Mahaska County Farmers Market
The Farmers Market was started by the Ruritans, who are a local service organization, back on June 16th, 1978, and has been running continuously since then. The original number of vendors was anywhere from 6 to 20 and the vendors sold left over produce from the gardens they raised for themselves. The market has made some tremendous changes from when they first started setting up east of the American Legion located in Oskaloosa. Ten years ago the city council approved the request for the vendors to set up in the city park to be more centralized for their clientele. Oskaloosa is unique in which we have a bandstand located in our downtown area which includes a park that is the heart of our local businesses. By being able to set up in the city park the vendors can reach out to more customers.
The biggest change happened in 2007 when our local Hy-Vee store partnered up and helped promote our Farmers Market. Not only do they advertise the Farmers Market in their weekly ads, but they give out promotional coupons, talk about us on the radio, purchase whatever products we have left over on Saturdays to sell in their store and much, much more. The vendors set up in the Hy-Vee parking lot on Saturday mornings from 8:00-11:00 am and set up on the northeast side of the city park on Tuesdays from 4:00-6:00 pm. Click on the link below to find out when the Farmers Market will begin this year!