When you visit the QC Farmers’ Market this summer, you’ll find that Tapestry Farms is a proud vendor selling fresh produce grown locally in support of new members of the Quad Cities community. With each purchase at the Tapestry Farms farm stand, customers walk away with fresh, delicious products as well as the knowledge that the income generated from the sale helps refugee families achieve financial stability and independence.

After years of planning, our team was thrilled to join the committed community of growers and makers at the QC Farmers' Market in April of 2024. Since setting up our farm stand along the Mississippi River just a few months ago, we’ve received an incredible welcome from the market community and are excited to deepen these relationships over the coming months.

"We are grateful for the warm reception we've received from the QC Farmers' Market community," says Ann McGlynn, executive director of Tapestry Farms. “Having the capacity to share our produce with the public and connect with other local growers is a dream come true for us.”

The market is held at Schwiebert Riverfront Park in Rock Island each Saturday from April to October, 8 a.m.-12 noon. Everything available for purchase is homegrown, raised, or handmade—parameters that align beautifully with Tapestry Farms' values of sustainability, community, and the availability of healthy, affordable food.

On Saturdays throughout the season, you’ll find members of the Tapestry Farms team like the mother-daughter duo, Fatima Hussein and Qamar Haddad. Originally from Syria, the two (along with the rest of their family) have made their home in the Quad Cities. On the table in front of them, customers will enjoy a variety of seasonal produce like cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, green beans, okra, lenga-lenga (a leafy green) and African eggplant. Lettuce from the Tapestry Farms hydroponics container have already been a hit this summer.

Alison Niebuhr, our seasonal farm manager and youth navigator, finds that Tapestry Farms’ presence at the farmers’ market puts our mission and purpose front and center. “The community can see and participate in our drive to grow wonderful local food and provide a network for the QC refugee community,” she says.

Tapestry Farms is dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture practices. By participating in the QC Farmers' Market, Tapestry Farms advocates for a sustainable food system that prioritizes local production. Additionally, the QC Farmers’ Market serves as a community hub where people come together to share stories, learn about each other, and build connections. Tapestry Farms' participation in the market enhances this community spirit, allowing customers to engage with and support refugee families.

Tapestry Farms employees (L-R): Qamar Haddad, Fatima Hussein, and Alison Niebuhr; Godelive Uwezo, Jenner Kealey, and Sonja Kinser.

Saturday mornings at the market are a testament to the power of community and the impact of supporting local, sustainable agriculture. The Tapestry Farms team also believes that these moments are opportunities for the community to gather, learn from one another, and support local farmers. "It's a beautiful example of how food can bring people together,” says McGlynn.

The QC Farmers' Market at Schwiebert Riverfront Park runs every Saturday morning. Tapestry Farms invites everyone to visit this summer to experience fresh, locally grown produce, engage with community, support local refugees, and be a part of something special.

Quad City Farmers' Market: A dream come true