Local Guide: Groceries, Produce, & Farmers Markets

Local Guide: Groceries, Produce, & Farmers Markets

It's market season! Connect with neighbors, enjoy fresh produce, and show support for local growers. To get started, we've compiled a list of markets, community offerings, and sustainability-minded farmers within the Cedar Rapids Metro.

Plus, consider volunteering with Feed Iowa First or a community garden near you. Sustainability involves us all. Let's work to ensure everyone has access to fresh, nutrient-dense, culturally-relevant food. Let's offer what we can & receive when needed. As Robin Wall Kimmerer notes in The Serviceberry, "all flourishing is mutual." (Read more about food insecurity in Iowa here, here, and here)

Interested in growing your own food? Check out our gardening guide here. 

Need help paying for food? Apply for SNAP benefits here, discover which farmers markets & farm stands partner with SNAP benefits here, and learn about further assistance programs here and here.

 

Markets Happening in June:

 


Community Offerings:

Feed Iowa First: Grows & distributes *FREE,* fresh, & culturally relevant produce to our community. Find their Veggie Van schedule and information on food pantry partners here.  –Cedar Rapids

Hiawatha Public Library: Find *FREE* grab-and-go lunches for kids ages 0-17 every Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM - Noon beginning June 9th. Please note that meals will not be available on June 19th (Juneteenth) or July 4th because the library is closed. –Hiawatha

Cultivate Hope Corner Store (CHCS): Open to Everyone! CHCS is a non-profit grocery store on a mission to increase food security and express care for local & sustainably-grown food. Check out their *FREE* produce section and Pay-it-Forward process. –Cedar Rapids

Community Resource Cabinet: Find *FREE,* 24/7, unregulated access to basic needs including food, clothing, hygiene products, shoes, clothes & more! Located on the corner of 1st and 13th across the street from Coe College (1271 1st Ave SE). Support the box by donating canned soups with pull tabs, tuna, canned fruit and veggies, microwavable meals, protein bars & other non-perishable items. –Cedar Rapids

Trade & Borrow Cedar Rapids: *NEW in 2025!* Join a community centered in reciprocity. Trade and gift produce from your garden or excess from a grocery run. Let’s practice sustainability and the sharing of abundance. In this space “all flourishing is mutual.” Hosted by Andrea Miller of Miller Hill Garden. –Cedar Rapids

Share a Row: Join the Linn County Master Gardeners on their mission to increase food access by growing extra produce this season & donating it to local food banks. Sign up to donate here. Drop offs can be made Mondays from 11:00 AM - 2:00PM, Wednesdays from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, and Fridays from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM at their office location. –Hiawatha

 

Grocery Stores:

New Pioneer Food Co-op: Locally grown & community owned. Every Day is Earth Day at New Pi! Your place to shop produce, house cut & cured meats, seafood, hearth breads & house-made meals. –Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Iowa City

Cultivate Hope Corner Store (CHCS): Open to Everyone! CHCS is a non-profit grocery store offering a variety of fresh and affordable grocery staples, including produce, dairy, meat, and dry goods. On a mission to increase food security and express care for local, sustainably-grown food, CHCS offers a *FREE* produce section and Pay-it-Forward process. –Cedar Rapids

 

Local Farmers & Farm Shops:

ABC Acres: Stewarded by fourth-generation farmers, find eggs, beef, produce, specialty products and more at ABC Acres. –Cedar Rapids

Bass Family Farms: Stewarded by 'Farmer Chris,' Bass Farms is a chemical-free produce farm dedicated to community & healthful living. Find flowers, fresh veggies, ice cream & specialty goods at their shop, plus enjoy a host of outdoor activities. –Mount Vernon

Black Earth Gardens: Stewarded by Mari, Black Earth Gardens is a small-scale, regenerative farm that specializes in growing vegetables, herbs, and fruits of cultural importance to the Black and African Diaspora communities in Eastern Iowa. Their work emphasizes dismantling food apartheid and expanding food sovereignty locally. Find them at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers Market or sign up for their CSA waiting list here. –Cedar Rapids

Four Acre Farms: Stewarded by Maggie & Rich, Four Acre Farms is a small-scale, chemical-free farm dedicated to sustainable practices. Find their fresh produce and homemade goodies at various markets in the metro this May through September. –Alburnett

Indian Creek Nature Center (ICNC): Shop eggs, produce & honey from Etzel Sugar Grove Farm at the Creekside shop! ICNC is on a mission to nurture sustainable living, regenerative agriculture and ecological diversity within the metro. –Cedar Rapids

Rhubarb Botanicals: Stewarded by Emma & Jeremy, Rhubarb Botanicals is a Certified Naturally Grown farm dedicated to regenerative agriculture and community well-being. They grow over 150 varieties of medicinal and culinary herbs, flowers, & perennial shrubs and raise sheep on pasture. Shop their plant starts, fresh flowers, & apothecary products online, at their Farmers Market (*new in 2025*) and at the Iowa City & Cedar Rapids Downtown Markets this season. –Mount Vernon

Wilson's Orchard & Farm: Family-owned & operated since 1980, Wilson's Orchard is a u-pick fruit & vegetable farm, bakery, and market on a mission to develop local, ethical and regenerative food systems in our community. Learn more about their sustainability initiative here. –Iowa City

 

Find a Market in the Metro:

 

Additional Resources:

  • Discover Iowa foods & farms and explore what's in season with Choose Iowa's interactive map and seasonality guide. 
  • Use Field to Family's Local Food Explorer to find Iowa City/Cedar Rapids products and producers. 
  • Explore a plethora of resources related to spending smart & eating smart here. These include recipes, budgeting tools, tips on reducing food waste, and more!
  • Learn about seasonal change and climate resilience through the stories of Iowa land stewards by navigating WFAN's Digital StoryMap & Ecological Calendar. This is one of the coolest collections I've found!!
  • Want a copy of our Iowa Seasonal Produce Guide? Access it here. 
  • Interested in garden based books or low-waste recipes? Explore our bookshelf here.
  • Need some earth loving kitchen accessories? Check out our Kitchen & Food Essentials collection here. 

 

*Please note: We're an affiliate with Bookshop.org and may earn a commission on the links above.

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