Now located inside of Better Knife and Kitchen Store! Same building, big upgrade. Visit Better Knife and Kitchen Store website to learn more!
Join our campaign to build a space for food and community where local food vendors can shine!
$2,300 raised
GOAL: Retail: $111,000 | Kitchen $139,000
updated daily
Video by David Volkmar | Special thanks to Gregory Leon, founder and owner of Amilinda | EDIT: We switched to a grassroots campaign after filming this video - We are saving almost $10,000 by running the campaign ourselves and we need you more than ever to help share!
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Farmer's Market TO GO
GOAL: $111,000 Retail Area
We have an incredible opportunity to change the food-scape of the Greater Milwaukee Area! Please join our campaign to finish the buildout and create a not-for-profit community space that will help local farmer's market vendors thrive and give consumers access to the best local food year round. This would impact small food businesses across Southeastern Wisconsin. We've got some amazing exclusive opportunities in our rewards that you can directly support the vendor of your choice with your purchase.
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By purchasing an item, you can help a small food business get their first retail store space - Just name the vendor you'd like to contribute to in the comments section when you checkout and your purchase will be applied directly to their space.
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EVERYONE who makes a purchase will get their name on our wall of supporters and you get bragging rights that you made a real difference for small food businesses in Milwaukee.
Vendors will keep 100% of their profits and only pay for the actual cost of what they use. All time invested so far has been volunteered. This project has the potential to benefit hundreds of small businesses over the years. Let's do this!
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WHAT IS FARMER'S MARKET TO GO?
What will we create?
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With your help, Farmer's Market TO GO will create a not-for-profit space where local vendors can sell their products year round space. For a lot of vendors, this would be their first retail space and for others it could help them expand their reach and continue to grow. If you are wanting to make a purchase that supports a specific vendor, just name them in the comments section when you are checking out and it will be applied to their space!
What's already there:
The space has two existing walk-in refrigerators, a walk-in freezer, commercial hood and a parking lot big enough to host a new farmers market in Brookfield. (The current farmer's market is so popular that there are rarely spots for new vendors.) We have been polling vendors at existing markets since last year and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. ​​
1,600 sq ft retail space plus 1,100 sq ft commercial kitchen located at 17000 W. Capitol Dr, Brooifield, WI
The parking lot could generate millions in revenue over the years for small local businesses all over the Greater Milwaukee Area with a new Sunday Farmer's Market in Brookfield, WI
WHAT ARE OUR GOALS?
To operate without profiting off vendors in order to:
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Help talented local food entrepreneurs not only survive, but thrive in a difficult industry. To be a stepping stone for greater things!
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Make healthy local food options with higher nutritional value more accessible year-round
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Create a unique business model that could be duplicated anywhere its needed.
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Create a destination space for foodies to get the best of what the Greater Milwaukee area has to offer and education for people to have a closer relationship with food and the people who grow and make it
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Educate vendors how to scale and grow their business by providing resources that will help them avoid expensive mistakes and connect them with affordable professional services that meet their needs.
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TIMELINE
July 2024 - Organize licensing requirements and internal organizational systems, post open positions, continue collecting vendor opinions and needs with soft application.
August 2024 - Begin remaining construction, Purchase Equipment, Launch Official Application to Vendors
September 2024 - Finalize vendor Applications and new hires & begin moving vendors in and testing systems
October 2024 - Grand Opening Indoor Retail Store
May 2025 - Launch New Sunday Farmer's Market in Brookfield
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HOW ITS SPENT
$111,000 is the minimum we need to build out the rentable retail space and will be prioritized. This is because this space alone can still help vendors who already have commercial kitchen access elsewhere. The amount of $250,000 is our full goal to be able to buildout both the rentable retail side and commercial kitchen through this campaign and other funding if necessary. The closer we get to $250,000 the sooner we open both spaces and can mitigate the winter months for the vendors who need it the most.
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Retail Area: $111,000 | Commercial Kitchen: $139,000
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Funds WILL NOT be used to purchase retail products and the space will not have any resale items. The space will be offered exclusively for locally made goods with 100% of the profits being earned by the people making those goods.
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WHO WE ARE & WHY THIS PROJECT
​The problem almost all farmer's market vendors face is a huge drop of income in the winter months. This makes it difficult to grow as a business or just to maintain staff for the following season. Plus most vendors work so much, it's hard to find time to seek resources to scale even and often especially if they usually sell out of what they are able to make for the market.
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And for the community, the biggest problem with farmer's markets is that they end and customers loose easy access to locally grown food and their favorite food vendors who don't already do retail or have their first storefront. ​​
Alena has a history in construction, law, and commercial buildouts. She will make sure the buildout goes smoothly and is coordinating with the Waukesha County Health Department and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture to make sure that we don't make anyone promises we can't keep. She will help arrange organizational systems and connected professionals after the stores open to ensure legal compliance for the store itself and all the vendors.
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Jenny Lee will manage the commercial kitchen side of things at Farmer's Market TO GO. She founded and runs a successful pop up restaurant, Kiuda MKE, that uses rentable commercial kitchens, but availability and ease of use has always been an issue. She also understands how difficult it really is to survive as a food based business and wants to help make this possible for more talented chefs.
