Farmers Market brings taste of summer to blustery winter months
The Oshkosh Winter Farmers Market presents community members craving the upbeat energy of the summer event with a cozy opportunity to support local business. The market spotlights many different local vendors that sell unique items familiar to the summer market, but with the addition of new vendors. The event will continue to take place on Saturdays throughout the winter months at the Oshkosh Arena. Visitors can expect to browse a variety of shops featuring sweet treats, artwork, crafts, and preserved goods. On certain occasions, live local music is played for the enjoyment of guests.
There are many benefits to the Winter Market, although one favorite is the contrast from the crowded streets during the summer, according to Market Manager Michelle Schultz.
“Our downtown Market has about ten thousand people, and our winter Market only has about a thousand,” she said.
Despite having similar products, this attendance gap leaves Schultz urging community members to give the Winter Market a try.
“I don’t think people come out as much in the winter time, a lot of people are not aware of the winter market,” she said. “I think the colder weather has something to do with it”.
The newer market continues to grow with new ideas keeping things fresh and fun for guests to enjoy.
“Every year we review what we did last year and what we would like to do the next year and we find two [ideas] every year, then we come up with a plan and send out applications to all the vendors who previously vended with us,” Shultz said.
Not only does this keep well-loved vendors returning year after year, it helps to reimagine the event to maintain public interest.
There are a bountiful number of benefits that contribute to the meaningfulness of the Winter Market. Schultz explains the goals of the market as they revolve around the community, aiming to be an event that all people can enjoy during the dreary season.
“We want to have something there for everyone, our logo is happy Saturday and we want the farmers markets to be Oshkosh's happy place,” she said.
Not only is the market a great event for community members, but vendors find joy in the sales opportunity.
Having an outlet to sell handmade products to familiar faces is what sticks out about this particular opportunity to many vendors, Casey Zabluski from Bubble Bunny Bath Company notices.
“I've noticed a lot of people that I go to church with, people that are in my kids’ schools, stuff like that,” she said.
Zabluski enjoyed how her friends and people she knew came together as a community at the market to share their support for all the vendors.
Back Forty Mushrooms and Forage specializes in growing mushrooms out of Tigerton as well as foraging local produce. Daniel Johnson, owner of Back Forty, clarifies some of these responsibilities.
“We grow mushrooms inside an old barn year round, we grow shiitakes, Portobellos Lions, Maine, oyster mushrooms, black pearl mushrooms, and chestnuts,” he said.
It is important to acknowledge the preparation that goes into selling at the markets, and how some days prove to be busier than others for vendors, according to Johnson.
“Fridays are a big day. We go out to our barn, pick the mushrooms, and my wife weighs them all out and then puts them in containers,” he said.
Johnson concurs that besides being a fun way to spend a blustery Saturday afternoon, the Winter Market offers a wide variety of positive impacts.
“Hopefully the community benefits by getting locally grown and made products,” he said.
Redmond’s agricultural perspective sheds light on the health advantage that comes with buying fresh foods from the Winter Market.
“I think the farmers market is a benefit to the community in providing locally sourced and better food,” she said.
by Dania Mian
Published February 3rd, 2025
Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue IV