MADISON, Wis. — The nation’s biggest producers-only farmers’ market is back, just in a new spot for the 2021 season. 

Last year, the Dane County Farmers' Market had a delayed start due to the coronavirus pandemic. Then, they moved to the Alliant Energy Center, where a big portion of the business was in pre-ordered pickups. 

But the market started this season at the Alliant Energy Center, in a big main parking lot where there’s lots of space to spread out. 

It was a chilly, windy morning on Saturday, May 1. But that didn’t stop the hundreds of people who showed up to the farmers’ market, wearing masks and heavier jackets. 

Dale Marsden has been selling his honey at the Dane County Farmers Market for 42 years. Many may recognize him as the guy with the beehive hat.

“My brother-in-law got me started [with bees] when I was 16. And I've been keeping bees pretty much most years since then,” he said.

“I had just gotten out of the Air Force active duty, so I had I managed to get to the market a lot of weekends.”

His table is full of different types of honey. 

“My best honey is probably the wildflower,” he said. “I don't know what it is, but it's generally a nice buttery flavor.”

For the past year, he’s been selling at his McFarland property, and at some more rural farmers’ markets.

“It's been decent, but not nearly as good as up on the square or even down here,” he said.

But now that the market has officially started a new season at the Alliant Energy Center, things are picking up. It’ll be in that parking lot until at least the summer. 

“It's great to see the other vendors and old friends,” Marsden said. “I like to actually see my customers more. So a lot of them I've known for many, many years.”

It seemed to be going well for other producers too. By 10 a.m., one seller could be heard yelling “San Marzano, sold out!” 

It’s a welcome sign of hope to have Madison’s beloved Saturday morning mainstay back in business. 

To find a Wisconsin farmers’ market near you, click here. 

For more on farmers markets across the Badger State, visit http://www.wifarmersmarkets.org/find-a-farmers-market.aspx.