Hired a some teens to pick strawberries. Didn't communicate well with employees kept putting off…read morethe start date. Told teens to come get paychecks some did but they couldn't find anyone to get checks from. I have all of the screen shots. Communicate with your employees!!!! Pay them!!!

Heartland Farms will be a part of our lives for as long as we live in Iowa. It feeds the soul to…read moreget out there and see what the earth has produced with the hard work from local farmers. Always a great time with the family, whether it's picking pumpkins in the Fall or strawberries in the Summer, Heartland Farms is our good to for good healthy fun.

Chemical free veges, fruit and herbs! Friendly and warm people! Good vibes! I have some other…read moreproducts at the farmers markets or at their farm stand such as veggies, fruits, herbs, teas, coffee, pottery, soap etc

My wife wanted to visit an apple orchard and so we decided to visit. They have different varieties…read moreof apples. You can walk and pluck apples in the orchard. The whole orchard is managed by an old couple who I would say is very friendly. I would suggest anybody to visit this orchard. Best time to visit is in September - November.

Sergio Fuggitiread more

Fun place for apple-picking and buying delicious apple products (recommend the sparkling apple…read morecider and apple donuts). The orchard is huge, with plenty of room to roam and apple tree varieties to choose from, mostly honey crisp, but also crimson crisp, Jonagold, fuji, and gala. Admission is $5 per person and we paid $22 for a two-person you-pick peck. Which was more than enough for us! Cons: Parking was an issue (it was a weekend) with unclear traffic flow through the lot...and it became progressively more busy later in the day.

This was a most lovely orchard experience from start to finish. I began with a visit inside the…read morefarm market, which had fresh apples; frozen applesauce and pies; chilled apple cider + cans of their alcoholic ciders; and merchandise + gifts. Make your way to the register, and you can purchase donuts and turnovers as well as your u-pick bags. I made my apple turnover ala mode, which was worthwhile, and savored it outside overlooking the orchard. So picturesque! After my apple treat, I was ready to pick and made my way to the orchard. Expect some hill climbing and pretty scenery between the apple trees and flower fields. I imagine the trek could be more challenging for families with young ones. Wilson's boasts 100 varieties of apples, one of the reasons I visited the orchard in the first place. At the end of September, I filled my bags with two varieties I had never heard of, which was fun. The rows were well-marked with the apples that were ready for picking as well as the name of the variety. More importantly, the apples were delicious. Overall, I'm very happy I spent a morning here, and I imagine just about anyone else will feel similarly.

You will ask yourself how I can write a mostly negative review of one of the best Farmer's Market…read morearound and still give it 4 stars. So I will explain. The Downtown Farmer's Market is a outstanding venue and is one of the largest in the nation and probably in the state. I have been involved with it every since it first started both as a buyer and as a concessioner. Over the years the market has expanded to extend for many city blocks and attracts vendors from miles around. The downtown market is not a true Farmer's Market in that it allows non-food vendors as well. You will see people selling everything from jewelry to candles; food sellers from local restaurants, wine, clothing, local charities, entertainers, and so on. Among all the vendors are actual produce sellers. A list of most vendors can be found on the Downtown Market website. It is a huge and fabulous Saturday event. And yet I prefer to skip it in favor of other Farmer's Markets which are smaller and more produce oriented for the following reasons. 1. It is VERY crowded. Attendance is high (easily topping 16,000 per Saturday morning) and the jostling and shoving can be overwhelming at times. You will find a lot to purchase but you will leave exhausted. 2. It has become so big that you will find it difficult to find the vendors you really want to buy from among the 220 + vendors. We are talking about 11 streets here and no printed map to guide you. 3. The crowding is aggravated by carts and strollers making it difficult for challenged walkers to navigate. I recommend that seniors try the smaller markets instead. 4. The organizers still have not learned to ban dog walkers. You will have to dodge leases, the infrequent dog fight, and other canine problems. Just think a minute. What would you think if you saw people walking the aisles of the local supermarket with a dog? What we have in the Cedar Rapids Downtown Market is a great market that has gotten a bit too big and needs to be trimmed down. I am a long-time fan of Farmer's Markets and have attended them for many years, long before the downtown market even existed, but my preference is for the smaller markets, which I visit once a week religiously. The downtown market is only an occasional thing.

First off, lets call it what it is people, it's a french market, not a farmers market…read more Supposedly one of the largest 'farmers' markets in the Midwest, and I'd believe it. At least 8 blocks of produce, meat, baked goods, jewelry, crafts, and street food vendors. I didn't check *every* produce vendor but the ones I did notice were all from Iowa. I wish I had a cooler big enough to bring some organic free range chickens raised in Iowa all the way home to Chicago. It's a pity this market is only every other weekend. By 8:30 the streets were packed and a few vendors were running out of green beans and cherries already. Only open till noon so get up early and wander around downtown Cedar Rapids before all the good stuff is gone!

