Expanded Footprint Marks Downtown Farmers’ Market 50th Anniversary Season

This weekend, shop hundreds of Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa and Midwest vendors during Opening Day of the Downtown Farmers’ Market 50th anniversary season. The opening bell will ring at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025 on Court Avenue, with local vendors showcasing fruits and vegetables, gift items, prepared food items, floral arrangements and so much more in Downtown Des Moines’ (DSM’s) Historic Court District. Live musicians will be on site as well, entertaining Market attendees throughout the morning.

This season, the Downtown Farmers’ Market is expanding its footprint to include Fifth Avenue from Mulberry Street to Cherry Street. The added space creates room for 22 new vendor spots, including four new food truck spaces, helping to grow the Market’s offerings and support even more local small businesses.

With more space comes even more to explore. Marketgoers will have the opportunity to shop from 48 new vendors this year. Help us welcome them to one of Downtown DSM’s most popular events. Explore the full list of new 2025 vendors below:

• 1100 Farm: functional mushroom products and fresh mushrooms
• Baan Vaan Ice Cream + Goodies: handcrafted ice cream made from fresh, natural cream and milk
• Batch Balanced: high-protein muffin batter that's ready-to-bake
• Beans and Beignets Food Trailer: homemade French beignets
• Bluestem Coffee Roasting Company: specialty coffee roasting company featuring bags of coffee and samples
• Breann's Bread Box: organic sourdough bread and other sweet treats
• Buckets of Blessings:
• Buckin' Good Antler Chews: deer antler chews for dogs
• Caroline Freese Designs: handmade, wheel-thrown ceramics
• Chamo: Venezuelan food
• Churros Artesanales: homemade artisan Mexican churros
• Cyclone Wagyu: American Wagyu beef
• Domestic Bones:  hand pies
• DSM Pasta Co: small-batch pastas, sauces and flavored butters
• Edara Wellness: natural herbal teas
• Exoticas: South American fruits and vegetables
• Furever Bandanas: on-collar pet bandanas
• Gluten Free Steils: gluten-free food trailer
• Iowa Pepper Company: farm-to-table hot sauces
• Iris Belle Custom Floral: fresh flower arrangements
• Jack Frost Freeze Dried Treats: freeze-dried candy
• J.W Lavender Fields at Quakerdale Farms: homemade lavender products
• Jerusalem Bakery: fresh bread
• Kiersten C Arts: water color portraits
• Little G’s Treats: hot cocoa bombs
• Little Hands Dough Co.: non-toxic, sensory playdough kits
• Lou-Lou B's: authentic, Chicago-style hot dogs
• Millies Kitchen: smoked meats and sweet treats
• MmmBap Korean: Korean food
• Monarca Gourmet Paletas: handcrafted ice cream paletas
• Mulberry Farm and Foods: live produce
• Nature and Glass: 
• Naughtea: milktea, fruit tea and more
• Otter Creek Produce & Garden Center: locally grown produce
• Pofferbites - Poffertjes: hand-blended spices and Dutch Poffertjes
• R&R Dairy Bar: mobile coffee and dessert bar
• Reyes Tamales: authentic traditional tamales
• Sankofa Moment, LLC: medicinal herbs
• Savaj Gardens: hot sauces, salsas, pepper flakes, BBQ products and seasoned salts
• Sweet Bees Macrons: gluten-free and dairy-free macarons
• The Happy Can: cannabis-infused bevereages and edibles
• Tikka Talk Usa: prepared food
• Twist: family-owned soda shop
• Ultimate Chocolates: fresh, homemade chocolates and confections
• Vibrations Vegan Wellness Cafe LLC: plant-based vegan entrees
• Viva La Crepe: handcrafted / homemade crepes
• Yonderbound: hemp-derived Trail Mixers
• YSS Rooftop Gardens: workforce development program supporting at-risk emerging adults

50 Years of The Market in Downtown Des Moines

With humble beginnings, the Downtown Farmers’ Market started in a parking lot with just 15 vendors. Since July 24, 1976, when The Market first opened, it has grown exponentially, now covering 12 city blocks, hosting more than 300 vendors and welcoming more than 28,000 shoppers from May to October.

Farmers’ markets are flourishing across the country, but what makes the Downtown Farmers’ Market in Des Moines, Iowa so widely attended? Local, organic and health-conscious options are one reason. Vendors like Bridgewater Farms and CARINARA – the Humbl Roots are highlights for those looking for healthy, fresh choices. Friendly sellers also drive turnout, with many Market attendees coming back again and again to see the familiar faces of their favorite vendors. Thill’s Produce has been with The Market for 50 seasons, while other long-time vendors like Mast Family Farms, Sisters By Heart and Iowa Coffee Company sell staple products attendees have come to expect — and Saturday mornings just wouldn’t be the same without them!

Search through Market vendors to see which dates specific vendor booths will be at The Market!

Special Programming at the Downtown Farmers' Market

The Spark DSM Business Incubator Program has allowed small businesses like Little G’s Treats to grow in the DSM market since it was launched in 2022. That first year, 26 Spark DSM vendors made up the inaugural cohort. Now, the 2025 season will welcome 19 Spark DSM vendors to The Market, while 13 Spark DSM vendors from the 2024 cohort will continue as regular vendors.

See the list of this year’s Spark DSM vendors below, and look for them in the Historic Court District:

• 24K Juice: cold-pressed juices to boost your health
• Bah Kunda Kitchen: catering business featuring spice mixes with native, authentic Gambian flavor
• Briana’s Inspired Creations: catering services featuring homemade creamy parm
• Chiquita Creations: empanadas, cakes and sweets
• Chit Chat n Chai: authentic Indian tea and street food
• Elena’s Desserts: Mexican-style desserts
• Exhale by Amanda: scented soy candles, wax melts and car fresheners
• FABB Adornments by Deseure: fidget earrings
• Food of Sivid: vegetable-forward meal prep service featuring flavorful soups
• Gloamy GrimCo: memorial charms, jewelry, prints and artwork
• Kaitlyn’s Pupcakes: mobile doggie treat truck with custom cakes and cookies
• Karley’s Collection: tote bags, stickers and prints featuring original artwork
• Mama Africa: authentic Liberian food
• Psycho Sweets: treats like cookies, mini cakes and truffles
• Rebel Wellness: wellness services
• Sweet Doe Company: Iowa-based, grade-B goat creamery featuring goat cheese
• Sweetery Z: catering service featuring baked goods, including desserts and artisan breads
• Zacatecas Western Wear: leather goods
• Zimma and Zekes: handmade beaded jewelry

Don’t miss your opportunity to contribute to the Friends of The Market program in 2025! This program supports The Market’s growth through individual, not corporate, contributions. To donate, fill out the Friends of The Market form, and help The Market continue to thrive and offer additional special programming in the years to come.

Check out all Market programming, including information on food assistance programs — SNAP/EBT, Double Up Food Bucks, Produce RX Program and FMNP and WIC Vouchers are all programs of The Market — as well as bike valet, the water bottle filling station, open from May through August, and more on the Downtown Farmers’ Market website.

Come see why the Downtown Farmers’ Market was ranked #4 out of 2,547 Markets in the Midwest for yourself — we’re sure you’ll be impressed!

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.