Downtown Winter Farmers' Market is This Weekend
As Thanksgiving approaches, area residents can shop for their Thanksgiving meals, holiday decorations and more at the Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market presented by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines this weekend on Friday and Saturday. The Winter Market will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day at Capital Square at 400 Locust St. and Kaleidoscope at The Hub at 555 Walnut Street in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). The Winter Market will return on Friday, Dec. 16 and Saturday, Dec. 17.
The Winter Farmers’ Market is a perfect opportunity to stock up for holiday meals, parties and gift giving with more than 130 vendors. Farmers will be selling a variety of locally raised products including eggs, beef, pork, duck, turkeys, holiday hams and a variety of late season and greenhouse produce. Shoppers can also expect to find an abundance of fresh handmade products including locally produced honey, jams, salsa, wine, cheese, noodles, breads, pies and cinnamon rolls. In addition, poinsettias, fresh cut Christmas trees, wreaths, handmade holiday ornaments and home decorations will be available. The Winter Market is free and open to the public.
As the community celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday, The Downtown Farmers’ Market has also announced that its Meals from the Market Program exceeded its 2016 goals. Meals from the Market, which is sponsored by Great Western Bank, offers vendors and patrons an opportunity to donate fresh food each Saturday to be taken to Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) pantries, where food contributions are used to create meals to feed the hungry and also sent to 13 Central Iowa food pantry sites. During The Market’s 2016 outdoor season, Meals from the Market collected 1,998 pounds of food per week on average, which was valued at nearly $157,000 for the year.
“We are honored to be part of this program that has made such an impact on feeding the hungry in our community,” said Erin Goedeke, Business Banking Associate at Great Western Bank. “This has allowed thousands of people in our community access to food that they would not otherwise been able to secure.”
“Meals from the Market is a shining example of what we can do when we work together, and I am thankful for the generosity of the vendors and patrons of the Downtown Farmers’ Market in helping the Meals from the Market program reach its 2016 goals.” said Reverend Sarai Schnucker Rice, Executive Director of the Des Moines Area Religious Council. “As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, I encourage area residents to continue to find ways to feed the hungry in Greater Des Moines.”
The Downtown Farmers’ Market began in 1976 with just 15 vendors and an average of 200 shoppers. Today, in its 41st season, The Market supports more than 300 vendors and welcomes an average of 25,000 visitors each Saturday. The Downtown Farmers’ Market has been recognized nationally by publications including The Daily Meal, Shape Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine and Country Living Magazine.
Find more information about this weekend’s Winter Market at DesMoinesFarmersMarket.com.
About the Downtown Farmers’ Market
The Downtown Farmers’ Market is presented by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines and produced by the Downtown Community Alliance. The Downtown Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday morning May – October in the Historic Court District in Downtown Des Moines. The Market also produces a Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market in November and December. The Downtown Community Alliance, a pillar of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, provides a consistent and constant focus on developing and maintaining a vibrant downtown core. For more information please visit DesMoinesFarmersMarket.com, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/DowntownFarmersMarket, Twitter and Instagram at @DTFarmersMarket #DTFM.