Milwaukee VA Medical Center

Sam Floyd, a Marine Corps veteran, serves coffee at his Operation Coffee booth at the farmers market at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. A portion of the proceeds from Floyd's sales is directed to organizations aiding the fight against veterans suicide. (Photo by Benjamin Slane)

Under a blue sky dotted with puffy clouds, with a pleasant breeze wafting through from the southeast, the farmers market returned to the Milwaukee VA Medical Center Friday, much to the delight of vendors, organizers and employees.

“I’m really happy they’re back,” said EEO specialist AnaCristina Rodriguez-Ross, sipping on lemonade and clutching kettle corn and a batch of seasoning from one of the vendors, Doorstop Peppers.

“This is awesome. It’s nice to give back to these smaller businesses that may have been losing money.”

Melissa Ward-Healy, an occupational therapist and part of the VIP team at the hospital, agreed.

“I love it. I think it’s great,” she said. “I’m very excited we’ve been allowed to do it, and so far it seems like everybody’s being responsible and wearing their masks.”

While last year’s market kicked off in June, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic delayed the opening of this year’s event, which could proceed only if everyone adhered to masking and social distancing requirements, according to organizer Kayleen Weister, a dietitian and deputy food service program manager.

“We worked with the front office and took it month by month, and I told the vendors we would play things by ear,” Weister said, noting that the market was allowed to return once the hospital was back to providing 50 percent of its outpatient services.

For the first market, Weister said 12 vendors were confirmed. They offered a range of products, from jewelry and flowers to salsa, coffee and kettle corn.

Vendors were spaced out in the South Entrance parking lot to discourage crowds from gathering.

Weister said all the vendors were on board with the masking and distancing requirements.

“I expected some disgruntlement or frustration, but everyone is happy to comply with whatever needs to be done to make the market a success,” she said.

Milwaukee VA Medical Center employees browse the booths at the farmers market, which returned to the hospital on Aug. 7. (Photo by Benjamin Slane)

As lunchtime approached, smatterings of employees filed out of the South Entrance and into the sunshine, seeking out favorite vendors and tasty treats.

The lemonade and kettle corn were popular, as were the bouquets of fresh flowers offered at Xiong’s Flowers and Produce stand.

Mai Xiong said she was glad to return to the market, saying it is the only one she frequents.

“I felt good coming back,” she said. “This market has always been small, so I felt safe.”

Ron Cassie of TBA Golden Honey Farm, who has raised bees and made honey since the 1970s, was also glad to be back at the market.

“I only go to two markets – this one and South Milwaukee,” he said, noting that when he got the call from Weister he was “pretty excited. Kayleen is a really good person to work with.”

Dennis Pruszka of Doorstop Peppers took part in the winter market the hospital hosted inside the South Entrance and was happy to come for the summer version.

“I’m excited about it,” said the Air Force Veteran. “It was a good market in the winter, and my wife Maggie and I enjoyed the people and the vendors.”

This year’s market will continue 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every other Friday – on payday Fridays – through Oct. 30, Weister said, as long as the pandemic doesn’t take a turn for the worse.

“Everything is tentative with the pandemic,” she said. “The vendors know we’re taking this market by market.

“I’m hoping this will be successful. … Knowing how much the employees enjoy it and with everything going on with the pandemic, I think this will bring a little joy to people’s faces.”