Our Northside Farm and Other Fresh Food Access

Thanks to Sheena Tesch, the Deputy Director of North Madison Programs  and Director of Gardens Network for sharing the following information about fresh food access on the Northside:

Rooted's Troy Farm is an organic urban farm tucked back behind the Troy Community Garden plots and the Troy Kids' Garden on Troy Drive. The farm–as well as the Troy Kids' Garden, and Troy Community Garden, along with many other programs across Madison–is stewarded and operated by the nonprofit organization, Rooted. The plant sale has become a favorite local spot to pick up vegetable plant seedlings. This year, I’ve been planning my garden and looking forward to the sale, which will be on May 7 and May 14. 

The Troy Farm crew grew all of the plant seedlings they will sell at the plant sale. This year, they were finally able to grow in their new greenhouse. And just as the people buying the plants are getting ready for gardening season to finally ramp up, Rooted's farmers are in full swing, preparing for the upcoming market season. Troy Farm offers a membership (kind of like a CSA). Families can sign up in spring and pay in advance or in installments. Instead of getting a box with an assortment of vegetables chosen by the farmer like you would with a traditional CSA, Troy Farm members get credit to spend as they wish at the farm stands on Thursday evenings on Troy Drive or Sunday mornings at the Northside Farmers Market. Rooted makes the fresh produce affordable by offering up to 75% off membership costs based on income, and the remaining cost can be paid using SNAP benefits. 

Members and non-members alike can pick out fresh, local, Troy Farm produce at the Thursday farm stand using EBT and Double Dollars. 

Here's how you can find fresh food from Rooted's Troy Farm and other farmers on the Northside: 

The Northside Farmers Market is open Sundays, 8:30am–12:30pm, May 9th – Oct. 24th at Northside Town Center, Sherman Ave. & Northport Drive. You can get fresh vegetables, meat, baked goods and more from over 30 local farmers and producers, starting May 8th. EBT card shoppers can get a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $25 per day. This program is called Double Dollars and it is available at most farmers markets around Madison. Go to cacscw.org for more info about Double Dollars and the exact dates of availability.  

Troy Farm also welcomes non-member customers at their farm stand Thursdays, 3:30pm-6:30pm at 502 Troy Drive. Visitors are welcome to explore the land, including the beautiful community gardens, the kids' garden, and the paths through the prairie, and pick up fresh food using cash, check, card, or EBT. Troy Farm also participates in the Double Dollars program, so those SNAP funds go twice as far. 

Troy Farm is not the only farm that offers discounts based on income or other factors. The discount Troy Farm offers is in partnership with the Fairshare CSA Coalition. You can check out their website to find many CSA farms that deliver produce and other farm goods to the Madison area. 

In the off season, when most of the farmers' markets are shut down, Willy Street Coop offers a sister Double Dollars program. For every $5 you spent using SNAP funds, the Co-op will give you a $5 Double Dollar voucher, up to $20. And you can use that money to purchase Rooted's sprouts and microgreens year round.