Farmers market season kicks off across Eastern Iowa

Fancy a beer while shopping? You're in luck — a new Cedar Rapids farmers market will let shoppers raise a glass to local produce.

Lion Bridge Brewing Company will host vendors on alternating Thursday nights starting in June. Shoppers will be able to sip a beer while browsing the market in the brewery's parking lot.

Brewmaster Quinton McClain noted people are already heading to the neighborhood on Thursday evenings for Meet Me at the Market at NewBo City Market.

'It's a fun thing. We already have the space, and we already have the beer,' he said. 'Meet Me at the Market has gotten a lot of appeal, so we think a lot of people will be interested in coming over for a beer and to buy some vegetables.'

Farmers markets in Eastern Iowa

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Also in Cedar Rapids, the completion of construction on Greene Square means the downtown market street locations will shift slightly. The market will be on Second and Fourth Avenues SE and Second, Third and Fifth Streets SE for vendors, with entertainment and other programming along Third Avenue SE.

The Market After Dark, which debuted last year to huge crowds, returns Aug. 27. It will be an hour earlier this year and will be spread out over more streets, with around 90 vendors.

'We're looking at how to accommodate the amount of patrons we had that came down last year,' Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance event planner Jill Wilkins said. 'We're looking at how to place vendors to ease congestion. And we're very excited to have Greene Square open and available.'

She said further details about the Market After Dark would be released later.

Iowa City's downtown farmers market, meanwhile, kicks off Wednesday and will be more accessible than ever this year. The market is unveiling a system for payment by EBT cards — electronic benefit transfers — as well as debit and credit cards.

Previously, each vendor had to choose whether or not to accept EBT payments, get individual certification and purchase card readers. Now, EBT card users will be able to swipe their card at a central location at the market in exchange for tokens they can use with vendors. All vendors will be required to accept the tokens in exchange for fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat, bread, pickles and seeds. EBT cannot be used for non-food items or some prepared food items.

Debit and credit card users can also swipe their cards for tokens to use with market vendors. Previously, each vendor had to decide whether or not to accept such cards.