Lincoln University Farmers Market Brings Local Flavor to Jefferson City

The La Estaca booth at the Lincoln University Farmers Market offers beef, chicken and ham-and-cheese empanadas.

Summer Saturdays at Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) Farmers Market are filled with fresh produce, local food, handmade goods, live entertainment and a vibrant sense of community.

The farmers market is open from 8:30-11:30 a.m. every Saturday from May through October in the Dickinson Research Center parking lot at 1219 Chestnut St. in Jefferson City. Visitors can shop for farm-fresh produce, homemade baked goods, handcrafted items and specialty products from vendors across mid-Missouri.

New vendors joining the market this season include Cedar Cove Homestead, featuring pesticide-free spices, herbal teas and infused olive oils; Whippoorwill Farmstand, offering eggs, tallow soap, produce, jelly and bread; and Larimore Farms, selling produce, tallow hand cream, beef and pork cuts and bratwurst. 

Tina Harmon joined the market about a year ago. Her business, Blossom Farmstand, began with cake pucks, similar to cake pops but shaped like hockey pucks, before evolving into bundt cakes, then pasta and pies.

“The pasta started because my better half wanted sourdough, and I wasn’t willing to pay the price for it,” Harmon said. “Then I realized I wasn’t willing to do the work to make the bread. From there, I realized you could make pasta with it — and you can dry pasta!”

Fresh produce displayed at the Lincoln University Farmers Market.

Today, Harmon specializes in organic sourdough pasta, including gluten-free options. Every pasta variety remains vegan and features natural coloring. Customers can find creative shapes such as flowers and llamas, with dog-shaped pasta arriving soon. She also accepts custom shape requests through Blossom Farmstand’s Facebook page.

Sew Blessed has entered its third summer at LU’s farmers market. Based in Jefferson City, the family-run business offers a variety of handmade products, including reusable “unpaper” towels, bowl cozies, jewelry and bone-shaped neck pillows.

“My mom does the quilts and made the pin cushions,” said Tammy Ogden, owner of Sew Blessed. She then pointed to her daughter. “And she makes the earrings and bracelets.”

Special events add another layer of excitement throughout the season. Market organizers celebrate major holidays on select weekends, including Independence Day activities on July 4. On Aug. 8, LU will recognize National Farmers Market Week through a partnership with other local markets designed to encourage community members to explore each location.

A new feature for 2026 is live music at the market. Local bands and vocalists perform on most Saturdays, creating a festive atmosphere while patrons shop, visit with vendors and enjoy a morning outdoors.

Whether searching for fresh ingredients, unique gifts or a fun way to spend a Saturday morning, the LU Farmers Market offers something for everyone while supporting local growers, makers and entrepreneurs.