***Please note that this guide was created for the summer of 2020! While much of the information provided may still be relevant, much will be out of date.***
The 2020 coronavirus pandemic has made the importance of supporting your favorite small businesses clearer than ever before. It has reinforced the value of staying healthy, too. It has also revealed weaknesses across the global food supply chain, interrupting international imports, infecting vulnerable meatpacking and farm workers and leading to the waste of millions of pounds of fresh food. Put the three together, and you have a strong case for filling your plate (and your cup!) with local food products now and into the future.
We sent a survey to local producers asking how customers can reach them and their products during this unusual growing season. Find information from those who responded below!
Are you a local producer who wants to be featured in this post? Is your local farmers market open and not featured here? Email [email protected].
Join a CSA
While many CSAs are full for the season, some are still accepting members for summer and fall. A CSA is essentially a subscription that gives buyers a portion of a farmer’s harvest each week. This list will continue to be updated as producers share information.
Buffalo Ridge Orchard: Sign up for shares for July and future months (including fall apples!) at http://buffaloridgeorchard.com/all-bro-products/online-farm-store/.
Echollective CSA: Enroll for fall CSA at http://www.echollectivefarm.com/csa-sign-up/.
Morning Glory: Fall veggie share openings still available as of Sept. 9 2020. Enroll at https://www.morningglory.community/shop/csa-shares/.
Rainbow Roots Farm: Sign-up for fall CSA opens in July at https://www.rainbowrootsfarm.com/csa.
Shop Directly from Vendors
Many local producers have their own online stores or sell direct-to-consumer through email and social media. A fun bonus– shoppers are often able to see exactly where their food is coming from by visiting the farm to pick up orders. This list will continue to be updated through the season.
Bass Family Farm: Order produce, meat, pantry items, ice cream and more through the online store for on-farm pickup or delivery. Not ready to commit to a CSA? Bass offers $20 “sacks” of produce on a week-by-week basis.
Bountiful Harvest CSA: Order produce and preserves online for drive-thru pickup in Solon, Iowa at https://bountifulharvestcsa.square.site/.
Buffalo Ridge Orchard: Order plants, herbs, apple chips and gift cards online at www.BuffaloRidgeOrchard.com for Saturday on-farm pickup in Central City, Iowa.
Calico Farm: Order fresh produce online at Calicofarmstore.com for on-farm pickup in Iowa City. Interested customers can also place orders by calling 319-321-6904.
Cultivate Hope Urban Farm: Order online Wednesdays for Thursday pick-up 4-7 p.m. at 437 G Avenue NW, Cedar Rapids. Half-price produce for income qualified customers. More here.
Dan and Debbie’s Creamery: Order dairy products online for curbside pickup at the farm’s Ely, Iowa store.
Ebert’s Honey: Buy produced-in-Iowa honey and related products online.
Grimm Family Farm: Order a fresh chicken online. Sold out until October!
Grinnell Heritage Farm: Order fresh veggies online weekly (cart opens every Sunday), and consider tacking a wood oven-fired pizza on while you’re at it. Pick up on-farm in Grinnell, Iowa.
Hansen’s Dairy: Order dairy products online for contact-free pick up in Waterloo or Cedar Falls or for delivery.
Iowa Delivery: People living in the Iowa City area can have locally brewed beer and liquor, as well as meals and desserts from local vendors, delivered to their homes. Order at iowadelivery.com.
Miller Family Homestead: Order the Miller family’s beef and beans plus other Iowa-grown goods from their friends and family for on-farm pickup in Riverside, Iowa or delivery within 30 miles.
Morning Glory Farm: Shop online for veggie boxes, ready-to-eat salads and more at for on-farm pickup in Mt. Vernon.
Oak Hill Acres: Buy veggies and honey online for pickup in Iowa City, Davenport or Atalissa.
Olson Garden Market: Buy fresh produce and spices online for pickup in Grinnell, Iowa or for delivery.
Pavelka’s Point Meats: Follow on Facebook or contact [email protected] to receive weekly meat information. Order for by-appointment on-farm pickup in Mount Vernon.
