New leadership, same spirit: Iowa City Farmers' Market returns with a new director

New Iowa City Farmer's Market director Bill Lane doesn't intend to orchestrate a major overhaul.

Instead, he's set on channeling recent momentum as he prepares for the event's 52nd season on Saturday, May 4.

For 50 years, Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department has collaborated with local farmers to provide fresh and locally produced items to a diverse population.

Lane hopes to broaden the market's scope as its new leader.

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New face, same market feel

Lane recently became the Iowa City Parks and Recreation program supervisor and special events and communications coordinator. His biggest task is managing the annual Farmer's Market.

He has previous experience working in the Sioux City Parks and Recreation Department, which he believes will serve him well as he navigates a new community in the eastern part of the state. Lane is excited to dive into a thriving community that has shown a love for local business and art.

"There is this storied history of the Farmers' Market, "Lane said. "[I want] to continue to provide a gathering space for community activities and producers of local produce and these local arts and crafts and everything else that is brought to the farmers market that enhance the quality of life in Iowa City."

Lane hopes to attract more people to downtown Iowa City by uniting them with local sellers and other community members. He'll keep much of the familiar market structure the same, relying heavily on community engagement.

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A booming market

The Iowa City Farmer's Market has exploded over the years. It grew from the humble surroundings of the Chauncey Swan Parking garage and now occupies an entire block of Washington Street and the nearby Chauncey Park.

Lane hopes to expand the market even further by capitalizing on the power of social media.

"[Social media] allows us to benefit those producers and those local vendors by gaining that additional traction by bringing people's attention to the farmers market," Lane said. "Our goal as we kind of ramp up into summer is to increase our social presence as we build up to the farmers market and continue through the season and making that information available in terms of what we're doing each week and what we offer as a market."

Cornerstone events like the kids' market and the Halloween market are set to return during the 52nd season. Visitors can expect to see their favorite vendors yet again accompanied by an array of new sellers. Regular musical performances will anchor the market as well.

"The farmers market gives a chance to bring people together who may not necessarily interact with daily," Lane said. "[I hope the farmers market] can continue to be a gathering place for people to access these local and locally sourced products but also to interact with other areas of the community, other populations, other cultures, and learn and grow as a community."

The musical guests at the May 4 season opener are Jarrett Purdy and Dan Padley. The jazz-centric duo plays musical numbers with the help of a guitar and a piano.

May 11's musical guest is David G. Smith, who plays acoustic roots songs.

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Iowa City Farmer's Market What to Know

Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon

Location: the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, on the 400 block of Washington St. in front of City Hall, Chauncey Park, and the surrounding area.

When: Every Saturday from May 4 to Oct. 26

Pet Policy: Pets are not allowed inside the ramp during the market.

Payment Options: A variety of payment options are available, including cash, credit/debit cards, EBT/SNAP cards, and DUFB Tokens, which can be purchased at the welcome table. See staff for more details.

Contact:  319-356-5100 or @icfarmersmarket

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City Farmers’ Market returns May 4 with new director, same spirit