Downtown farmers market returns for 2025 and gets 48 new vendors
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Ice creams from Baan Vaan. Photos: Courtesy of Baan Vaan
Here's a sign of warmer months ahead: the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market is returning in two weeks, Saturdays from 7am to noon.
Why it matters: It represents everything our city does well, like local produce, offering diverse foods and showing off our cute dogs.
Driving the news: There's plenty of new vendors this year, including a food truck from Beans and Beignets, small-batch noodles from DSM Pasta Co. and unique desserts from Churros Artesanales.
Plus: The market is adding more space and expanding to Fifth Avenue from Cherry to Mulberry, according to Elizabeth Weyers, the market manager.
- It stretches 12 city blocks and is adding 27 booth spaces and 48 new vendors this year.
- Water Street will not be used this year.
Zoom in: Lu Young, the owner of Baan Vaan ice cream, is opening a stand this summer after taking part in the Spark DSM business incubator last year.
- The program teaches new entrepreneurs how to sell at places like the farmers market and grow their businesses.
What they're saying: Young makes her own hard-packed specialty ice cream at the Mickle Center using natural and locally sourced ingredients.
- Last year, she stuck with traditional flavors. But Young, who is Tai Dam and Laotian, wants to introduce Asian-inspired tastes, including miso caramel, lemongrass coconut and a flavor inspired by her mom's toasted rice and brown sugar dish.
- The word Baan loosely translates to "village" or "community" and Vaan means "sweet."
- "There's just joy in ice cream," Young says. "I don't know anybody who goes out for ice cream and leaves unhappy."
If you go: The Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market starts up May 3.
- Baan Vaan will be at the market in June and July. She will also open at the Beaverdale and Ankeny farmers markets.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Baan Vaan's ice cream is made at the Mickle Center (not at home).