Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market

For Des Moines residents looking to eat locally and support Iowa agriculture, Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market is a reliable source of fresh, in-season food from farms in the surrounding region.

The market schedule is Wednesdays, 3 PM - 6 PM, June - September. Early shoppers typically find the largest selection before popular vendors sell out.

Based on vendor listings, Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market includes offerings such as Vegetables and Fruits. Availability is seasonal and vendor-dependent.

Farmers markets like Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market represent a fundamentally different way of accessing food compared to a supermarket. When you shop at Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market, the person selling you tomatoes is often the same person who planted them — a level of transparency and traceability that industrial food systems cannot replicate. That direct relationship is what draws many Des Moines residents to the market week after week.

The selection at Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market changes as the growing season progresses. Early in the season, expect cool-weather crops like salad greens, radishes, and herbs. Peak summer brings the widest variety — tomatoes, peppers, corn, stone fruits, and squash. By fall, the market shifts toward storage vegetables, apples, pears, preserves, and baked goods that make use of seasonal harvests. This seasonal rhythm is something you feel at a farmers market in a way you never do in a grocery store.

Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market draws shoppers from across the Des Moines area who value knowing where their food comes from. Unlike the anonymized supply chains that supply most grocery stores, every item at this market was grown or produced by a vendor you can talk to, ask questions of, and build a relationship with over the course of the season.

Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market supports the livelihoods of independent farmers and food producers in the Des Moines area while giving shoppers a meaningful alternative to industrially produced food.

Contact Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market directly to learn about accepted payment methods, including whether SNAP/EBT benefits are accepted.