UPDATE: As of Monday, Feb. 25, Milwaukee Public Market officials say they are "working with" Fields Best to keep them at the market. Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee.com for additional details.
Noting that it wants to stay true to its mission of connecting the public to local food, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute is closing its popular juice, salad and produce space at the Milwaukee Public Market. Today, Sunday, Feb. 24, is its final day.
News of Fields Best's departure from the growing Public Market began to emerge Friday after the institute's executive director Ron Doetch sent a letter (posted below) to supporters and friends saying that the institute supports the Public Market's original mission but feels its time to focus on its East Troy farms and core business of connecting people and restaurants with locally grown food. Sources say that Doetch had several discussions with Third Ward Board president Ron Sanfilippo on Friday.
Market officials released this statement: "Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (Fields Best) has been an integral force of the Milwaukee Public Market since its inception. We appreciate the support, effort and resources that Fields Best has expended as part of the Milwaukee Public Market over the years.
"We respect and understand Fields Best interest in cultivating agricultural awareness through education, research, and market development. This can be very demanding and requires much time, energy and resources. And while we are sorry to see them physically leave the market, we continue to support their mission and are hopeful for their continued success. They will always remain a part of the Milwaukee Public Market family."
On a personal level, I'm a huge fan of this place (have written about them in the past) and am sad to see them leave the Milwaukee Public Market. In interest of full disclosure, my wife, Stephanie, is on the Historic Third Ward Board of Directors. The market also advertises with this online magazine. I also eat and/or shop at the market at least twice weekly. I love the place and want it to continue to succeed and find its place.
As the Public Market continues to grown, ebb and flow, it's essential that it find a new agriculture, juice and salad vendor. It's a farmer's market, after all. Market officials tell me that there's already interest, including some from local vendors and restaurants.
Stay tuned, and use the talk back feature to say goodbye to Fields Best and provide your comments and suggestions.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
