Shop Fresh: Iowa Farm Stores You Can Visit

Black’s Heritage Farm, Ames

Fueled by the motto, “Health is wealth,” Black’s Heritage Farm has been carefully cultivating its land, growing produce and raising animals for five generations. What started as a small roadside sweet corn operation has since grown into an on-farm store that sells a variety of fresh vegetables (everything from squash, potatoes, onions and peppers to beets, broccoli, eggplant and cabbage) plus eggs and farm-raised broilers. Customers can even place online orders for pickup and sign up for farm share subscriptions. During October, they also offer pumpkins and have a you-pick pumpkin patch until the store closes for the season in November.
 

Calyx Creek Lavendar, Oxford

With over 5,000 plants and six different lavender varieties, Calyx Creek Lavender is the perfect destination for anyone curious about (or addicted to) lavender. It’s free to visit the farm and wander the lavender fields – even dogs on leashes are welcomed. Visit the café to enjoy freshly baked lavender treats, ice cream and lavender-infused drinks and stop by the store to shop for all kinds of lavender goods, from lotions, oils, soaps, scrubs and sprays to culinary items like syrups, lemonade and brownie mixes, lavender sugar and more, plus car diffusers, T-shirts and wall hangings. If you fall in love on your visit, book one of the farm’s treehouses or huts to extend the adventure. Or if you can’t visit in person, they offer shipping of their products straight to your doorstep to enjoy the wonders of lavender at home.
 

Cinnamon Ridge Dairy Farm, Donahue

At the end of a half-mile driveway, you’ll find Cinnamon Ridge Dairy Farm’s charmingly named Country Cupboard farm store. Step inside to discover an array of the dairy’s award-winning cheeses made on the farm, including cheddar, Gouda, alpine, muenster and more, beef and pork product, homemade baked goods, breads, cookies and fudge. The collection also includes goods from other local producers, including soaps, popcorn and more to round out your haul. Complete your visit by booking an educational farm tour to get an up-close look at the dairy’s farm equipment. robotic milking machines and cheese plant.
 

Early Morning Harvest, Panora

Perhaps one of the most unique farm stores in Iowa, Early Morning Harvest’s farm includes a year-round aquaponics greenhouse and organic flour mill. Their store is open almost daily, selling everything from fresh fruits, vegetables, leafty greens and honey to eggs, wheat, grains, flours and meals. The shelves are also stocked with goods from other local and Midwest based producers, and online ordering and local deliveries are offered. During your visit to the store, be sure to ask for a free tour to see the greenhouses, gardens and mill where all the magic happens.
 

Frisian Farm Cheese House, Leighton

Dive into the art of making (and eating) Gouda cheese at Frisian Farm Cheese House. Started by two Pella brothers who wanted to return to their dairy farm roots and Danish heritage as adults, they bought a herd, invited a Dutch cheesemaker to show them the proper techniques and the rest is history. Today, Frisian Farm welcomes visitors to their cheese house to watch the cheese making process live through the viewing windows and shop shelves full of several ages of Gouda – from curds to sneek, or 1,000 days – in a variety of fun flavors like smoked, cumin, Italina, garden vegetable and more. Samples are available so you can make the best cheese choices.
 

Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy, Waterloo & Cedar Falls

Owned and operated by the same family for over 150 years, some might call Hansen’s Dairy an industry legend. Their cream-line goodness has never been questioned: every day they milk 150 cows in their herd (twice!), process the milk in their farm’s creamery and transform it into the products you love. You can see this process up close by booking a tour on their Hudson farm, which ends with sampling and shopping their delicious milk, butter, cheese curds and 20+ flavors of ice cream. Or find their products and other local goods in the Hansen’s Dairy stores in Waterloo and Cedar Falls.
 

Harvest Barn Marketplace, Osceola

Located east of Osceola inside a stunning 1930s barn, the Harvest Barn Marketplace boasts a 25-year legacy of thrilling customers with their signature food products plus other local Iowa foods. Open September through December, the store is packed with their pasture-raised beef and pork plus their famous beef sticks that are crafted with a family recipe. Other local goods include homemade fudge, salsa, jams, coffee, honey, cheese, dips, soup mixes and gift boxes. When the leaves change, the farm also transforms into a playground on weekends, including mini golf, corn mazes, jump pads, slides, play areas and an onsite eatery that features farm-raised burgers and sweet treats.
 

