Iowa’s farmers’ markets cater to children in unique and interesting ways, getting them involved and interested in healthy food and community at an early age.
Dubuque Farmers Market
The Dubuque Farmers Market traces its origins back to the 1840s when it was held in Flat Iron Park, the oldest platted city park in the state. In 1858, it moved into the first floor of City Hall, to which windows were added so that wagons could be backed up to unload their wares into the building.
The market moved back outside in 1879, where, under the management of Dubuque Main Street, it has expanded to span three city blocks with more than 125 vendors of fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, cheeses, honey, baked goods, and arts and crafts, all from within 100 miles of the city’s downtown.
It now operates on Saturdays between 7 a.m. and noon from May through September before shifting to 8 a.m. to noon in October.
The operation presents unique opportunities for youth involvement. For example, volunteers over 16 are welcome to help set up, sell swag, answer attendees’ questions or provide information, and take down the market at the end of operating hours. Sometimes, they do this of their own volition, and other times, they seek to earn school volunteer hours or participate with a local church or youth group.
Photo Courtesy Dubuque Farmers Market
A lot of the market activities and events are also directed at young people. There are special occasions near big holidays, such as planter-painting stations to accompany flower or plant purchases for Mother’s Day or card-making stations for Father’s Day. Most recently, the end of October featured a Trick or Treat at the Market event where kids received a free bag to collect treats.
Musical guests are also a big draw, with weekly performances at different market sections or in the local area, such as a rendition of Seussical on the steps of City Hall!
Every third Saturday of a month, Project Rooted additionally comes to the market, and each kid who participates in their Power of Produce (PoP) kids club programming receives a $5 certificate to buy healthy foods. September even included a handout of 5-A-Day Fruit & Veggie Bands, a set of five different-colored jelly bracelets that kids can move from their right wrist to their left for each fruit or vegetable they consume that day.
Photo Courtesy Dubuque Farmers Market
Additionally, the operation participates in the Dubuque Food Recovery Program, which was started by a student from the local Wahlert Catholic High School. In 2021, Lilah Takes spent her community service hours at the market, asking vendors for donations for the Dubuque Food Pantry. During her time there, she also worked to teach her neighbors about how to responsibly use perishable foods.
After Takes went to college, Wicked River Event Productions’ Danielle Stowell applied for one of the city’s Community Block Development Grants, which she used to buy containers and other equipment for food collection purposes. Now, the Dubuque Food Recovery Program helps ensure all market produce and consumables always go to people who need them.
The Dubuque Food Pantry simultaneously moved to a new location with double the cold storage capacity to receive these goods. In 2022, vendors or customers gave the pantry 2,586 pounds of food. Customers can also donate “market money” or $5 wooden tokens that can also be given as gifts, serving as a form of local currency.
Photo Courtesy Dubuque Farmers Market
The market is being recognized for this good work and for meeting its goals of enhancing quality of life, educating its community, and increasing access to and promoting the sale of healthy and local goods. In September, it received a Core Grant that it will use to expand and enhance its community space.
Iowa City Farmers Market
Meanwhile, The Iowa City Farmers Market (ICFM) is also open-air. It is managed by the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department and is open on Saturdays between May and October from 7:30 a.m. until noon. The ultimate goal is to expand access to local, fresh produce and products for culturally and economically diverse groups of people.
ICFM wants local children to be able to participate, learn, grow, and have fun. That much is obvious in everything it does, from the market events to the resources for kids on its webpage.
There, farmers market-themed coloring sheets are available for download. Additionally, an Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department-produced YouTube video is linked to teach kids how to paint with natural watercolors. It was part of the Happy at Home virtual programming intended to engage with young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In September, it hosts its annual Kid’s Market, with young entrepreneurial vendors bringing artwork they have created, crafts they have made, and treats they have baked. This year, the event occurred alongside the Iowa City Climate Festival’s “EVs at the Market” event, which saw them bring electric vehicles (EVs) to the market and teach attendees about them.
Additionally, “Halloween at the Market” is celebrated on the final weekend, at the end of October. The event features trick-or-treating at the vendor’s stalls, a costume parade, and pumpkin decorating for kids of all ages.
Photo Courtesy Iowa City Farmers Market
A key feature highlighted on the website and ICFM’s social media accounts is its weekly musical guests. The “Market Music Performers” connect the community to various genres and musical influences, covering blues, folk, jazz, pop-rock, and even “original midwestern roots rock.” Yoga in the Park also engages with community members and encourages them to improve their mindfulness, strength, and cardiovascular health.
ICFM also makes it easy — and environmentally friendly — for people to attend, with World of Bikes offering free bike valet services.
Photo Courtesy Iowa City Farmers Market
DeWitt Farmers Market
The DeWitt Farmers Market runs an outdoor operation from May through October and an indoor winter one in November and December, always on Thursdays between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. It is run entirely by volunteers, and customers can shop for fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, herbs, honey, home-baked goods, and homemade products. The market aims to support healthy and nutritious lifestyles, local, sustainable farms, and social interactions between neighbors.
The marketplace is known for its weekly-themed markets.
On Game & Puzzle Trade Day, attendees were encouraged to bring gently used standouts from their old collections to exchange for different ones. After 5 p.m., anything not traded for was up for the taking!
Some of these days also feature giveaways of Market Bucks. Although attendees were encouraged to dress up for the week before Halloween, the highlight was the market’s first-ever “Pet Costume Contest,” with the three winners receiving $20, $15, and $10 in Market Bucks, respectively.
On Veterans Day, $5 in free Market Bucks were available by each of the first 10 veterans to arrive at 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. On “Ladies Day,” the first 10 women to come on those hourly intervals also received $5 in Market Bucks to spend with any of the vendors.
Photo Courtesy DeWitt Farmers Market
Many of these events are for the benefit of local children. For example, on this year’s “School Spirit Day,” the Central DeWitt Community School District brought a back-to-school selfie station to the market so people could take pictures with the cheerleaders and the mascot.
Additionally, the Winter Market annually hosts the DeWitt Referral Center & Thrift Store on “Toy Drive Day” to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys, with a particular emphasis on gifts for older children.
Donating at least two toys or $20 again resulted in a reward of $5 in Market Bucks. Notably, the center also accepts donations of excess food brought to or bought at the marketplace each week.
Every week, there is a Children’s Table with a different host, who comes prepared with a free activity. In September, Boy Scout Troop 29 brought a giant inflatable. Artist Sheila Boyd provided supplies for kids to turn ears of corn into “corny characters” during “Ag Appreciation Day.”
Photo Courtesy Sheila Boyd – SB Originals
A Door Prize raffle table also gives out several awards at every market. They range across a choice of a book, $10 in Market Bucks, and a series of frozen treats from DQ Grill & Chill, Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream, and Smilee’s Ice Cream & More.
Also, on a weekly basis, a volunteer named Mary Jane works at the book giveaway table and assists young people in selecting a free book to take home with them. The initiative aims to give kids the chance to own books, become better readers, and enjoy getting lost in stories.
Photo Courtesy DeWitt Farmers Market
