'IT WAS A GOOD RESPONSE'
Vendors seem pleased as Lake Geneva Farmer's Market wraps up
Nathan and Megan Kernen, co-owners of Kernen Farms, were pleased with the response that their pickle products received during this year's Lake Geneva Farmer's Market.
Adam Rick, co-owner of Modern Frontier Farms in Dousman, was offering regeneratively raised meats to market visitors.
Matthew McConnell of River Valley Ranch & Kitchens in Burlington has participated in the Lake Geneva Farmer's market for about five years.
SUCCESSFUL SEASON
Several vendors that participated in this year's Lake Geneva Farmer's Market said they were pleased with the response they received from the community and customers.
The market's season ended Oct. 29.
The event was held each Thursday, beginning May 7, at Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad St., and Holy Communion Episcopal Church, 320 Broad St.
The market featured fresh produce, cheeses, breads, meats, flowers, dessert items, jewelry, artwork and craft items.
Nathan and Megan Kernen, co-owners of Kernen Farms in Elkhorn, participated for the first time this year, selling flavored refrigerated pickles.
Nathan said he he plans to participate again next year.
"The customers here are friendly and, obviously, Lake Geneva is a pretty well visited area," Nathan said.
The couple also participated in farmer's markets in Mukwonago, Brookfield and Greenfield, and their products are available at several area grocery stores.
Kernen Farms has been in business for about a year and half, and Nathan has been making pickles for about eight years.
Matthew McConnell of River Valley Ranch & Kitchens in Burlington has been participating in the Lake Geneva Farmer's Market for about five years, selling mushrooms, pasta sauces, salsas, jellies and pickled mushrooms.
He said this year was his best for sales.
"It was a good response this year, for sure," McConnell said. "It has a great crowd and beautiful scene. Horticultural Hall, I think, is really nice to host it. It's good people and a good area, and the other vendors are great, as well."
McConnell said River Valley Ranch participates in about 25 farmer's markets in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois throughout the summer.
"It's definitely one of our main sources of income to keep the farm running," McConnell said.
Adam Rick, co-owner of Modern Frontier Farms in Dousman, has been participating in the market for about four years, selling regeneratively raised meats and home delivery subscription services.
He said the market gives him an opportunity to meet different customers each week.
"There's a lot of people from out of town, a lot of people from the Chicagoland, and that really helps out with the subscriptions," Rick said.
Modern Frontier Farms also participates in farmer's markets in Brookfield and Dousman.
Rick said more people have been attending farmers markets during the past few years.
"I think people want to know where their food is coming from," he said. "They want to shake the hand that feeds them."
