market have a float in last summer’s Marathon Fun Days parade. He said each of the board of directors have their own strengths that they bring to the table.
Last summer, the not-for-profit Marathon City Farmers Market accepted $250 from the Marathon Village Board as seed money to help get it off the ground. The farmer’s market board had many upfront costs including signs, liability insurance and renting a porta potty for food vendors and shoppers to use on site, as is required by the Marathon County Health Department.
“We are trying to be self sustaining this year,” Randy Wokatsch said.
The fee for full-time vendors has increased from $75 to $80 for the entire summer but the $10 weekly fee for vendors is the same again this summer.
VEGETABLES GALORE - Broccoli, beets, radishes, apples and more are waiting at the farmer’s market.
SUBMITTED PHOTO/SHELLEY KAGE
