Nampa, Idaho, Offers Fertile Ground for Agriculture Businesses

Guy Hand

Agriculture businesses are the backbone of Nampa, Idaho. They’ve been a part of the area’s identity since the beginning. The rich soil, supportive community and deep agricultural history make this region the perfect place for farms to grow and thrive. 

Just ask Morgan Wissel, the farm manager of Wissel Farms, a long-standing Nampa-based farmstead that has been in operation since 1911. 

Farming has been a part of this family’s story for over a century, passed down from one generation to the next. Wissel is honored to continue that legacy alongside her parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews. Together, they’re keeping the traditions alive while embracing new opportunities. 

“Our farm is built on generations of knowledge, hard work and a love for the land. Since 1911, our family has been rooted in this corner of Nampa, and that continuity is something special,” Wissel says. “What sets us apart is our commitment to being more than a farm — we’re a family. Our success comes from the support of our community, the resilience we’ve built over time and the passion we pour into everything we grow. Southwest Nampa has always been the perfect home for Wissel Farms. We’re lucky to be just a mile from Lake Lowell, where the soil, climate and community make this an ideal place for agriculture.” 

Wissel Farms grows a variety of vegetables, but the sweet corn and pumpkins are what they’re best known for. Beyond that, the farm also operates a storefront, runs a CSA program and offers U-pick experiences, giving the Nampa community a chance to connect directly with the land. 

Courtesy of Nampa Farmers Market

Nampa Farmers Market the ‘Heartbeat of Nampa’

Connecting with farm life and enjoying the fruits of farmers’ labors is also at the core of the Nampa Farmers Market, held weekly in Lloyd Square Park in downtown Nampa. 

“The Nampa Farmers Market has been held annually in downtown Nampa since 1989,” says Jeralynne Bobinski, market manager. “We started out very small, with only three vendors. In 2024, we had our largest vendor roster to date, with over 340 applicants and 240 individual vendor businesses approved and represented at our market. Our focus has been to not only support local small businesses but to reinvest in the lives of those in our community wherever we can, with quality products and entrepreneurs who have a passion in their chosen fields – literally and figuratively.” 

All of the Nampa Farmers Market vendors are local, and all of their wares are created, crafted, grown, sourced, harvested, established or begun within 100 miles of Nampa. In addition to hosting a thriving market with diverse items being sold, the Nampa Farmers Market has established a rule that 50% of the vendors must carry ag-related products. This means that every single vendor is encouraged to carry homegrown items — whether it’s fresh eggs, firewood, native plants, flowers, meat or other local food items. 

“We feel strongly that local agricultural goods should take center stage when it comes to our market, and we work hard to educate our customers on what each farmer is harvesting and when they can expect the new crops to be ready for market,” Bobinski says. 

In addition to supporting local vendors, the Nampa Farmers Market also has created community food programs, youth entrepreneur scholarships and local fundraisers that benefit residents of all ages. 

“We don’t see ourselves as only a farmers market — we’re family,” Bobinski says. “We look out for one another and seek ways to educate, encourage, uplift and give a hand up to those in Nampa seeking to establish themselves and create growth opportunities. Every year, we offer an annual training to our vendors — free of charge — that goes over marketing trends, skill sets and paperwork requirements to more fully equip our vendors with great information so they can grow and flourish.” 

This sense of community and support extends beyond the vendors themselves, fostering a welcoming atmosphere that draws in residents and visitors alike. 

“Mayor Debbie Kling has referred to our market as ‘The Heartbeat of Nampa,’ and we tend to agree,” she says.