​Taste Testing at Siren Farmers Market

Photo by Michael P. King/UW–Madison CALS

Master Gardener Volunteers (MGV) conducted a melon tasting in September at the Siren Farmers market. The weather was rainy but the market had a good turnout. We were able to get the minimum of 20 testers by the time the conditions worsened to close the market.

Testers seemed to enjoy the process of rating the melons and were interested to learn that we were UW Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and that the melons came from the Seed to Kitchen Collaborative, an organic vegetable variety research trial conducted at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station.  They were especially interested that these were European varieties that have a short growing season which would make them idea for conditions in Burnett County. 

​Other nearby vendors volunteered to sample and hear more about the research going on to test new melon varieties. The sampling event was a great way to help people hear about and actually experience what the Research Station is doing to benefit the community.

This is part of a series profiling just a few of the projects that
​Master Gardener Volunteers are involved with in our area in 2019.  ​