When Jess Anderson pictured her first year as a Downtown Farmers’ Market vendor, it didn’t include customers in cars and face masks.
Instead of a sprawling, crowded bazaar on Des Moines' city streets, the 45th season of the Downtown Farmers’ Market in 2020 was confined to a parking lot beside the Iowa Capitol, where customers drove up to vendors and picked up their products.
Despite the changes, the owner of Jess Desserts, which serves macarons and other sweet treats, took the modified season in stride.
"It was definitely a different experience," said Anderson, who started full-time with her business after being laid off during the coronavirus pandemic. "It was nice to dip my toes in and get a better feel for the market, which helped me feel more confident for this year."