When it comes to local food, Southern Wisconsin is considered a national leader. With farmers’ markets every day of the week, pick-your-own farms, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms, grocery stores and restaurants that offer local fare, the only challenge is deciding where to shop.

And that’s really no challenge, thanks to the newly released ninth edition of the Southern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas, a free, 40-page guide to nearly 200 farms, farmers’ markets and other places that sell fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, milk, eggs and other locally grown eats. The atlas also lists 27 “Buy Fresh Buy Local” restaurants that source local ingredients for their menus.

Each vendor listed in the atlas pledges to protect land and water resources, treat animals with care and respect and provide safe working conditions for their employees.

The 2010 Southern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas is available at the Dane County Farmers’ Market information booth at the top of State Street. It is also available at other farmers’ markets, public libraries, farms, grocery stores, Heartland Credit Union branches and other area businesses.

A complete list of distribution sites and an online version of the atlas is available at www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas.

The 2010 Southern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas is a collaborative project of REAP Food Group, the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, the Dane County Farmers’ Market and the Friends of the Dane County Farmers’ Market. It is underwritten by Heartland Credit Union, with major financial support provided by local businesses and organizations.

If you are interested in distributing copies of the 2010 Southern Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas, or would like more information about this resource, please contact Miriam Grunes at (608) 310-7836 or miriamg@reapfoodgroup.org.

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Editors: Download a high-resolution PDF of the Atlas cover here.