Wood County Regional Farmers Market Coordinator Discusses Marshfield's New Winter Farmers Market

Monday, January 12th, 2026 -- 2:00 PM

The new Marshfield Winter Farmers Market began this Saturday.

The market will continue to run on Saturday throughout the winter and into the spring. I spoke with Melissa Haack, Regional Farmers Market Coordinator with the Wood County Health Department, and she discussed the Winter Farmers Market in more detail.

Listen to the interview with Melissa here!

Once again, the Winter Farmers Market is being held on Saturdays through May at the Second Street Community Center in Marshfield from 9am-2pm. You can learn more by visiting their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583011204593 

(AI assisted transcription by Otter.ai)

Melissa: "So, the idea for the Marshfield Winter Farmers Market came about through the group of vendors that formed the Marshfield Farmers Market cooperative. So, the Marshfield Farmers Market cooperative, it consists of a couple of vendors."

"There's five vendors that are on the board, and through the very first meetings that we had, the group was interested in getting a winter market off the ground. And we looked at a couple of locations."

"We were really close to getting different ones, but we ended up landing on the Second Street Community Center because of its location, because Main Street Marshfield can support us with marketing, because it's connected right to the library and is close to downtown."

"So, we thought this is a great spot; it's more accessible, there's parking lot, there's a great room in the back of the community center that can host about 20 vendors. So, it seems like a great spot for the group."

Riley: "And now you already mentioned that they're going to be held at the Second Street Community Center. But what day will the winter farmers market be held? And what's that time frame on that day as well?"

Melissa: "So, the Marshfield Winter Farmers Market will be held on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm and they'll be running from January 10th all the way through the end of May."

"So, there will be lots of opportunities; if people can't make it to the market this weekend, that they can go anytime during the winter and even into early spring to attend to the winter market."

Riley: "What can of products can people expect at the market?"

Melissa: "So, people will be able to expect to see fresh sourdough bread, cookies. There's also going to be maple syrup, honey, meats, so different cuts of meat from beef, pork, chicken, and there'll also be some craft vendors."

"So, I know there's going to be some neat, like, key chains and like some hand sewn stuff. All of the craft vendors are going to be people that are making all the products themselves. And come early spring, there's likely to be some fresh produce."

Riley: "And now I think one of the benefits of a market like this, you know, besides getting those fresh products, like bread and whatnot, is also the social aspect, which is pretty important here during the winter months. Can you touch on that a little bit?"

Melissa: "So, in a couple of different counties here in central Wisconsin, they also host winter markets, and I've found those spaces to be really important, community spaces where you can really check in with your neighbors, maybe make some new friends, have a conversation with somebody, learn about farming or learn about craft making, and get inspired."

"And because the Marshfield Winter Market is attached to the library, it's a great place. You could go pop in at the library and get get a new book, go over to the winter farmers market, get your staples for the week and and maybe some extra things you didn't know you wanted, but are super cute and you want to take with you. And then you could even walk downtown, because it's it's just within that block to check out the some of the shops downtown."

Riley: "Now, if people want to learn more about the Winter Farmers Market, or maybe just about the Marshfield Farmers Market Cooperative in general, where's a good place for them to go to do that?"

Melissa: "So, we are in the process of building a website. So, we should be, you should be seeing a website in the next three or four months, but for now, you can check the group out on Facebook, at Marshfield Farmers Market cooperative."

Riley: "Anything else?"

Melissa: "There's one thing I want to just let people know, is that the group of vendors has been organizing the Marshfield Winter Farmers Market really cares about the community and really wants this to be a community space."

"So, if you have any interest at all in vending at the Winter farmers market to please reach out to them on Facebook or their Gmail and get get connected, because it's going to be a great community space and hopefully a community staple for years to come."

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.