The Monroe Street Farmers’ Market (MSFM) was started in 2015 as a vibrant weekly gathering within walking and biking distance of Madison's near westside neighborhoods where community members would have access to a variety of local produce, handmade products, and items unique to southern Wisconsin. The MSFM strives to be a welcoming space for community engagement, interaction, and entertainment for all visitors.
Monroe Street Farmers’ Market Staff and Board of Directors
Amber middleton - MARKET MANAGER
Amber started as the Market Manager in 2023. She is a lover of local food, nature, and animals! Before this role, she spent her time teaching kids about animals in the Madison area and fostering equitable local food systems in southern Colorado. Amber volunteers in her free time with Fairshare CSA Coalition and SoL Criations Farm Sanctuary. Contact her at manager@monroestreetfarmersmarket.org
hannah wente - Co-Chair
Hannah is a Vilas resident and loves walking to the Sunday markets for apples, eggs, vegetables, meat, syrup and baked goods. She is an experienced communications professional, having worked for several nonprofits in Madison including Boys & Girls Club, the American Parkinson Disease Association and REAP Food Group. She is currently Communications Manager at UnityPoint Health -Meriter and a freelance food writer for Madison Magazine, Edible Madison, BRAVA and other publications.
Luke Lippert -
Co-Chair
Luke has a longtime interest in community building and sustainable agriculture, which led him to help found the Monroe Street Farmers’ Market in 2015. He served as market manager until 2021.
JANICE POEHLMAN - community board member
Janice is a near-west Madison resident and has enjoyed markets and local produce since first joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the early 1990's. She's been hooked on local markets and supporting farmers ever since then. Janice can be found in the neighborhood on her bike heading to the market, gardening in her yard or volunteering for invasive buckthorn removal along the SW bike path. She is currently Geospatial Director for RWE Renewables, developing grid-scale renewable energy projects in the Midwest.
Alex young - vendor board member
Alex owns and operates Blue Heron Community Farm with his wife Lindsey. As former residents of Madison, they excitedly joined the MSFM as vendors in 2019. They both agree that the best part of the week is coming to the market, and the opportunity to have a direct connection with their customers.
larry dooley - community board member
Larry lives in the Nakoma Neighborhood with his wife and two kids. He is a backyard chicken wrangler and home gardener who has been a farmers market enthusiast since moving to Madison in 2002. A stay-at-home dad for most of the past 15 years, Larry has coached youth sports, served on volunteer boards - including the Regent Market Co-op and the Cherokee Heights Middle School PTO- and co-founded the 'Ask as Master Gardener Volunteer' booth at the Monroe Street Farmers Market during the 2017 season.
andy fountaine - vendor board member
Demi Weisbrod - community board member
Kate Smith - community board member
Thank you to our past Board Members, Staff, and Volunteers for their service!
Maria vue - vendor BOARD member
Maria and her family grow a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and flowers for multiple farmers’ markets in Madison. Their business, Xiong’s Tasty Produce, is a longtime MSFM vendor.
DALE MATTHEWS - VENDOR BOARD MEMBER
Dale spent the last 40 years selling recreational equipment in Madison, Wisconsin. When he retired, he wanted to find something to do that he would enjoy. Growing on a farm, he helped his family sell produce at a fruit and vegetable stand. It occurred to him that this would be a great thing to do in his retirement.