The Nampa Farmers Market will kick off its 2026 season on Saturday, May 3 with a record 120 vendors stretching across an expanded footprint in downtown Nampa’s Lloyd Square, organizers announced Thursday. Now in its 22nd year, the market has evolved from a modest collection of local produce stands into Canyon County’s largest weekly outdoor gathering, drawing an estimated 5,000 visitors each Saturday morning during peak season and serving as both an economic engine for local producers and a community gathering place for Nampa and surrounding cities.
This year’s market will feature a new dedicated “Canyon County Makers” section showcasing local artisans, woodworkers, and specialty food producers. The section, organized in response to vendor and customer demand, will occupy a new area along 13th Avenue South and feature approximately 25 vendors offering handcrafted goods, small-batch foods, and locally made art and home decor.
Supporting Local Agriculture and Small Business
The Nampa Farmers Market serves as a critical direct-to-consumer sales channel for Canyon County’s agricultural community. All fresh produce, meat, dairy, and egg vendors must be Idaho-based producers, ensuring that market spending stays within the local economy. For many small farms, the Saturday market represents their primary revenue source — particularly for specialty crop growers, organic producers, and first-generation farmers who lack established wholesale distribution relationships.
Market director Angela Ruiz said the 2026 season reflects growing consumer demand for locally sourced food. “Canyon County residents want to know where their food comes from and who grows it,” Ruiz said. “The farmers market creates that direct connection between the people who grow our food and the families who eat it. That relationship is the heart of what we do.”
A 2025 economic impact study commissioned by the Nampa Downtown Association found that the Saturday market generates approximately $2.8 million in annual vendor revenue and drives an additional $1.5 million in spending at nearby downtown restaurants, coffee shops, and retail stores.
Expanded Food Court and Community Programming
The prepared food section has expanded to 18 vendors offering diverse cuisine including wood-fired pizza, authentic Mexican street tacos, Vietnamese pho, Middle Eastern falafel, and classic American barbecue. A new covered seating area with 60 seats provides weather-protected dining space adjacent to the food vendors.
Community programming for the 2026 season includes weekly live music from local performers, a kids’ cooking demonstration area operated by the Caldwell School District culinary program, monthly “Meet Your Farmer” storytelling sessions, and a partnership with the Canyon County 4-H program featuring youth agricultural exhibits.
Access and Community Support
The market accepts SNAP/EBT benefits and participates in the Double Up Food Bucks program, matching SNAP purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables dollar-for-dollar up to $20 per visit. The program, funded through the Idaho Foodbank and USDA, has distributed over $45,000 in matching funds to Canyon County families since its launch in 2023.
The Saturday market operates from 9 AM to 1 PM every week from May through October at Lloyd Square, 1305 2nd Street South, Nampa. Free parking is available in the adjacent city lot and along surrounding streets. The market is accessible via ValleyRide bus routes with stops within one block of the market entrance.
What Comes Next
Opening day on May 3 will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling at 8:45 AM, followed by live bluegrass music from 9 AM to noon. Vendors interested in the 2027 season can submit applications through the market website at nampafarmersmarket.org beginning September 1. Residents can sign up for weekly market newsletters with vendor highlights and seasonal recipe ideas at the same website.