Harvestville Farm, Donnellson

Known as a multi-season agricultural attraction, Harvestville Farm is a fifth-generation operation that invites families to lose track of time on its fun-filled acreage. Mixed in among the pumpkin patches, vegetable gardens, flower fields, play areas and corn maze is a stunning retail barn. Inside, its shelves are lined with an extensive collection of seasonal home and patio décor plus locally made products from nearby producers like Tull Honey Farm and Great River Maple and Midwest companies like Kathy’s Kitchen. For a quick snack, be sure to also stop by the on-farm eateries. The Pitchfork Café offers a variety of meals like soups, salads, sandwiches and flatbread pizzas perfect for lunch while the Pitchfork Corner is stocked each fall season with snackable items like apple cider donuts, pumpkin bars, monster cooking and more.
 

Hinterland Dairy, Donnellson

Another legendary farmstead dairy operation, Hinterland Dairy offers a true glimpse into farm-to-table. They grow the crops that feed their herd, milk their cows twice a day and use that rich, creamy milk to craft high-quality cheese, cheese curds, quark and ice cream. Their shelves also stock other locally made goods like honey, salsa, jams, beef sticks and jellies to create the perfect road trip snacks. And large viewing windows let you see the aging and process rooms in action. They also offer online orders for pickup or shipping.
 

One Farm Market, Logan

What started as a seasonal family farm pop-up market in 2020 has since grown into a brick-and-mortar local foods store. One Farm Market is conveniently located on Logan’s main street and carries the farm’s organic vegetables alongside herbs, produce, meats, eggs, dairy, honey, baked goods, pantry items, coffee beans and more sourced from other local producers. Locals especially love Saturday mornings at the market, many of which are deemed “fresh bread Saturdays” as local bakers arrive with loaves of whole wheat and focaccia as well as scones and other delicious goods. The shop couldn’t stray too far from its roots – One Farm Market operates with “farmers’ market-style” hours, so be sure to check their website to confirm opening times prior to your visit.  
 

Picket Fence Creamery, Woodward

Support more than 80 Iowa farmers and families at Picket Fence Creamery’s country store. It’s packed with the creamery’s dairy delights, including their fresh milk, butter, cheese curd varieties and dozens of flavors of ice cream. Pair these with beef, pork, chicken and even bison products plus eggs, produce, jams, pies and more from other local producers, and you’ve just completed your grocery list. The country store is open almost daily, making it easy to swing by and support local.
 

Purple Ribbon Beef, Britt

A fifth-generation family farm, Purple Ribbon Beef takes pride in their sustainability practices and the high level of care they provide for their herd, both of which contribute to their high-quality beef products. These products, plus a wide variety of goods from other local producers, can be found in their on-farm store. Step inside to discover everything from Purple Ribbon beef sticks, jerky ground beef and steak to Great River Maple syrup and honey, WW Homestead cheese and butter, vegetables, décor items and more. Products can also be ordered online for pick-up, local delivery or shipping.
 

Rhubarb Botanicals, Springville

Settled on 40 acres of rolling hills, Rhubarb Botanicals is a Certified Naturally Grown flower farm that focuses on sustainability and specializes in fresh cut flowers and culinary and medicinal herbs. In partnership with other local farms, they welcome visitors to their Farm Store on select days to browse everything from their colorful flower bouquets, therapeutic salves and balms, tinctures and elixirs to other producers’ organically grown vegetables and fruit, sustainably raised eggs and meat and more.
 

Rusty Stars Alpacas, Winterset

Discover the perfect distraction and maybe the newest fashion trends at Rusty Stars Alpacas. This small family-run alpaca farm outside of Winterset welcomes visitors every weekend (for free!) to meet, feed and pet their friendly alpacas and shop products crafted from their wool. The on-farm store carries super soft yarn, gloves, socks and knitted hats, plus other fun items like adorable alpaca plushies, Rusty Stars merchandise, stickers and more. By the time you leave, you’ll know each and every alpaca, and the owners, by name and you’ll be planning your next visit for their beloved alpaca hikes.
 

Savor the Barn, Monticello

Built next to the owners’ family farm, Savor the Barn is the kind of store that catches your eye as you drive by and makes you circle back. The beautifully rustic red barn welcomes you inside, where you’ll find fresh produce and pork raised entirely without chemical or antibiotics, plus a rotating lineup of local cheese, honey, baked goods, wines and organic specialty foods. The space also doubles as a gallery/gift shop, with art and handmade items from local artisans sprinkled into the mix of gifts, seasonal décor and fashion accessories.
 

