Downtown Farmers’ Market Vendor Spotlight: Iowa Lavender

Looking for a booth to visit at this weekend’s Downtown Farmers’ Market? Don’t miss the chance to stop by Iowa Lavender to find fragrant, beautiful lavender bundles and lavender-based beauty products.

Jason & Jessica Mortvedt Q+A

Q: What is your business?

Jason/Jessica Mortvedt: Iowa Lavender is a boutique, family-owned farm where we grow, harvest and personally handcraft irresistible lavender products.

Q: What do you specialize in?

J/JM: We specialize in creating handcrafted lavender products. Our most popular product is our luxurious lavender salve. This salve is a beautiful blend of coconut oil, beeswax and of course lavender essential oil. It’s better than lotion. It’s great to use on dry skin, bug bites and bee stings and is the perfect addition to massage into your skin at night.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for your business?

J/JM: With its light, refreshing fragrance and vibrantly colored flowers, lavender is among the most easily recognized and well-loved plants around. After visiting a lavender farm while on vacation, we were convinced this would be the perfect plant to grow on our central Iowa acreage, just outside of Ames. Lavender has the trifecta when it comes to flowers — beauty, aroma and usefulness long after it blooms.

 

Q: How long have you had your business?

J/JM: Research for the farm started in 2019, and in May 2020, the first lavender plants were put into the ground. We were in the middle of a global pandemic — stress and anxiety seemed to be at an all-time high for everyone. Jessica began producing handcrafted lavender products from the first harvest and Iowa Lavender was officially established as a business!

Through Iowa Lavender, we are happy to be able to share with others the soothing and calming properties of lavender which has led to its widespread use as a stress reducer and sleep inducer for hundreds of years.

Q: How long have you been a part of the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market?

J/JM: This is our first year at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market and we absolutely love it!  We are an occasional vendor with three scheduled times this summer. Our last Market this summer is Saturday, Aug. 5, so be sure to stop by and stock up on lavender flowers and relaxing products. We also sell online at iowalavender.com so you can get refills when we aren’t at The Market.

Q: What products do you normally bring to The Market?

J/JM: We bring fresh lavender bouquets for you to take home. We also have our top selling Lavender Salve, Sweet Dreams Pillow Mist and Solid Lavender Lotion Bars. We also have foaming hand wash, lavender mint lip balm and more!

 

Q: What’s your favorite part about The Market?

BH: We love the energy of The Market. It’s always fun to see the guest ‘bell ringer’ kick off the morning. We can also tell that people who come to The Market really care about supporting local farmers and vendors and ensuring their success. People even travel in from hours away to shop. It’s definitely a good time!

Q: What memory stands out the most when you look back at your time at The Market?

J/JM: It is really great meeting other vendors at The Market. It’s fun to check out their booths before The Market starts and stock up on some new favorites!

Q: What advice would you have for new vendors?

J/JM: New vendors should be ready for lots of sales as the shoppers are eager to try your product!

Q: How can people support your business outside of The Market?

J/JM: If you miss seeing us at The Market, you can order online at iowalavender.com and we will ship directly to your door. We plan to be back in 2024 as well!

From May to October, experience local artists, live music and entertainment at the Downtown Farmers’ Market featuring more than 300 family farmers, bakers, artists and crafters from around the state. It’s easy to visit with plentiful and affordable street and ramp parking options. Find the latest updates for The Market each week on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.