Produce With Purpose & Revolution Market

Sunday, March 7th, my husband and I went out on a whim to a little building on Holmgren Way that I've watched from a distance for the better part of a year now. Crippled by closures this time last year, Revolution Market got off to a slow start while they prepared to welcome vendors into their space. Those restrictions are gone. Vendors are in their stalls, and Sundays are for Produce with Purpose as one of the only vendors on site during the weekend.

We didn't know what to expect when we arrived. Google Maps told us the whole building was closed, but Facebook told us better. Signs outside let us know that someone was indeed on site and selling. That someone was Rick from Produce with Purpose, holding down the fort at his indoor farmer's market with product availability across the board.

It reminds me of one of my favorite places in the world, Cleveland, Ohio’s Westside Market, but on a microcosmic level. Westside Market is rows and rows of produce vendors, cheese purveyors, meat purveyors, and other food artisans. Revolution Market is a relatively small space, populated by maybe four different stalls. Produce with Purpose is their primary produce vendor, open all week for Green Bay residents to visit. Everything in there made me happy.

Nearly everything he sold was local. His well stocked mushroom case comes from a vendor in the American Northwest-- Mushroom Mike. Most of the produce is his own. The meat case full of Berkshire Pork and Angus Beef comes from Roskom Farms, where every animal is humanely raised and slaughtered right here in Wisconsin. If the quality of what was available isn’t enough for you, know that the man in charge is as wonderful as they come.

While my husband and I browsed, we spent a lot of time talking to Rick about his wares and his plans for the future. This was the first full week that Produce with Purpose had been open at Revolution Market, and the man was absolutely glowing with pride with what he wanted to do. New products coming as the season progressed, changing hours so that people working the typical 9-5 during the week have a chance to get in the building just to see what they’ve got going on.

We picked up a case of quail eggs and he gifted us this little pair of scissors designed to snip off the top of those little eggs-- free of charge. One of my favorite things in these sorts of situations is to have the time to actually talk to the vendors about what they’re doing, and we had all the time in the world. Rick was enthusiastic and open with us while we browsed and spent time with him. What he’s got going on here is absolutely a destination for the Green Bay Community-- especially so for people who want to know where their food is coming from. He’ll tell you gladly, and he loves it.

Enthusiastic and knowledgeable vendors make for more enthusiastic and knowledgeable cooks. If this no farmer’s market season in Green Bay is making you miss the good times, you can find them at Produce with Purpose. I highly recommend the visit, and I suggest you stick around for future Market Meals like we did during the 2020 farmer’s market season featuring mostly local vendor product from Revolution Market and Produce with Purpose starting as soon as next week.

Say Hi to Rick for us!

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