Getting an up-close look at Beloit Farmers Market
I felt somewhat disloyal driving south Saturday to check out the Downtown Beloit Farmers Market for the first time ever. After all, my wife, Cheryl, and I live here in Janesville and enjoy visiting the downtown Janesville Farmers Market Janesville Farmers Market whenever we can. We often go home with lots of goodies.
But when internal strife was plaguing Janesville’s market last summer and we did stories that compared its policies to those elsewhere, including in Beloit, some readers commented online that Beloit’s market is much better.
So we decided to see for ourselves. Well, it is much larger—two if not three times as large. In part because of that, it draws many more customers, too.
Beloit’s market packs vendors into three downtown blocks. It appears to have two key differences from Janesville’s.
First, Janesville’s market tried from the start to create a niche in which it only allows vendors to sell products grown or produced in Wisconsin. That’s a neat concept, but it does limit potential vendors. One vendor in Beloit was selling seafood from South Padre Island, Texas. Several were selling Michigan blueberries. We bought some of these berries and tomatoes grown in Illinois.
Another difference is that Beloit allows customers to bring dogs. We saw a dozen or so dogs in Beloit, and all seemed well-behaved. Kids enjoyed petting them and learning what breeds they were (one dog had a head the size of a basketball).
I even heard two men talking about how nice it is that Beloit’s market allows dogs, while Janesville’s “has these big signs” banning dogs.
We did stop in at Janesville’s market on the way home to grab a couple more favorite items. Janesville has scaled back on the signage prohibiting dogs; now, it posts just smaller signs. We didn’t see any pooches.
While I did recognize a couple of people who work in Janesville at Beloit’s market, I didn’t stop to talk with them. Part of the charm of Janesville’s market is stopping to talk with old friends, neighbors and co-workers.
What do you think? Do you like Janesville’s market just as it is, or would you prefer that it expand to allow products from beyond the Badger State’s borders? Should it keep its ban on dogs?
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook
Jul 25, 2011 at 10:07 a.m.
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So I went to the Beloit farmers market. WOW.
Tons of vendors.
Janesville doesn't got anything on them.
Rows off of other rows of stuff to look at and wow stores downtown that ARE OPEN!
Lots of people. That pic wasn't lying.
Jul 22, 2011 at 2:16 p.m.
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I definitely don't think "most" local foodies drive Hondas and Toyotas! Of those who do, is it because of fuel economy? We all pick our battles. I feel a little ambiguous driving my Chevy; I love Janesville and know GM has done big things for us...at the same time, I feel guilty supporting GM as a superpower interested primarily in profit at whatever the environmental cost...
Jul 21, 2011 at 9:41 a.m.
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Getting excercise for your animal is abuse????
Animals like to socialize as well. I see no issue with dogs. If you don't like them just stay on the opposite side of the street.
Jul 19, 2011 at 10:38 a.m.
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No Dogs! When they start letting dogs in at the Janesville Farmers Market, I stop going. I go to the both Janesville and Beloit Farmers Market and in Beloit the dogs are panting and looking for water, and also trying to stay out of the sun. I think that the only reason people take their dogs is to be complimented on, when I believe they should be condemmed for abuse.
Jul 19, 2011 at 10 a.m.
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During the controversy of the last 2 years many indicated that qualified vendors were turned away. Could Janesville's Farmers Market be bigger and still remain local?
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Lemke10, I don't see a connection between who lives downtown and the farmers market.
Do people make their decision on which market to visit based on what the respective downtowns look like?
Jul 19, 2011 at 8:41 a.m.
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I LOVE THE FARMER'S MARKET ON HWY 11 NEAR NATURES TOUCH GARDEN CENTER. I GO ALMOST EVERY SUNDAY. SOMETIME SOON I WILL CHECK OUT THE BELOIT MARKET ON SATURDAYS.
Jul 19, 2011 at 8:06 a.m.
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"most of these vehicles are Toyota's and Honda's"
You really want to go here?
Lets see Honda and Toyota plants are HERE and GM LEFT!
