It’s time to pull out the streamers and hang the balloons – the Omaha Farmers Market is celebrating 30 years of farm fresh, locally-grown goods in 2023!
The opening of the 30th anniversary season of the Omaha Farmers Market is Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7. The Saturday Market will take place from 8am-12:30pm in the streets of the Old Market. The Sunday Market will take place from 9am-1pm in Aksarben Village at 67th and Mercy Road.
“The impact of the Omaha Farmers Market has grown so much over the past 30 years, thanks to the support of our wonderful vendors and the Omaha community,” said Vic Gutman, Founder and Executive Director of the Omaha Farmers Market. “We look forward to continuing our commitment to bring fresh, local produce and goods to the people of the Omaha area for years to come!”
Promoting local food is an Omaha tradition, and the Omaha Farmers Market can trace its roots back nearly 100 years. Beginning at the turn of the last century, Omaha’s “City Market” took place on the corner of 11th and Jackson Street in the Old Market, primarily serving as a wholesale market for grocery stores. The City Market stopped operating in 1964, leading to a 30-year hiatus where produce wasn’t readily available in the Old Market. In 1994, the Omaha Farmers Market opened where the City Market once stood, becoming the first, direct to consumer, farmers market in Omaha’s modern history. The market has expanded over the years to include a second weekly market on Sundays in Aksarben Village and an annual Holiday Market that takes place the first weekend in December.
A few additional noteworthy highlights of the Omaha Farmers Market’s first 30 years:
- Offering Nebraska’s first SNAP token program improving access to fresh, locally produced food
- Working with Nebraska Extension to offer “Double Up Food Bucks” starting in 2018.
- Being designated as “essential” during the pandemic, with organizers working closely with city and state officials to ensure the Omaha community had access to fresh produce each weekend.
"The Omaha Farmers Market has been a family for us for over 26 years. Selling directly to customers and making friends along the way has been a highlight of my farming career, and I know my fellow growers and producers feel the same way."
- Coordinating tens of thousands of pounds of fresh food donations to local shelters and agencies in addition to hosting an annual meal at The Siena Francis House for over 20 years.
- Partnering with numerous non-profits including No More Empty Pots, Food Day Omaha, and the Charles Drew Health Center to promote food access, small businesses, and local food entrepreneurs.
- Serving as a business incubator for countless local farmers, producers, and makers.
Every Saturday and Sunday, market visitors can shop from local growers, producers, bakers, and makers. The Omaha Farmers Market is a “green market,” so shoppers will always find the freshest fruits, vegetables, herbs, and starter plants at the markets. Baked goods, meats, cheese, honey, soap, coffee, salsas, and unique gifts can also be found. The market accepts a variety of payment options including: SNAP/EBT, credit/debit, cards, cash, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) coupons, and Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB).
The 2023 Omaha Farmers Market season runs until Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram for up-to-date info about all the goods you can find at the market.
