Field Field to Family, an Iowa City nonprofit that increases access to and education around healthy and local food, will kick off its Online Market season the week of Earth Day.
According to a news release, online ordering will begin earlier this season, starting at 5 p.m. Sunday evenings instead of Monday mornings at 8 a.m., and ending by 12 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Collections will occur on Thursdays at the Field to Family warehouse in the South of 6 District, by the mural that graces the Pepperwood Plaza building.
The Online Market typically operates from Earth Day to Winter Solstice, and customers can expect plant starts, eggs, baked goods, mushrooms and more locally grown foods with seasonal crops added as they become available.
Last summer, Field to Family offered multiple languages for community members to choose from when ordering, and will continue this season. Patrons can choose local fresh foods from farmers and market vendors in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic or Swahili.
Field to Family also continues to accept SNAP as a form of payment, as well as Double Up Food Bucks. Last year, service fees for ordering through Field to Family were reduced to increase accessibility, but the organization is willing to waive the fee for those facing financial hardship.
Field to Family serves school districts, food pantries and other institutions wholesale local foods year-round. 2023 was an epic year for Field to Family, as it went from serving nine school districts in 2021 to 52 in 2023, purchasing over $400,000 from 95 local producers.
“As a comprehensive regional food hub, Field to Family works to create access to, and education around, healthy and local foods ,” said Field to Family director Michelle Kenyon. “Reducing barriers to choosing local and investing in local farmers is important to our mission to create a stronger and more local community food system.”
The Online Farmers Market started in 2020 to help farmers and shoppers connect, partnering with the City of Iowa City Parks and Recreation. Field to Family now operates the market independently, due to demand from farmers and consumers alike.
Field to Family’s Earth Week Fair will occur on April 25th, held in the alleyway where orders are distributed each Thursday until Winter Solstice: 1049 Highway 6 in Iowa City.
Educational vendors will be on hand as part of the experience, which will center around caring for and enjoying the environment.
Ordering begins on Sunday, April 21, from 5 p.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday April 23, with the first pick up on April 25th.
To order, log in at orders.fieldtofamily.org weekly, choosing from various seasonal crops and agricultural products.
There are limited openings for new market vendors. Producers interested, please contact Jessica Burtt Fogarty, Operations Manager at jessica@fieldtofamily.org or by calling (319) 855-2649.
