by Micky Ellenbecker, Purchasing Assistant
It can be easy to conjure up warm and fuzzy back-to-the-land daydreams and romanticize the life of the farmer. They get to be their own boss; they work out in the beautiful countryside in the fresh air, with the wind in their hair and the sun at their backs; they are surrounded by the sounds of nature rather than the bustle of the city; and they get to eat those first strawberries and cherry tomatoes of the season, still warm off the vine; and then having the pleasure of selling the fruits of their labor to you and me. While there are likely many moments such as these that all farmers experience, they are often just moments amongst a tornado of other tasks. Farmers’ and the crews’ days also include very long hours in hot and muggy weather, harvesting in the rain because if there isn’t lightning there’s still work to be done. Their bodies are sore from crouching, bending, reaching, and repetitive movements. Hoophouses are full of mosquitoes that are sucking them dry, and they are running irrigation for the seventh day in a row because the rain still hasn’t come to do the work for them. Morning alarms sound at 4:00am to get to farmers’ market on time. Equipment needs to be fixed just when it’s needed most. Their fingers are constantly crossed that a storm doesn’t come through and destroy their hard work and livelihood. And, if you’re certified organic (which most of our farmers are) then they have to keep fastidious records of all their practices to prove their organic integrity. I know this is sounding quite dramatic, but I really want to illustrate the respect that our farmers deserve in an economy and culture that doesn’t put value on essential and meaningful physical labor that farmers and their crews provide.
Many farmers and their crews love what they do and feel fortunate to be able to do it, but they are having to give 110% for two-thirds of the year. We want to take this moment to thank them and recognize them for that hard work! We are fortunate to work with so many skilled farmers who are growing nutritious and delicious food for us year after year in an ever-changing landscape. Their work is tremendously important to our local economy and resiliency. Climate change is requiring them to adapt to weather conditions that are becoming more extreme, and they are having to adapt quickly in order to survive and keep supplying our local food systems. Yet farmers remain some of the most optimistic and motivated people I’ve come across.
These farms have been the cornerstone of all the high-quality local and organic produce that has passed from their farms, onto our shelves, and into your carts and bellies. Some have been working with us for a handful of years, while others have partnered with the Co-op for nearly as long as the Co-op has been open (we’re celebrating 48 years this October, so that’s a loooong time)!!!! So thank you again farmers for supplying the Co-op and the community with food that takes our health and the health of our ecosystems to heart when heading out for another day in the fields. We might literally starve without you!
Rami Aburomia and crew of Atoms 2 Apples
Atoms 2 Apples: Mt. Horeb, WISCONSIN
Signature crop: apples
Owner Rami Aburomia says this about being a tender of apples: “From the day we plant an apple tree in the ground, that tree is responding to the weather and environment. Wisconsin’s wild weather determines when the tree breaks bud in the spring, if the flowers survive spring frosts, what pest and disease pressure will be, (say it quietly)… hail, and when the apples will be ready for harvest. So we do this little jig of growing the most delicious fruit we can on the dance floor of Southern Wisconsin. The 4-6 months that an apple has been exposed to the sun, rain, and wind tells a story, and makes it a lively, crisp and juicy piece of fruit.”
Barnard Farms: Sturgeon Bay, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: cherries, peaches, apples
Barnard Farms consists of a father/daughter team, Jim and Susan Barnard, and they have been providing the co-op with the special fruits of Door County for a handful of years. We are fortunate to have this very special microclimate in Wisconsin and even more fortunate that we have farmers that are willing to make the long drive to Madison each week to resupply us with their very special fruits.
Cory Secher and Susan of Carandale Fruit Farm
Carandale Fruit Farm: Oregon, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: Concord grapes, aronia berries
We originally partnered with Dale and Cindy Secher of Carandale farm and worked with them for many years, and now the reins have passed to their son Cory Secher. Dale, Cindy, and Cory have made their top priorities to produce safe, nutritious fruits and have always strived to do it in an environmentally sustainable way. Their farm is also known for their research and trialing of rare and unusual fruits to help strengthen the local food shed and crop diversity for producers and consumers.
