Des Moines’ Downtown Farmer’s Market welcomes 16 new vendors mid-season
Coffee, French pastries, barbecue and jewelry. The Downtown Farmers’ Market will feature a lineup of 16 new local vendors starting Saturday morning at the outdoor market, which stretches from Court Avenue to Water Street to Fifth Avenue.
The move to add new local vendors comes ahead of National Farmers Market Week, which runs Aug. 7-13.
A midseason judging panel comprised of vendor committee members, sponsor representatives, farmers market partners and community members selected the new vendors, marking the first time the vendor judging has been held mid-season.
Applications reopened in June to fill a limited number of spots, “in an effort to add more diverse new vendors for market-goers to enjoy and support,” said Greater Des Moines Partnership director of communications Kyle Oppenhuysen.
“The Downtown Farmers’ Market team is excited to welcome these new vendors to our already incredible lineup at The Market,” Downtown Farmers Market Manager Megan Renkel said in a news release. “The new vendors bring a variety of products and backgrounds that we hope will enhance the value our vendors provide throughout the Market season.”
The Downtown Farmer’s Market, spanning nine blocks in Des Moines’ Historic Courthouse District, supports more than 290 local small business owners, including farmers, bakers and artists, representing all 50 Iowa counties. The market typically attracts 25,000 shoppers each week.
New vendors will join the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market on August 6th.
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Meet new vendors at the local farmers market
Au Natural Healing & Wellness will join the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market, promoting better physical and mental health through natural herbs, essential oils and crystals. The business also sells medicinal and health products through its website and at the Valley Junction Farmers Market.
Big Daddy’s Original Bar-BQ, a Des Moines staple since 1983, is another new addition to the Downtown Farmers’ Market lineup, with chicken dinners or a pulled pork sandwich smothered in sweet and smoky barbecue sauce. : Big Daddy’s sauces are also available at Hy-Vee stores throughout the Midwest and local Fareway and Price Chopper stores.
BLK & Bold offers specialty coffee and tea while donating 5% of its proceeds to non-profit youth organizations across America. The Company offers subscription services on its website at blkandbold.com.
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Cie Cie’s Sweet Treats offers a rotating hot menu as well as a wide variety of treats like cookies, cupcakes and chocolate covered strawberries at the farmers market as well as online.
Founded in 2019, GG’s Chicken & Waffles brings great flavor to Des Moines with chicken and waffles, chicken sandwiches and wings.
Iowa Cookie Co. offers six-ounce cookies, with a full box weighing about five pounds. This sweet business features a rotating list of unique flavors, including Colossal Monster, Holy Roller, Dirt Worm, Sugar Daddy, Main Squeeze, Double Stuffed and Bronco.
Ken Supply Co. is a Des Moines clothing brand that specializes in “elevated graphic tees that anyone can wear, no matter what stage of life you’re in,” according to its website. The new app also sells its signature t-shirts and bags online.
Knotted Dough & Co. specializes in kringlas, a traditional Norwegian pastry. Twisted pastries are also sold at the Ames Farmers Market and the Valley Junction Farmers Market. Knotted Dough & Co. also offers shipping through its Etsy page, KnottedDough.
Lyela’s Kitchen is a halal kitchen and catering company serving Pakistani, Indian and Chinese dishes as well as desserts. Lyela’s Kitchen can also be found at the Valley Junction Farmers Market.
Macaron Club, founded in 2020, is a gourmet dessert business focused on “taking the taste of luxury to a higher standard,” according to its website. Macaron Club’s classic French macarons and gourmet baklava, a layered pastry dessert, are also sold online and at the Valley Junction Farmers Market.
McCabe Artistry was created in 2020 at the start of the pandemic as a way for owner Ashley McCabe, an art teacher in West Des Moines, to stay creative, according to her website. The small business creates handmade, lightweight jewelry that can also be purchased on her website or in her Etsy shop, McCabeArtistry.
Nadia’s French Bakery in Altoona brings its selection of classic French pastries to the farmers market. From croissants and chocolates to quiches and tarts, Nadia’s French Bakery is committed to “delicious, delicious, varied and quality pastries,” according to its website. Some products can also be purchased online at nadiasfrenchbakery.com.
Shay Design Studio brings its art education services to the Downtown Farmers Market. The studio provides art education to Paint & Sip courses, illustration and graphic design services.
The Joy of Curls creates plant-based, natural hair care products for curly hair, but its mission doesn’t stop there. The Joy of Curls also donates its hair care products to children in the foster care system through its first community partner, Foster the Love Louisiana. Hair care products can be purchased at thejoyofcurls.shop.
Tranzitions Wellness & Beauty Bar specializes in natural wellness products such as crystals and stones, handmade candles and natural beauty products. The business also offers hair services and extensions with online appointments.
Wof Coffee is a local, small-batch coffee shop that believes “coffee is a science, but also an art,” according to its website. Wof Coffee also makes regular appearances at the Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market Different and the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers’ Market. The coffee flavors, each with a unique doodle drawn on the front, can be purchased at wofcoffee.com.
Grace Altenhofen is a news reporter for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen.