Annual Food for Thought Festival held at the Square to promote local goods

On Saturday mornings local food growers set up food stands and display the freshest goods they can offer at Madison’s capitol square. The weekly farmers’ market is a festive event where locally grown vegetables, cheeses, breads and other items are available.

Last weekend, the usual tents filled with greens and goods covered the square, and people were circulating with their hands heavy. In addition, slighly outside the square stood another gathering of white tents, with a placard at the entrance that read: “Food for Thought.”

The 14th Annual Food for Thought Festival, hosted by Research, Education, Action and Policy (REAP) Food Group, a local non-profit organization, featured various fun activities for families and farmers’ market shoppers on Sept. 15.

“We have a number of initiatives, but one of the main things that we do is, like what is happening today, throw a party and to help remind people that good food is about enjoying yourself and being with families and friends,” said Mrill Ingram, Secretary of REAP Food Group.

More than 40 organizations, farms, and restaurants participated in the Food for Thought festival. The festival’s activities ranged from local food tents serving locally-sourced meals to kids activity tents with hands-on stamp-making and other projects.

The event provided a platform for organizations to promote their services and draw attention to the local food system.

Jamie Lamonde was handing out free copies of Edible Madison at the festival; it's a quarterly magazine focused on promoting the local food and agriculture of Southern Wisconsin.

“We live in a fertile place. We have lots of farmers, and we have one of the largest producers-only farmers’ market in the country,” said Lamonde.

The Food for Thought festival happens annually. Upcoming REAP events can be found here.