Cassie Noltnerwyss of Crossroads Community Farm
Crossroads Community Farm: Cross Plains, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: sweet corn, lettuce, scallions, Brussels sprouts, fennel
Co-owners Mike and Cassie Noltnerwyss started their farm as two motivated environmentalists that wanted to grow life-giving nurturing food and have expanded their mission to include providing free CSA shares to those in need and collecting and distributing reparations fees for BIPOC farmers.
Driftless Organics Crew
Driftless Organics: Soldiers Grove, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: broccoli, potatoes
Brothers and co-owners Josh and Noah Engel have the unique story of starting out as potato farmers at ages 9 and 11 in 1993 on a plot of land on their parents organic dairy farm, and nearly 30 years later they are still going strong.
Bob Willard of Ela Orchard
Ela Orchard: Rochester, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: apples
Owner Bob Willard says: “We at Ela Orchard enjoy growing apples and bringing them to the Willy Street Co-op. We have been doing so for over 40 years. That to us is amazing. We greatly appreciate all of the produce people we interact with and the people who make Willy Street Co-op run, and all of the customers/friends who eat our apples.” Last year, Bob’s barn burned down (the Co-op donated to the fundraiser) and it was the first season we did not sell his apples in my 13 years working here. We are really looking forward to being able to support him again this year!
Richard de Wilde of Harmony Valley Farm
Harmony Valley Farm: Viroqua, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: basil, eggplant, cilantro, root crops, shallots, ramps
Harmony Valley is another partnership that has been on the books for a good 40 years. Owners Richard DeWilde and Andrea Yoder somehow make farming (and adulting at that) look easy and we are always impressed with their level of organization and their beautiful produce.
Jason Thimmesch, his kids, and some neighbors
Jason Thimmesch: La Farge, WISCONSIN
Signature crop: Brussels sprouts
While Jason has a very specialized niche with us as one of our primary Brussels sprout producers, he grows a lot of them and he grows them well. Those Brussels have likely found their way from his Driftless fields into your Thanksgiving meals over the years.
Joy Miller and Rufus Hauke of Keewaydin Farms
Keewaydin Farms: Viola, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers
Owner Rufus Haucke on farming: “In my humble opinion there is nothing more sacred than our relationship with the foods which nourish us. This relationship is the very foundation of life itself. Second comes our relationship with the land from which this bounty springs forth. We have a choice as growers to live with reverence for our mother earth or we can choose to try to dominate. We choose reverence, we choose love, we choose to recognize the inherent abundance built into this complex biosphere. When you choose to eat our vegetables you also choose reverence and love. Know that your food choice allows our family to exist, to tell our story as second generation farmers. Your food choice allows us to continue the life long journey of discovery on this land we love. Thank you for helping us operate as a certified organic and beyond farm since 2004!”
David Bachhuber and crew of Lovefood Farm
Lovefood Farm: Stoughton, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: fresh herbs, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes
Owner David Bachhuber followed his dream of leaving a desk job and starting his own farm (though still a self-proclaimed lover of spreadsheets). His first three years were at the Farley Center incubator farm and then was lucky enough to buy land in Stoughton, which now makes it possible for him to showers us with all the cherry tomatoes we could ask for.
Robert and Summer Schultz and family of New Traditions Homestead
New Traditions Farm: Hillsboro, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: blueberries, onions, green beans, sugar snap peas
Robert Schulz’s thoughtful words: “Since a young kid, I've always felt that I wanted to be a part of a village, or a tribe. With this feeling I believe I needed to have essential skills to serve this village or community that I'd live in. Becoming a teenager and getting into my twenties, these feelings became more intense. I knew I'd start a homestead and farm.
