Connect with the local farmers who grow fresh, healthy food in eastern Iowa by reading more about them, their farms and the products they’re most proud of.
Over the Moon
Over the Moon is a direct to consumer farm located in Delaware County, Iowa. The farm is co-owned by Shae and Anna Pesek. Over the Moon pasture raises chicken, turkey, and duck, as well as farrow to finish berkshire pork and grows seasonal cut flowers. Both Shae and Anna like getting connected with other small […]
Theo’s Produce
Theo’s produce is located in Linn county and specializes in African produce varieties. Theo’s Produce works with the Feed Iowa First Equitable Land Access Program to grow African vegetables and sells both locally and across the US. […]
Little Deb’s Berry Farm
Deb’s berry farm is owned and operated by Jeff and Deb Sindelar. Deb’s specializes in a variety of different and unique berries, as well as honey. A lot of people have never tried or even heard of the honeyberries or kiwiberries they offer. Deb’s berry farms have been providing these delicious, flavorful berries for students […]
Iowa Farm Fresh Meats
Iowa Farm Fresh Meats is a local farm in West Branch owned and operated by Jamie Reichert. Jaime has been farming on Iowa family farms for her whole life. Her favorite part of producing food is birthing animals, and the least favorite part is death, no matter the form in which it comes. Her favorite […]
Nupolu Emerging Farms
Darius Nupolu of Nupolu Emerging Farm has worked in agriculture for many years. The last 3 years Darius has spent farming vegetables in Iowa. Nupolu Emerging Farms’ sweet potato leaves and white eggplant have been immensely popular items especially through our Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. Darius says that one of his favorite things about […]
Black Earth Gardens
Farmer Mari Wassink of Black Earth Gardens began partnering with Field to Family in 2023 by selling her product through the Local Food Purchasing Assistance program. Her experience in farming has fueled her passion for justice and equity in the food system and works towards one that feeds and supports the flourishing of […]
Calico Farm
Bonnie Riggan operated Calico Farm in Iowa City for over seven years. It’s was an effort that Riggan ran largely by herself (well, and with her two goats, Diego and Clyde). UPDATE: Calico Farm is no longer operating. This post was written in 2021. Calico Farm is located near Hickory Hill Park in Iowa City. […]
Wasson Produce
Karen Wasson has been selling fruits and vegetables at Iowa City-area markets since the mid-80s. Though she grew up raising tomatoes on her parents’ farm, she never expected growing produce to become a decades-spanning career for herself. Wasson Produce started, she said, because her young daughter didn’t want her to go to work. It was […]
The Berry Basket Farm
Farmer Mark Gingerich says if you want the biggest strawberries, go to Walmart. But if you want the freshest, sweetest basket of fruit, pick your own. “I’m a big proponent of agency,” he said. “If you put in the effort to pick your own strawberries, there’s something rewarding about that.” Mark and his wife, Katrina, […]
Salt Fork Farms
For Salt Fork Farms’ Eric Menzel, studying small-scale food production in graduate school wasn’t enough; he wanted in on the action. So in addition to getting his master’s in sustainable agriculture, he got himself some hens. “Chickens are kind of the easiest thing to start doing,” he said. “You don’t really need to know a […]
Trowel & Error Farm
In mid-November, her farm’s CSA season over for the year, Carly McAndrews still had more greens and root veggies growing than she knew what to do with. “We are constantly surprised when we go out in the field,” she said. McAndrews and her partner, Bryant Mann, were wrapping up their second season at Trowel & […]
Lucky Star Farm
Join Farmer Susan on a virtual tour of Lucky Star Farm in Iowa City, Iowa to learn about the many animals her family raises! In this video version of her regular Farmer Fair presentation she introduces us to her chickens, turkeys, goats and llamas. Learn more about Lucky Star Farm at http://www.theluckystarfarm.com/. This project […]
Organic Greens LLC
Kalona farmer James Nisly’s passions for healthy eating and local food production are so great, his influence has extended into area schools, shaping cafeteria menus for over a decade. His farm, Organic Greens LLC, has been producing organic sprouts, greens and field crops since 1998. About 15 years ago, with his own daughters in Iowa […]
Country View Dairy
At Country View Dairy in Hawkeye, Iowa, About 275 cows are milked three times daily just 50 feet from the creamery. “Within hours, it’s turned into yogurt, and the next morning, it’s ready to ship out,” said the dairy’s director of sales and marketing Bob Howard. Country View Dairy keeps it’s yogurt–traditional, Greek or frozen– […]
Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
For Wilson’s Orchard’s Paul Rasch, apples have always been a way of life. He grew up in the commercial apple business and Michigan, and today owns the Solon, Iowa orchard with his wife, Sara Goering. Rasch said the appeal of growing apples comes from their versatility and health benefits, but also from the power of […]
Garden Oasis Farm
When COVID-19 first had people panic shopping and stockpiling meat earlier this year, farmer T.D. Hollub started getting emails. His farm’s current CSA customers were glad they had a secure source of food coming their way, and others wanted in, too. “It’s so nice to know where your food comes from, and it’s really nice […]
Buffalo Ridge Orchard
Though Mary and Vernon Zahradnik raised livestock for decades, they always dreamed of direct marketing their products. Hence, they “retired” into apples, planting the first trees in their orchard in 2003 and racing to get veggies in the ground when a spot in the Iowa City Farmers Market suddenly opened to them the next spring. […]
Lopata Farms & Betty’s Fresh Produce
Rick Lopata of Lopata Farms says people who buy his sweet corn often tell him it’s the best they’ve ever had. But if those shoppers ever buy from his parents at Betty’s Fresh Produce, they might have a hard time picking a winner. Lopata Farms and Betty’s Fresh Produce are essentially the same farm by […]
Friendly Farm
For Friendly Farm’s David Braverman, growing tomatoes is a lifetime labor of love. “I grew up growing heirloom tomatoes, actually,” the Iowa City farmer said. “As far as I recall, we have sold some kind of tomatoes my whole life.” Braverman’s father started the farm in the late 1960s, and though David didn’t always expect […]
Stout’s Market
It’s a busy time to be a Stout! Multigenerational southeastern Iowa farm Stout’s Market mainly deals in sweet corn, tomatoes, cantaloupe and watermelon– all of which are in abundance right about now. With 100+ acres in produce and 11 roadside stands in operation daily, it takes the whole family to run the show. “It’s kind of […]
Skyline Farm
Thirteen years ago, Donna Wisnousky ended her career as a nursing manager but wasn’t ready to relax just yet. She had a very specific goal for her second act: she wanted to grow blueberries. The ambitious new retiree planted 360 blueberry plants on her property outside of Swisher, Iowa. Sadly, none survived into the following […]
Rainbow Roots Farm
Corbin Scholz is growing 600 basil plants in this, her second year of farming. The 25-year-old farmer started the herbs from seed in a greenhouse in April. As a U.S.D.A. certified organic farmer, she applies no synthetic chemicals to the basil–only water and lots of love. Those who buy her product can trust […]