As if the breakfast burritos and fresh produce weren't enough to encourage thick crowds for the inaugural Downtown Farmers' Market of the season, a visit from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders made it even more hectic near the booths that lined Court Avenue Saturday.

After filming an interview on the Principal Riverwalk, Sanders made his way through shoulder-to-shoulder shoppers. A few supporters had been notified ahead of time to help with crowd control, but Sanders impromptu visit took many visitors by surprise.

Not that it mattered.

Immediately after wading into the crowd, Sanders had trouble moving forward and aides had to keep Iowans from completely mobbing the presidential candidate.

"Oh it is him," said one man wearing a flannel shirt and clutching a starter plant of a pot "Longevity Spinach."

The senator, who will campaign across northwest Iowa later Saturday and Sunday, shook hands, posed for photos and chatted with supporters.

"Isn't that the guy form 'Back to the Future'?" one guy asked, referring to the white-haired Dr. Emmett Brown character in that film series.

Not everyone was excited to see the self-described democratic socialist. Several complained of the mayhem he created and some shouted their takes on his policy stances.

"If you don't think he's a lunatic by now, you've got problems," one man yelled at the pack surrounding Sanders.

But Sanders also drew fans like a magnet. At one point, he asked for an aide to stay by his side to help him navigate the crowd.

"We need more stickers than that," he said looking at the rapidly depleting stock of campaign gear.

Sarah Larson bumped into the clutch surrounding the senator unexpectedly. But she quickly pulled him in for a hug and a photo.

"I am a huge supporter," she said, trembling with excitement afterward. "I'm crying because I just met him. Oh my God."

Sanders didn't sample the wares available at the market. But he seemed in good cheer as others munched on egg rolls, pastries and other market delights. Toward the end of his multi-block jaunt, a bearded man shouted to Sanders and pointed proudly at his Raygun hoodie that read "Totally Unhinged Liberal."

Jonathan Karl, the chief white house correspondent for ABC News, attempted to interview Sanders as they walked down Court Avenue. The reporter noted how different Sanders' 2020 bid looks on the ground compared to his out-of-nowhere campaign ahead of the 2016 election.

"I would say virtually everybody here at this farmers' market in Des Moines knows exactly who Bernie Sanders is," Karl said into the camera.

After snaking through several blocks and meeting hundreds of fans, Sanders arrived near the end of his route.

"We love you in Iowa," a man shouted at him.

"Thank you," Sanders said, before entering a black SUV to travel to his first official campaign stop of the day.