As fall starts, the leaves turn colors and the weather cools, which means I will be downtown every Saturday. This is when the Downtown Farmers’ Market operates from 7-12 every week, turning the area into a hub of activity.
The Farmer’s Market officially starts on May 3 and runs until Oct. 25; however, I didn’t get a chance to go this year until late August. I went again recently, as it was the perfect way to kick off the fall season. While it was very hot and humid that day, it didn’t stop me from exploring the market. I started my time at the Farmers’ Market with my favorite stand, Pofferbites — Poffertjes, which serves a dessert named poffertjes.
Poffertjes are essentially mini Dutch pancakes. I always order the original: twelve mini pancakes with butter, whipped cream and warm syrup. The stand makes them to order, so they are always fresh and warm when you get them. I give them a 10 out of 10 and encourage anyone going to the farmers’ market to give them a try. You won’t regret it!
My next stop was the Meadowlark Farm tent, where they have new samples every week. This time, they gave out samples of their non-GMO, pasture-raised heritage pork bacon. Every week when I visit, I always stop by their booth to talk to the lovely ladies there about their farm. Their pork quality is the main reason that I always return to their stand.
Booths like these are the reason I go to farmers’ markets at all. I am someone who tries to support local farmers and small businesses when I can, so getting to learn about this family and their farm is always a treat when I stop by. Walking away with some tasty pork products is a bonus. This time, I bought a package of their cheddar pork bratwursts, but I recommend all of their products.
I always stop at Storybook Orchard’s booth as part of my weekly produce pickup. They have everything you can think of, from baked goods to fresh fruits and vegetables. They also have drinks and small snack cups for people to buy while they walk around. I usually get some peaches from them, but this time they used their peaches for jams, so I got a box of raspberries instead. I also grabbed one of their strawberry lemonades, and it was perfect for the weather. I always get my drink of the day from them because they have apple cider on cold days and lemonade on hot ones.
I also stopped by a few vendors to pick up some honey for myself. I grabbed a jar of wildflower honey from Prairie Lake Acres before making my way over to one of my other favorite booths on the block, The Holton Homestead.
This booth has a wide variety of honey, beeswax and elderberry goods. I always stop by to get a small grab bag from the owner, and I haven’t been disappointed once. This time, I ended up getting a one-pound jar of wildflower honey, a honey stick and some beeswax chapstick.
Usually, I stop at about five or six pastry booths, but this time, I had some self-restraint and only stopped at one, Nadia’s French Pastries. They make the most amazing pastries and have saved my sour mornings countless times. I grabbed two of their chocolate croissants, and since I usually get one new thing every time, I got one of their walnut cinnamon rolls. The smell was incredible, and if they didn’t have to last me till Monday, I would have eaten all three in the car.
I finished my trip with a bouquet that I made myself at Excelsior Farm’s tent. They had buckets upon buckets of different fall flowers for you to put together to create your own bouquet. I don’t remember all that was in mine, but it definitely brought some more color to my room and a smile to my face.
The Downtown Farmers’ Market is a wonderful place to spend a Saturday morning. This week, Beewitched Belly Dance performed, but the market has different performers every week. Strolling through these stands is a great way to spend your Saturday morning, and it’s something that I think every Drake student should experience at least once.
