Storm Lake farmers market opens June 13 in parking lot C

Storm Lake shoppers will soon be able to stock up on produce, local honey, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods and handmade goods in one familiar place. The 2026 farmers market season begins Saturday, June 13, with markets set for Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in parking lot C.

That schedule gives Buena Vista County residents two regular windows to buy directly from local sellers instead of driving to larger stores for every grocery run. It also makes the market easier to build into a weekly routine, whether the goal is fresh food for the table, a quick stop after work or a way to keep dollars moving through Storm Lake rather than leaving town.

The location is part of the appeal. Parking lot C on Erie Street places the market close to downtown Storm Lake and the familiar stretch between Sixth and Seventh streets. Earlier coverage has described the site as 717 Erie Street, a straightforward public space that has become a recognizable summer stop for families, older residents and anyone looking for a local alternative for food and small purchases.

The market’s practical value reaches beyond convenience. Several vendors have been FMNP certified to accept WIC and Senior coupons, and at least one vendor has been approved to take SNAP cards, credit cards and debit cards through EBT. For shoppers watching food costs, those payment options make the market more accessible while also supporting growers and small businesses that sell directly to customers.

The market has repeated this summer pattern for years. In 2025, it opened June 14 and was scheduled to continue through Oct. 9, with the first Thursday market on June 19. In 2024, it opened June 15 in parking lot C. In 2023, vendors gathered at 717 Erie Street on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A 2025 profile highlighted Sandoval Farm Goods LLC, represented by Jorge Sandoval, Marta Sandoval, Jessica Mosier, Joanna Chavez-De Leon and Mauri, showing how the market supports multigenerational family businesses. Earlier coverage also said the market hoped to add Saturday music from 10 a.m. to noon, reinforcing its role as both a shopping stop and a community gathering place.

The June 13 opening gives Storm Lake another marker that summer has arrived, with a dependable market rhythm now set to run through the season in parking lot C.