Rapid Creek Ranch: Order local meat and eggs online for on-farm pickup in Oxford, Iowa.
Red Earth Gardens: Order local produce online for pick-up in the Sac And Fox/Meskwaki Settlement at the Meskwaki Business Center on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
West Fork Farmstead: Order meat, eggs, honey and produce online at www.westforkfarmstead.com for delivery (Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, Wellman and Kalona) or on-farm pickup in West Chester, Iowa.
Visit a “Pop-Up” Booth or Farm Store
With farmers markets modified for the times, many producers have started setting up their own outdoors “pop-ups” in the community to sell face-to-face to consumers, while others have made adaptations to safely operate their farm stores. Be sure to wear a mask and maintain some distance between yourself and others if you visit!
Buffalo Ridge Orchard: Make an appointment on Facebook or with this form to visit the Buffalo Ridge Orchard Farm Store, 1337 Rollins Road, Central City on Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Calico Farm: Pop-up sales not on a set schedule. Follow on Facebook and Instagram for updates! .
Green Share LLC: Shop from a collective of eastern Iowa producers Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. at Brix Cheese Shop & Wine Bar in Iowa City. Follow on Facebook for updates.
Echollective CSA: Pop-ups every Saturday from 9-11 a.m. in the driveway at 1003 Ginter Ave. Iowa City. Masks are mandatory.
Iowa Grown Market: Pop-ups at Iowa Grown Market 2613 Newport Rd. NE, Solon on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Follow on Facebook and Instagram for product updates.
Squier Squash: Pop-up sales not on a set schedule. Follow on Facebook or email [email protected] for updates.
Stout’s Market: The Ainsworth farm deals mostly in melons, sweet corn and tomatoes, with some other produce items in the mix. They run numerous roadside stands in eastern Iowa DAILY from early July through Labor Day weekend. Check out their Iowa City stand in Gateway 1 Plaza (outside Fin & Feather on ), or check out info on their other stands here.
U-Pick Opportunities 
Some farms and orchards offer opportunities for visitors to pick their own locally grown fruit and vegetables on-site. Visiting a farm can be a safe, family friendly activity to enjoy while social distancing.
Allen’s Orchard: This orchard in Marion, Iowa offers apples, pears, cherries, pumpkins and more. Visit their website for information about the 2020 season.
Bagge Strawberries: Harvest your own strawberries at this farm in Independence, Iowa! Visit their website for information about the 2020 season.
Wilson’s Orchard & Farm: This Iowa City favorite offers a variety of U-pick products as well as cider, baked goods and other value-added products. Visit their website for information about the 2020 season.
Shop at an Eastern Iowa Farmers Market, in Person or Online
Farmers markets remain a great way to connect with local producers. Some have moved online, while others have continued to operate face-to-face under health and safety guidelines from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. This list is not comprehensive: check with your own city for updates on your local market this year.
The Iowa City Farmers Market will continue online via Field to Family’s Online Farmers Market. Carts open Tuesdays at noon for pickup Saturday mornings at the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp.
The Johnson County Winter Farmers Market started early this year. Visit the County Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoons to shop from local farmers and makers.
The Uptown Marion Market in Marion, Iowa is currently held the second Saturday of each month in City Square Park.
The Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market is now a drive-thru market held every other Saturday morning.
The Mount Vernon Farmers Market is held Saturday mornings in person at at Riverwalk Park.
The Coralville Farmers’ Market runs Monday evenings as both a drive-thru and walk-up market.
The Solon Farmers Market runs in person Monday evenings in the Mushroom Park lot.
Other Ways to Access Local Products
New Pioneer Co-Op sells many local products. Meet vendors through the “New Pi Virutal Market.”
Big Boy Meats in Cedar Rapids’ New Bo City Market sells locally sourced meat Thursday through Sunday.
Local food pantries partner with organizations like Grow: Johnson County, Feed Iowa First, Field to Family and others–as well as individual farms–to bring fresh, local produce to patrons. If you are someone who visits food pantries or is experiencing food insecurity, be sure to look for and grab some local in-season produce.
Other stores and restaurants offer locally grown options as well. Check out Field to Family’s local foods database here.