Valley Junction Farmers Market (2024)

May 02 4:00 pm - Sep 26 8:00 pm
(GMT-05:00) Central Time (US & Canada) 137 5th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265, United States

Hosted by Historic Valley Junction Foundation

Dates

May 02 4:00 pm - Sep 26 8:00 pm
(GMT-05:00) Central Time (US & Canada)

Location

137 5th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265, United States

The Valley Junction Farmers Market is home to over 80 weekly vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, plants and flowers, arts and crafts, and prepared foods. Join your friends and neighbors in West Des Moines' favorite summer gathering. Special performances events are scheduled throughout the season.

Parking instructions

One parking space is provided adjacent to vendors booths. All other parking can be found in the free 24 hour parking lots off 4th and 6th streets and on street parking throughout Valley Junction.

Health & safety guidelines

Please follow all local and national safety guidelines regarding COVID.

Marketplace

Non-Mainstage Performer

13 shops

Mission Improvisational Dance Company

Non-Profit Booth Space

18 shops

ACLU

View shop page

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

View shop page

ChildServe

View shop page

Des Moines Choral Society

View shop page

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

View shop page

Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity

View shop page

Heartland Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Visionary of the Year

View shop page

Heartland Swing Inc.

View shop page

Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers

View shop page

MAEVE Des Moines

View shop page

Mindspring Mental Health Alliance

View shop page

Polk County Health Department

View shop page

Project Rainbow of Iowa

West Des Moines Public Library

Occasional Vendor

8 shops

Des Moines Refugee Support

Wildflower Clay Designs

View shop page

Occasional Vendor - Pre deadline

14 shops

Aleksandr Mordukhovich

View shop page

Artisan Management Group

View shop page

Blue moon Face paint

View shop page

Central Iowa Youth Business Incubator

Jacobs Martial Arts LLC

View shop page

Little Bear Resin Art

View shop page

LuLu London

View shop page

Noon Optimist Club of Western Des Moines

View shop page

The Cheese Shop of Des Moines

View shop page

The Labradorite Witch

View shop page

USA Engravings

View shop page

Seasonal Vendor

9 shops

Honey Creek Cattle Company, LLC

View shop page

Pie Mates Australian Bakehouse

Seasonal Vendor - Pre Deadline

81 shops

Ainsley Grace Designs LLC

Brown Dogs Farm / Hotel Luna

View shop page

Carmen's Magic Needles

View shop page

Chamo Venezuelan Kitchen

View shop page

Chosen Sisters

View shop page

Christy's Tropical Sno

El Dorado Mexican Restaurant

View shop page

Estilo Boricua

View shop page

Fisher's Flowers And Produce

Hannah Banana Fabrics

View shop page

Herbally Anointed

View shop page

Hoffmann Farm and Forage

View shop page

Hot Off The Presses

View shop page

Hotsy Totsy Food Truck

Jambo African Cuisine

Kulinary Khaos Food Truck

View shop page

L&L DeLuxe Micro Farm

Lucky Birdee Asian Waffles

View shop page

McCabe Artistry

View shop page

Mom and Daughter's Kitchen & Bakery

New Silk Road LLC- DBA Heavenly Asian Cuisine

View shop page

NO BS JERKY

View shop page

Nonna Caito- Marble Art

View shop page

Once Upon an Apple Pie

View shop page

Ori Asè (waistbeads)

View shop page

Pleasant St Candles and Confections

View shop page

Profound Existence Herbs

The Preston Honey Company

View shop page

The Spice and Tea Exchange

Travelin' Tom's Coffee of Ankeny

View shop page

Treat Yourself Desserts

View shop page

Twist

View shop page

Uncle Daves Mini Donuts

West Des Moines Community Band

View shop page

Whip Delight

View shop page

Your CBD Store Valley Junction

View shop page

Interested in applying to the event:

4 active applications

Seasonal Vendor

Deadline: Sep 26, 2024

Apply

This application is for vendors that will be in attendance for at least half of the season. Applicants will automatically be placed on a waitlist, and we will reach out to you if a space becomes available.

Thank you from the Historic Valley Junction Foundation (HVJF) for your interest in the Valley Junction Farmers Market, a tradition since the mid-1970's!

One of Iowa's largest Farmers Markets, we are the place to be in Central Iowa on summer Thursday evenings. Our vendors make our market not only possible but are the reason it's become one of the best in the state. Thank you for your loyalty and participation.

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THROUGH THE END OF THE MARKET SEASON - Applications received after February 29th at 11:59pm will be placed on a waitlist and, if a space becomes available where you would be a good fit, you will be notified by one of our staff.

OPENING DAY IS MAY 2 - Thanks to the partnership with our 2022 vendors, we operated a safe and successful market all season long. We are confident we can continue to do so in 2023.

NO MARKET JULY 4 - Independence Day lands on a Thursday, so we will not be having a market this day.

OCCASIONAL VS SEASONAL - If you plan to attend at least 9 markets, being a seasonal vendor is a better value. If you're planning to attend almost all weeks, but, for instance, will just miss 2-3, apply as seasonal and add your missing dates in the application. This is very important, as we process seasonal applications before offering space to occasional vendors. This makes the process efficient and helps keep costs lower for all vendors.

PAYMENT INFORMATION - If you are accepted, payment for the space is automatically charged on the card on file at time of approval. Please be aware there is an additional fee charged by Eventeny for using its payment service.