I love and honor nature. I was in an interview years back and said that "farming was a domesticated connection to nature." At our New Traditions Homestead, we try to make decisions that are in tune with nature and live with the intention to support, and not disrupt, our land's natural environment. It's not an easy task! It takes constant awareness and many decisions to be sensitive and not controlling.
It's a great feeling to provide healthy, clean food for folks. It's not only about physical health. It's about artistic expression, environmental action, and being a part of a village, and a community of an intentional social movement.”
Olden Organics crew
Olden Organics: Ripon, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: pre-cut fruits and vegetables
Olden has done an amazing job of creating a niche market for themselves. They grow their own produce for their pre-cut fruit and vegetable line that is processed at their on-farm kitchen. When they run out of their own produce, they buy more to be able to keep their staff employed year round. Why do Tracy and Richard farm? They say “We are gluttons for punishment; we are optimists and the next season is always going to be the best; and farming is not a job, it is a way of life.”
2021 Cranberry Harvest at Ruesch Century Farm
Ruesch Century Farm: Vesper, WISCONSIN
Signature crop: cranberries
Owner Brian Ruesch has coined their farm “The world’s smallest organic cranberry bog, right here in Central Wisconsin.” Their cranberries are of great quality because they dry harvest them rather than flood the field like conventional cranberry operations. This ensures a long shelf life.
Tristan Martin of Sungarden Greenhouse
Sungarden Greenhouse: Lancaster, WISCONSIN
Signature crop: hydroponic basil
Owner Tristan Martins provides us with greenhouse-grown basil when it’s no longer available from our other farmers’ fields. He also has a unique business model in that he offers consistent job training and employment to individuals with disabilities.
Steve Pincus of Tipi Produce
Tipi Produce: Evansville, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: watermelon, carrots, sweet and hot peppers, kale, cabbage
Tipi Produce has been in partnership with the Co-op for at least 40 years, which means that Steve Pincus could share histories about the Co-op that no Co-op staff member would have knowledge of. Steve once described our partnership in this way: “We're like an old married couple; steady, productive, and still in love.” Tipi has been wowing staff and members alike with his years of good quality carrots and watermelon, and we’re going to keep buying them as long as he’ll keep growing them for us.
Troy Farm Crew
Troy Farm/Rooted: Madison, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: fresh herbs, sprouts
Troy Farm is unique in that it is an urban farm part of the larger non-profit Rooted, and has been a cornerstone of Madison’s Northside for many years. Paul Huber, farm director, describes their efforts as such: “At Rooted and Troy Farm, we are committed to growing organic food and making it accessible as well as providing opportunities on land for collaboration, learning, gathering and fun!”
The McGuire Family of Two Onion Farm
Two Onion Farm: Belmont, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: currants, gooseberries, apples
Owners Chris and Juli McGuire: "Things that delight and sustain us during the hard work and difficult times of farming are: the miraculous and abundant growth of our trees, the cherished companionship of our children and wonderful employees, appreciation from the community, and good tasting apples!"
Shawn Kuhn Tommy Stauffer of Vitruvian Farms
Vitruvian Farms: McFarland, WISCONSIN
Signature crops: specialty mushroom, microgreens, salad mixes
Co-owners Tommy Stauffer and Shawn Kuhn are motivated to make farming a year-round endeavor for themselves and their staff, and also have hopes for adding an on-farm store in the future to sell both their crops and the products of many other local producers.
Al and Kayley Weinrich of Wisconsin Growers
Wisconsin Growers Cooperative: Black River Falls, WISCONSIN
Signature Crops: Sweet Potatoes, Leeks, Winter Squash
Father and daughter Al and Kayley Weinrich serve as the coordination team for this all-Amish cooperative consisting of about 30 family farms. Every piece of produce is grown with the help of good old fashioned horsepower. No tractors here! One farmer offered that “Watching the produce grow and ripen is good for the soul.”