Strawberries, including these from Keith Bloomer of Conesville, Iowa, were among the fresh produce sold at the first Downtown Farmers Market of the season in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
CEDAR RAPIDS – We’ve been lucky, weather-wise, on the opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market for the past few years and today was no exception.
Thunderstorms rumbled through Eastern Iowa overnight, but let up in plenty of time for the 2016 market kickoff in downtown Cedar Rapids.
Strawberries, onions, radishes, lettuce and other greens were among the fresh produce available, along with handcrafted items, baked goods, meats, wine, cheese and more.
With the reopening of Greene Square Park, some of the vendors returned to that portion of downtown, and overall, the vendors were spaced further apart, which made for less congestion, but more walking.
The downtown market offers more than 200 vendors twice-monthly through September. For future downtown dates, as well as details on more than 50 farmers markets in Eastern Iowa, see the Homegrown list.
See more images from today’s Downtown Farmers Market, below:
Market-goers walk through downtown Cedar Rapids, Saturday, June 4, 2016, on the opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Lillies from Norton’s Greenhouse, of Toledo, Iowa, are sold at the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday, June 4, 2016. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Baked goods were among the items sold at the 2016 kickoff of the Downtown Farmers Market season. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Linn County Trails Association offered bike parking during the market in Greene Square Park. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A dinosaur sculpture was among the items sold by Echo Valley Metalworks of West Union, Iowa, during the Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Singer Mark Brown performs during the Downtown Farmers Market as Busking for Mobility to raise money to support the Multiple Sclerosis Society. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Boots planted with hen & chicks were among the items sold by Sharon French of Cedar Rapids at the Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Vendors returned to the area surrounding Greene Square Park for the 2016 Downtown Farmers Market season. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Cedar Rapids Public Library sold books on the library steps during the opening day of the 2016 Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Crowds walk next to the Fleming Nursery booth during the Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Samson, a Great Dane, was among dogs of all sizes at the opening day of the 2016 Downtown Farmers Market. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Blues Best Mushrooms of Vinton, Iowa, sold a variety of mushrooms at the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday, June 4, 2016. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
In addition to jams and jellies, Tatonka Farm of Dunkerton, Iowa, sold metal sculptures at the Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Kale was among the early greens sold by Skyline Farm of Swisher at the opening day of the 2016 Downtown Farmers Market season. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The Michael Reed Band, based in Waterloo, Iowa, performs during the opening day of the 2016 Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Anne Bohl of Low Oaks Farm, near Decorah, Iowa, greets a customer at the Downtown Farmers Market in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, June 4, 2016. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
No Comments Yet