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Angela Mo, founder of That Salsa Lady, is a recent addition to the team as a consultant after she filled out the initial interest form for her business and revealed she has been wanting to see a space like this created for over a decade. She has successfully navigated entering the retail space as a small food based business and wants to help other entrepreneurs do the same. She is dedicated to creating accessible food networks of single source growers, urban gardens, small farms, and non-GMO producers.
Angela Mo, Jenny Lee, and Alena
You can help just by sharing this campaign on social media and with your network!
Interested in becoming a vendor? Link to form here: fm2gowi.com
Interested in a position working at the store? Email: farmersmarket2go@gmail.com
If you have ideas or resources to share, we are eager to hear from you! Email: farmersmarket2go@gmail.com
Quick Guide: Fundraising Items!
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I Love Food and Just Want to Help - $25
So you don't need a tote or a crew neck, but you love the mission. Thank you! Come get your high five any time.
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Limited Edition Tote - $30
This cute tote supports a great cause and comes with free bragging rights that you support small local food businesses.
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Limited Edition Crewneck - $60
This crewneck supports a great cause and sweatshirt offers softness, warmth, and enduring quality. Not to mention will let everyone know that you are the reason they can get local food more easily all year round!
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Limited Edition Merch Bundle & Invite to Soft Open Party - $100
Get both the limited edition tote and crewneck plus an invitation to the private soft open party where you'll also get 10% off shopping next door at Better Knife and Kitchen Store during the event!
Cant make it to the soft open? We'll add a surprise thank you gift from a vendor if you choose to have your items shipped.
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One Month Food Adventure for (2) - $200
Pickup a local farm to table, heat & eat feast for two plus drinks and desert every week for one month after the store opens. That's four (4) meals for two (2) people. Allergies? No problem, we will be sure to ask and accommodate. This adventure is crafted for you! ($250 value)
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Community Dinner for (2) Kiuda MKE Menu- $500​
Two tickets for a specially created five course menu by Chef Jenny Lee (owner and founder of Kiuda MKE), hosted at Amilinda in Milwaukee at 6pm on Monday, February 3, 2025.
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Community Dinner for (2) Vendor Spotlight Menu- $500​
Two tickets for dinner featuring ten (10) courses of specially created dishes by favorite local market vendors, hosted at Amilinda in Milwaukee at 6pm on Monday, January 6, 2025.​
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Private Knife Skills & Charcuterie Board Class for up to (6) - $600
For up to (6) people a private class taught by Alena Joling, founder of Moleta: Artisanal Sharpening, where each student builds their own charcuterie board to take home while learning valuable knife skills along the way. Available for all ages at any skill level custom for your group. Plus each person can bring up to five knives for complimentary sharpening by Moleta. ​
Private Fermentation Class - Kimchi - for up to (6) - $700​
For up to (6) people a private class where students will learn to make traditional kimchi with Chef Jenny Lee and learn the history of the dish as they go. Available for all ages at any skill level custom for your group. *Booking dates first come first serve: October 15, 22, 29th or Nov. 12, 19, or 26 starting at 6:30pm (2 hour). Plus each person can bring up to five knives for complimentary sharpening by Moleta. $900 value!
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Romantic Evening at The Salt Spot for (2) - $1,000
Private romantic evening for two at The Salt Spot's newest location in Brookfield, WI and all of it's amenities - Infrared Saunas, Relaxation Salt Cave, and Cold Plunge PLUS custom aphrodisiac cocktails and a local snacks and sweets basket to share. (3 hours).
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Six Month Food Adventure for (2) - $1,000
Pickup a local farm to table, heat & eat feast for two plus drinks and desert every week for six months after the store opens. That's (24) meals for two people. Allergies? No problem, we will be sure to ask and accommodate. This adventure is crafted for you! ($1,200 value)
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Private Party at The Salt Spot (10) - $1,500
Private party for up to (10) people at the The Salt Spot's new location in Brookfield, WI and all of it's amenities - Infrared Saunas, Relaxation Salt Cave, and Cold Plunge PLUS custom cocktail or mocktail (3 hours)
Available to book after August 1st on any weekday 7-10pm. Must be redeemed before December 31, 2024.
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Rainbow Charcuterie Board​ - $1,500
Six (6) foot charcuterie board brought to the location of your choice for you for approximately 20- 30 people. Featuring local goodies and custom for you! *Location must be within the Greater Milwaukee Area and no more than 20 miles from Brookfield, WI. * Booking first come, first serve. Available to book weekdays in November or December 2024. Must be redeemed before December 31, 2024.
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Ultimate Party (20) - $5,000
Take over the building with up to 20 of your friends! Music, cocktails, 6 ft charcuterie, all the amenities of the salt spot (infrared saunas, salt rooms, and cold plunge), private shopping with 10% off at Better Knife & Kitchen Store and each guest can bring up to 5 blades for free sharpening by Moleta. Complimentary cocktail and mocktail. Coolest party ever. (4 hours) *Flexible booking any weekday 6-10pm. Must be redeemed before December 31, 2025 at 17000 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield, WI​