By Kim McDarison

An indoor version of the Fort Farmers Market will open its doors this Saturday, according to information released by Fort Farmers Market Manager Aimee Leonard.

The indoor market, which will be held at Purdy Elementary School, 719 S. Main St., Fort Atkinson, will offer shoppers an opportunity to purchase such items as handmade soaps, locally produced honey, cheese, produce, baked goods, clothing and accessories, among other items, according to the release.

The indoor market will be made available to shoppers on the first Saturday of each month, through April. This Saturday’s indoor market will be held between 8 a.m. and noon.

According to the release, among currencies, market vendors will honor certificates such as “Market Bucks,” and “Frequent Shopper Cards.”

In a telephone interview, Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shauna Wessely said that the indoor market, which is being held for a second year at Purdy Elementary School, will remain at that location through April.

In previous years, she said, the indoor market had been held at the Fort Atkinson Club community center.

She described Market Bucks as a mechanism through which the chamber pays vendors and often times others with whom the organization works, and Frequent Shopper Cards as a mechanism through which those who shop frequently at the annual indoor or outdoor farmers markets can earn a $5 credit to use at a market of their choosing. Each time the card is presented, she said, it is stamped. When the card is filled, the card holder is awarded the $5 credit.

Additionally, according to the release, the market will once again participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) where products qualify.

In a telephone interview conducted last May, Wessely noted that clients using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be able to use electronic benefit transfers to pay for purchases made at the market of such items as  “produce, meats, eggs and most other food.” 

According to Jefferson County Health Department Women, Infants and Children’s Program (WIC) Director Jennifer Gaal, “FoodShare” is Wisconsin’s equivalent of SNAP. Those interested in learning more about the program or are looking to apply for its use, can do so using the following link: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/foodshare/eligibility.htm. 

According to Gaal, several vendors at the Fort Farmers Market also accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FNMP) checks for WIC recipients and seniors. Additional information about the FNMP program can be obtained through the following link: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/fmnp/index.htm. 

To learn more about the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, visit: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/fmnp/senior.htm. 

According to the release about the indoor market, the event this month is sponsored by Fort HealthCare, and is focused on community health and connections.

The event is free to attend and open to the public.

Those attending Saturday’s market will find the following vendors: Fabulous Handmade Boutique, Mushys Creations, Sparkles and Stitches By Drews Designs, Jazzbead Designs, Fields farm, Mama Yana’s Sweets & Treats, Finches Landing, Hooked Together, Doug Jenks Honey, Sudsdelisious LLC, Hoards Dairyman Farm Creamery, and Hass Soap Works, according to Leonard.