Jul 19, 2011 at 6:20 a.m.
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We'll hit a vendor or two in Janesville, then we head to Beloit. We love the atmosphere. Bushel & Peck's for a little wine tasting, maybe another store or art gallery along the market route. There's just more variety in Beloit & we always hit the taco cart.
Jul 18, 2011 at 8:58 p.m.
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We have visited several markets in the area more than once. We've yet to find anything in Beloit to make it worth the drive. In our opinion, Janesville has come a long way this year. If we want more than we find here we'll go to Madison, either the one near Hilldale or the big one on the square for the experience.
Jul 18, 2011 at 8:54 p.m.
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iluvlocal food has a point. I know that there are a number of people who think this way. I can tell by the bumper stickers on the backs of their vehicles telling us to buy local produce, shop local- grow local, and support local farmers. Of course, most of these vehicles are Toyota's and Honda's so I guess we should only pay more for local when it is a benifit to them while they can feel free to have ignored local industy SOLIDARITY (unless it doesn't fit my lifestyle)
Jul 18, 2011 at 8:51 p.m.
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I haven't been to Beloit's Farmers Market yet, but I've seen it in passing.
Tosser, those pictures are very deceptive. I think Janesville's market has just about the right level of people for me. I keep embedded YouTube links to all the market report videos from JATV in one spot for easy access here:
http://tinyurl.com/3hwblbq
Frogger - I was at the Madison farmers market recently, and shot a very short video of it, and inside the capitol building.
http://youtu.be/lzsFbIg6TSE
No dogs? Things can change, stay tuned.
Greg, I missed you last weekend at the Janesville Farmers Market! Did you see the 4H Heat Wave singers? Jacob the juggler, or Joanna the violinist?
As I type I'm rendering this week's edition of the Janesville Farmers Market report for JATV. Heat Wave + Interview pushed it to 26 minutes (I try to keep it at ten minutes), and my computer will be grinding away at it for another 3 1/2 hours.
I've only had my camera since April, so I'm still be newbie!
Jul 18, 2011 at 6:36 p.m.
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The whole charm of farm markets is fresh LOCAL food! I don't want to support businesses in other states and countries and add to our already colossal waste of fossil fuels for food transportation, when I know I can walk downtown to the JFM and put my money directly in the hands of the people who worked to grow the product here. Go JFM!
Jul 18, 2011 at 4:45 p.m.
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I've just added links to websites for both the Janesville and Beloit markets in my original blog post so readers can get some basic details.
Greg Peck
Jul 18, 2011 at 3:05 p.m.
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The Madison farmers market is amazing! Parking wasn't an issue this past weekend and it was Maxwell Street days on State Street!
Jul 18, 2011 at 2:54 p.m.
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Lemke- I don't think that has anything to do with it either. The more vendors, the more options, the more people who will come to shop.
If your mall is empty nobody will come to it.
Remember Beloit Mall. empty and nobody to shop there and now what is in there. Nothing?
Jul 18, 2011 at 2:51 p.m.
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rose- to be fair the Beloit one closes at 1 pm as well.
Jul 18, 2011 at 2:50 p.m.
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Anybody go to the Madison one? How is that. Parking problems?
Found it corner of Grand and State. Looks like just take 51 a bit past Beloit in.
Jul 18, 2011 at 2:44 p.m.
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So why didn't you talk to them??
Jul 18, 2011 at 2:43 p.m.
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Can I get an address for Beloits.
Jul 18, 2011 at 2:41 p.m.
Jul 18, 2011 at 2:15 p.m.
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The Rock County farmers market near Nature's Touch on Sundays is very nice also.
Jul 18, 2011 at 1:58 p.m.
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Tosser: Be fair.
Judging by the direction of the shadows cast in the Janesville Farmer's Market photo, that picture was taken well after noon. The JFM closes at 1pm.
What time of day was the Beloit Market picture taken?
Jul 18, 2011 at 1:39 p.m.
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I've been to both and must say I like the one in beliot much better. More variety and a better overall atmoshere.
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