By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published May 31, 2024 at 10:03 AM

It’s officially farmers market season. But there’s one Wisconsin market in particular that has not only paved the way for others in its wake but gleaned countless accolades, including a recent feature on season 21 of Bravo’s “Top Chef”: The Dane County Farmers Market.

In celebration of the Madison-based market’s 50th anniversary, former chef and longtime Madison food writer Terese Allen has curated an eye-catching, soul-filling cookbook that pays homage to the country’s largest producer-only farmer’s market through stories, recipes and a brief history of the market itself..

The result is The Dane County Farmers’ Market Cookbook: Local Foods, Global Flavors, a beautiful hardcover cookbook that features over 125 recipes including appetizers and drinks, salads and sides and main dishes and desserts gleaned from members of the market community, including chefs, growers, vendors, shoppers, staff and volunteers. 

Pages from the Dane County Farmers Market CookbookX

Through recipes for dishes like Shakshuka, Tacos de Carnitas, Hmong Mustard Greens with Boiling Pork and Bison Osso Buco, the book simultaneously showcases the bounty of local produce at the market and the diversity of globally-inspired flavors that can be created with each week’s farmers market haul.

Need yet another reason to check out this notable book? All proceeds from its sale will go to support The Dane County Farmers Market.

Meet us at Boswell

Terese Allen and Lori Fredrich pictured with book cover for Boswell Books event

Want more delicious details?

Join me for a conversation with Terese Allen at Boswell Books, 2559 N. Downer Ave., on Thursday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. 

We’ll chat about the Dane County Farmers Market, venture behind-the-scenes for insights into how the cookbook came to be and more on the compelling recipes and untold stories behind the book. The event is free, but registration is requested. Signed copies of the cookbook will be available at the event.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.