There are five seasons in Iowa: summer, fall, winter, spring, and farmer’s market season. Now that spring has officially sprung, and the harsh winter weather is (hopefully) behind us for good, we can start planning our fun for the next season. That means dusting off your walking shoes, unpacking your canvas tote, and planning out your trips to the farmer’s market. Be sure to make a stop at one of these 10 incredible farmer’s markets in Iowa, they’ve got everything under the sun:
1. Downtown Farmers Market, Des Moines
The Downtown Farmers Market features Iowa producers from 58 counties across the state, who offer fresh fruit, vegetables and so much more every Saturday, 7 a.m. to noon, from May through October. The market is located at the Historic Court District in downtown Des Moines.
2. Iowa City Farmers Market
Iowa City offers three different farmers markets: one on Tuesday, one on Wednesday and one on Saturday. The Wednesday market is held from 5 to 7 p.m., May 4 through Oct. 26 at Chauncey Swan Ramp, 400 block of Washington Street, Iowa City. The Saturday market is held from 7:30 a.m. to noon, May 7 through Oct. 29 at Chauncey Swan Ramp, 400 block of Washington Street, Iowa City. The Tuesday market is held from 3 to 6 p.m., May 31 through Aug. 29 at Mercer Park, 1317 Dover Street, Iowa City.
3. Sioux City Farmers Market
The Sioux City farmers market is located in the Tyson Events Center Suite Parking Lot, north of TriView Avenue at the corner of TriView Avenue and Pearl Street. The Sioux City Farmers Market will be open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm, May 4th through October 29.
4. Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market
The Farmers Market in downtown Cedar Rapids has become one of the largest open-air markets in the Midwest, with over 200 Iowa vendors and an average of 14,000 patrons visiting each market. The market takes place from 7:30 a.m. to noon on the following dates in 2016: June 4, June 18, July 2, July 16, Aug. 6, Aug. 20, Sept. 3 Sept. 17.
5. Main Street Farmers Market, Council Bluffs
Located on the Historic 100 Block of W Broadway in Council Bluffs, the Main Street Market will be held on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. starting May 5.
6. Cedar Falls Farmers Market
The Cedar Falls farmers market will be held Saturday mornings from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm beginning the first weekend in May until the last Saturday in October. The market is located surrounding Overman park, downtown Cedar falls on Franklin and Clay street.
7. North Grand Farmers Market and Main Street Farmers Market, Ames
There are two different, but equally awesome, farmers markets in Ames. The first, North Grand, will begin their indoor market in a store near JC Penney at the North Grand Mall on Friday and Saturday, March 25 and 26. They will also hold a market on all Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in April during mall hours. The second, the Main Street market, will be held on the 300 and 400 block of Main Street from May 7, 2016 through October 29. The market will be held each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., until October, when the hours will be from 9 am to 12:30 pm.
8. Freight House Farmers Market, Davenport
The Davenport Freight House Farmers Market is located along the scenic Mississippi Riverfront, anchored by the historic Freight House Building in lovely Downtown Davenport. The indoor market is held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
9. Dubuque Farmers Market
The summer Dubuque Farmers’ Market has been located in the area surrounding City Hall since 1845. Now, the market sprawls over more than three city blocks on Iowa Street and extending down 12th and 13th Streets. Each Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., May 1 through October 31, local vendors gather to sell homegrown or handmade items at the Dubuque farmers market.
10. Boone Farmers Market
Located on 6th Street in Boone, the market offers a wide variety of fresh produce and other locally grown items. The market is held every Thursday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., from June 2 to October 20.
There’s no excuse not to eat local, and healthy, when you have farmer’s markets like these right down the road!
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