Wow! This farmers market has everything you'd hope to find and more! Worth the trip!read more

Probably the biggest farmers market I've been to! There are food options for everyone, and the best…read morecoffee ever (ugh I can't remember which stand) This was a very impressive farmers market that we were lucky to be in town for!

This public coop market/farmers market/cafe was a long time coming, but worth the wait. Besides…read moreartisan breads, a butcher shop and various local meats and dairy, there is also a great cafe, with a buffet option for two meals a day. For our last visit, we had grilled sandwiches, and shared a table with some interesting ladies from the area who were able to help fill in our memories of long-gone local businesses. Before that, we attended the evening buffet, feasting on all-you-can-eat crab legs, steak, pork, chicken, and all the accompaniments. For $11.95 each! Try it, and you'll see what I mean...great food, great people, great place to eat.

Stopped by the farmers market on a Saturday morning. Also went in the public market for the first…read moretime. Not impressed. There was only a handful of vendors at the farmers market. Selling flowers, a few vegetables and hand made decorations. Nothing real great. The grounds they have it on are beautiful and well maintained. The public market was a dump. Poorly lit. We weren't greeted upon arrival. They had a large seating area for meals and had a buffet up but everything was covered by big tin pans. There was no one eating. There is a partition in the big space separating the eating area from a little grocery store like area. The "market" area was poorly stocked and had minimal product. Most items were empty. They had a few local items but most was just stuff you'd find in a normal grocery store with a higher price tag. There was a container of strawberries in the cooler priced at $12.99 and was full of mold. My husband and son went to use the restroom. He said it was absolutely disgusting. There were two sinks in the restroom and neither had running water. The floor was covered in dried and wet urine. Won't be back. Ever.

The people were super friendly. I thought it was open til 2pm though and it closed at 12pm. Not…read moresure if I misread something or the information was incorrect. Anyhow, I didn't get to visit all the vendors or make purchases of the things I wanted because it closed 30 minutes after we got there. That being said it was in a nice grassy/shady area and not on concrete, which was nice

I was pleased to find a solid farmer's market with food trucks, crafts, produce, specialty items,…read moreand an overall fun environment on my initial visit. Located immediately south of the High Trestle Bike (and running) Trail, this market has ample parking and an easy layout under a pair of covered pavilions. The Uptown District also has a number of shops, bars, and restaurants nearby. This Market occurs every Saturday from 8 to noon. Kindness is abundant, and there are lots of overall good vibes. I enjoyed the little train that hauled the kiddos around the perimeter of the Market, and appreciated how clean the area was throughout my stay, I like how the food trucks are on the outside of the market footprint, making it easy to move around and enjoy the venue.

I purchased apples and one jam. I realized on the way home, I was charged for 2. I have called…read moretwice to get either a refund on my credit card or a check mailed to me. The first phone call, the guy said aren't you coming back? Then he said you can drive here and we will give you the cash. I said it will cost more to drive than the $8.00 dispute. He was going to try to figure out how to credit my card because he saw the transaction and if he couldn't he would call me back. Never received a credit or a phone call. I called again and he will send the check someday. What kind of business is this??? The apples were rotted even though I looked carefully at what I was picking. Stay away from this bad business.

Sun warmed fresh berries. Yes, Please!…read more We checked the website before hand. Blueberries, Cherries, gooseberries, currents and more were all ready for our choosing. You don't need a container cause they will supply you with a bucket. Keep in mind you are picking your own berries in bulk. We took the drive out from Ames and south of Nevada to check it out. They normally bring their berries to the Saturday morning Farmers Market but we were on an adventure. We stopped at the main little station and got the skinny on what to expect. The gentleman was blunt and straight up. We got a map, told where to go and what to do. This place is huge. Lots and lots of berries to be picked, but we were most excited about the blueberries. We had arrived in the perfect time as there were many to be had. It was a very warm early July day and the sun was high and berries ripped to be picked. My Mom and I parked and walked far out into the patch. We found some really decent sized berries and enjoyed the peace as we collected our bounty. I love that I know exactly where my food is coming from and I can even taste the product before committing to the plant. We made our way back to have our selection weighed and paid. There is also a little shop you can stop in and have a treat made from the berries on the property. I couldn't keep my hands out of my blueberries on the way home. I thought they tasted delicious. I would recommend this to anyone who is out for something a little different. The kids would really enjoy helping pick whatever you could desire. I thought it was interesting cause I will be honest and did not realize how a blueberry bush grew and learned something by visiting and taking on this new experience. Now I am just imaging all the different ways to eat my berries!