Farm Fresh Atlas makes local eating easy

Have longer days and warmer weather whetted your appetite for crisp asparagus, sweet spinach and crunchy salad greens, fresh from the farm? Or perhaps spring has turned your thoughts to locally grown meat, eggs, flowers, honey, maple syrup, cheese and other food and farm products grown close to home.

If so, the “Southern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas” is your link to locally grown food. The 2006 atlas includes nearly 100 farms that pledge to protect land and water resources, treat animals with care and respect, and provide safe working conditions for their employees. The atlas also includes farmers’ markets and food-related businesses that meet similar criteria.

Beginning April 22, the Dane County Farmers’ Market will have the “Southern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas” available on Saturdays at their information booth at the top of State Street. The atlas will be distributed across the region, including other farmers’ markets, public libraries, farms, food co-ops and area businesses after the 22nd. The Atlas is distributed free of charge.

“Everybody benefits when grocery shoppers buy local,” says Madison food writer Terese Allen. “With a Farm Fresh Atlas in hand – or in the car – southern Wisconsinites have access to an amazing variety of regional foods.”

Now in its fifth year, the atlas continues to link Madison and Dane County residents with some of the best food in the area. Farm Fresh Atlases are also available in the southeastern, eastern, western and central regions of Wisconsin.

The “Southern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas” is a collaborative project of REAP Food Group, the Dane County Farmers’ Market, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems and the Friends of the Dane County Farmers’ Market.

Major sponsors include Bunky’s Cafe, the Greenbush Bar, Harvest Restaurant, L’Etoile Restaurant and Cafe Soleil, Lombardino’s Restaurant, the Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition, Nature’s Bakery Cooperative, Organic Valley, Slow Food, The Washington Hotel Coffee Room, the Washington Hotel, Restaurant and Culinary School, the Willy Street Grocery Co-op and Wisconsin Farmers Union.

If you are interested in distributing copies of the atlas, or if you would like more information about this resource, please contact Miriam Grunes at (608) 294-1114.