ACCEPTED CATEGORIES - Our market includes the following vender categories:

Produce - Certified organic produce, chemical free produce and Iowa home grown produce. (Produce grown outside of the state of Iowa will be allowed only when such items are not in-season locally. Out-of-state produce must be pre-approved when such items are in-season locally.
Plants & Floral Products - Fresh and dried flowers, seeds, and potted plants.
Meat, Dairy & Eggs - Farm raised meat, dairy, and egg products, such as beef, chicken, turkey, cheese, milk, ice cream, eggs, etc.
Baked Goods - Breads, pies, cookies, cakes, and other homemade baked goods.
Specialty Food Items - Specialty homemade food items that are not considered baked goods, including honeys, mustards, salsas, jams, and other homemade food items.
Wine & Beer - Wine and beer products made in Iowa.
Crafts - Homemade home décor items (candles, soaps, handmade jewelry, and other art items). Because the crafts category is very wide, it is important to maintain a high level of quality for our market. All vendors in this category must upload adequate photos of each type of item that will be sold in each booth.
Prepared Foods/Food Trucks - Ready-to-eat items such as sandwiches, cooked items, and snack items. A complete menu must be submitted with the application and no additions may be made once approved by HVJF Board of Directors. **Space is extremely limited in this category.
Merchants - Valley Junction businesses who rent space to sell their store’s products. Merchant spaces may not be sublet and are subject to all other market rules. This category is only available to current Valley Junction merchants. Valley Junction merchants are given priority when requesting space numbers.
Other - Vendor types that do not fit into any other categories. Please note that vendors in this category are placed last. Mass produced and franchised items are not allowed at the Valley Junction Farmers Market. Our motto is "Make it, bake it, grow it!" - our focus is on Iowa products.

MANY QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED BY REVEIWING OUR MARKET HANDBOOK located in this application.

Occasional Vendor

Deadline: Sep 26, 2024

Apply

This application is for vendors that will be in attendance for less than half of the season. Applicants will automatically be placed on a waitlist, and we will reach out to you if a space becomes available.

Thank you from the Historic Valley Junction Foundation (HVJF) for your interest in the Valley Junction Farmers Market, a tradition since the mid-1970's!

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED THROUGH THE END OF THE MARKET SEASON - Applications received after February 29th at 11:59pm will be placed on a waitlist and, if a space becomes available where you would be a good fit, you will be notified by one of our staff.

OPENING DAY IS MAY 2 - Thanks to the partnership with our 2022 vendors, we operated a safe and successful market all season long. We are confident we can continue to do so in 2023.

NO MARKET JULY 4 - Independence Day lands on a Thursday, so we will not be having a market this day.

ACCEPTED CATEGORIES - Our market includes the following vender categories:

Produce - Certified organic produce, chemical free produce and Iowa home grown produce. (Produce grown outside of the state of Iowa will be allowed only when such items are not in-season locally. Out-of-state produce must be pre-approved when such items are in-season locally.
Plants & Floral Products - Fresh and dried flowers, seeds, and potted plants.
Meat, Dairy & Eggs - Farm raised meat, dairy, and egg products, such as beef, chicken, turkey, cheese, milk, ice cream, eggs, etc.
Baked Goods - Breads, pies, cookies, cakes, and other homemade baked goods.
Specialty Food Items - Specialty homemade food items that are not considered baked goods, including honeys, mustards, salsas, jams, and other homemade food items.
Wine & Beer - Wine and beer products made in Iowa.
Crafts - Homemade home décor items (candles, soaps, handmade jewelry, and other art items). Because the crafts category is very wide, it is important to maintain a high level of quality for our market. All vendors in this category must upload adequate photos of each type of item that will be sold in each booth.
Prepared Foods/Food Trucks - Ready-to-eat items such as sandwiches, cooked items, and snack items. A complete menu must be submitted with the application and no additions may be made once approved by HVJF Board of Directors. **Space is extremely limited in this category.
Merchants - Valley Junction businesses who rent space to sell their store’s products. Merchant spaces may not be sublet and are subject to all other market rules. This category is only available to current Valley Junction merchants. Valley Junction merchants are given priority when requesting space numbers.
Other - Vendor types that do not fit into any other categories. Please note that vendors in this category are placed last. Mass produced and franchised items are not allowed at the Valley Junction Farmers Market. Our motto is "Make it, bake it, grow it!" - our focus is on Iowa products.

PARKING - Standard size spaces include parking directly behind the booths. Small size spaces include parking within the market area, however, parking is not guaranteed to be adjacent to vender space. See map.

MANY QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED BY REVEIWING OUR MARKET HANDBOOK located in this application.

Non-Mainstage Performer

Deadline: Sep 26, 2024

Apply

Use this application to apply to be a busker at the 2024 Valley Junction Farmers Market.

The Valley Junction Farmers Market offers non-mainstage performers (1) space once per week, at various locations on 5th Street. The VJ Farmers Market is held on Thursdays from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., May 2 through September 26. This year we are adding vendors to the 300 block of 5th St. which will allow for more locations being available for performing artists like you! Thank you for your interest.

NOTE: Put your name or your group's name under in the "Business Name" field.

Non-Profit Booth Space

Deadline: Sep 26, 2024

Apply

The Valley Junction Farmers Market offers (3) spaces per market to registered non-profit organizations at no charge. Booth space is offered for informational purposes only; selling of any products and/or merchandise is not permitted from these locations. If you are interested in selling at our Farmers Market, you can fill out the vendor application on our website. Please bring the proper equipment to set up your booth (tent, weights, table, etc.). HVJF does not have equipment to lend to organizations. The Farmers Market is held on Thursdays from 4:00—8:00 pm from the beginning of May through the end of September. Set up begins at 3:00 pm. Date requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Locations are not guaranteed, and the location of booths may be relocated. Once scheduled, HVJF staff will confirm dates/locations for your non-profit organization. Thank you for your interest in our event.