Simple Life Farms, Winterset

Goat dairy enthusiasts won’t want to miss a visit to Simple Life Farms, which offers an intimate experience with the milk-to-product process. Everything from fresh goat cheeses (in both chèvre, aged and curd varieties) to lotions, soaps, creams and body butters is made onsite their own herds’ milk. Farm tours are available, and the store operates by appointment only, giving visitors a chance to browse thoughtfully, ask questions, enjoy samples and connect with the process behind the products. If you can’t make it to the farm, Simple Life also makes frequent appearances at regional farmers’ markets and offers online orders.
 

SkyView Market, Nora Springs

Started by two (now adult) farm kids, SkyView Market combines their love for agriculture, their herd and their community. They set out to answer a call for a local produce hub and renovated a 1902 dairy barn to house the market, which today offers their beef in small batches and bulk, plus other meat products, soap and skincare products, fruits, vegetables and more goods from over 50 local vendors. The market is open every Friday for pick-up orders (local deliveries also available) and in-store shopping, monthly for Fresh Market Saturdays and during various special events each month.
 

Speckled Hen Farms, Winterset

Hidden among the rolling hills north of Winterset, Speckled Hen Farms is a foodie paradise. The stylishly remodeled shed is stocked with freshly harvested produce, a great variety of food products, olive oils, vinegars, fresh baked artisan bread, local coffee, honey, fun farm-inspired merch and more. Once you’ve checked everything off your list – and maybe added some extra items along the way – grab a bottle of Covered Bridges Wine to enjoy on the patio while you soak in the views on the patio. Keep an eye on their calendar to match your visit with live music performances, wood fired pizza nights and other exciting events. Or make a weekend of it by booking a stay at the on-farm vacation rental, The Roost.
 

Sunset Hills Bison Ranch, Malcom

When the owners of Sunset Hills first brought bison to their land, so many people randomly stopped to admire the herd that they decided to give visitors a reason to stay. They added an on-farm retail store plus four vacation rentals and started offering farm tours to share their love of the land and knowledge of the massive animals. Inside the rustic store, you can find an impressive lineup of bison meats, including ground meat, breakfast links, burger patties, brats and hot dogs plus BBQ and summer sausage sticks. Other items like bison plushies, hats, mugs, home décor and books let your preserve the memory of your visit and the store’s informational signs and display items like a bison skull and bison hide allow you to learn more about them.
 

Sustainable Sanctuary, Missouri Valley

This charming sustainable homestead partners with other local producers to provide chemical-free food year-round to the community of Missouri. Step inside to discover a carefully curated collection of freshly harvested produce like sweet corn, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes and zucchini; fresh fruit like apples, pears, cherries, grapes, melons, raspberries, peaches and strawberries; plus animal products like eggs, honey, beef, chicken, goat milk and cheese and more.
 

West Forty Market, Ankeny & Greene

Functioning like a farm store but conveniently located in Uptown Ankeny and downtown Greene, West Forty Market is a one-stop shop for all kinds of meat and fresh produce. You’ll find more than 120 different cuts of beef, pork, chicken, bison, lamb and turkey – all raised hormone- and antibiotic-free on local farms (including the owner’s) and handled by local lockers. Beyond the meat counter, the shelves feature products from 30 more Iowa-based businesses, including dairy products, fresh produce, eggs, honey, spices, sauces, rubs, seasonal goods and more. They also offer online ordering and shipping, so you can taste the enjoy Iowa products at home or share the love with friends and family from afar.
 

Wilson’s Orchard, Iowa City & Des Moines

With year-round locations in both Iowa City and Des Moines, Wilson’s Orchard is an exciting farm-to-table destination no matter the weather. Both locations’ farm stores boast shelves stocked full of seasonal produce, ethically raised meats and dairy products, homemade treats and pantry staples both from Wilson’s and other local producers, plus unique gifts crafted by local artisans. They also feature Wilson’s in-house prepared foods and craft beverages, which include apple cider and hard ciders made at their on-site cidery. 
 

WW Homestead Dairy, Waukon

Step inside WW Homestead’s retail store to discover an immersive dairy farm experience. This dairy operation is co-owned by two local families and showcases over 90 years of experience in the industry. Using fresh milk produced by their farms, they expertly craft cream-line milk, over 30 rotating flavors of ice cream, artisan cheese blocks, cheese curds, butter and small-batch cottage cheese. See how these products are made by peeking through the creamery viewing windows. Grab a coffee from the corner café, which features local brews, to enjoy while you admire the process, taste test samples or peruse the shop’s collection.