A small group of central Iowa producers is bringing fresh produce to the parking lots of some Greater Des Moines employers in what organizers are informally calling a “corporate farmers market.”

Each Wednesday and Thursday, employees streaming out of the headquarters of ITA Group in West Des Moines, Casey’s General Stores Inc. in Ankeny and several other major employers can select from a variety of fresh items that Julie Pickard and other growers bring to them.

“It’s a different way of going to market,” said Pickard, who typically brings in fresh produce from her family farm in Rhodes. Other producers who are participating bring items as diverse as fresh spices and produce, jams and jellies, barbecue sauce and even candles and soaps.

The arrangement is mutually beneficial to the employers, who benefit from being able to conveniently offer healthful produce to their employees as they’re on their way home, as well as to the producers, Pickard said. “It’s very informal, but we have very loyal vendors as well as customers,” she said.

In addition to ITA Group and Casey’s, other companies currently participating are Telligen, Farmers Mutual Hail, UnityPoint Health and Wesley Acres.

Pickard said that some of the companies have opted to open up the market to their entire office parks, while others have chosen to maintain a company-only market.

For more information or to find out about becoming a participating company, contact Julie Pickard at (641) 750-7274.