Vegetables fresh from local gardens are now available with the opening of El Dorado's Farmers Market.
Venders are looking forward to the season with produce gathered from their own backyards.
Many venders have been participating in the market for several years.
"We've been here five or six years at least," said Don Smith, Farmer's Market participant. "It's hard to say."
El Dorado's Farmer's Market is preparing to go into full swing with the seasonal anticipation of the ripening of tomatoes.
"I've got about 700 plants," he remarked. "So they (tomatoes) ought to be coming."
Smith is selling everything from zucchini and squash to onions and tomatoes for 50 cents.
Venders were out Thursday afternoon chatting and selling fresh produce, baked goods and canned concoctions.
Mulberry jam, pear preserves, sandplum jelly and potatoes are some of the more common items at the market.
Some venders even had corn relish with a kick, chow chow, peppermint cucumber rings and
turnip kraut – for the adventurous market shopper.
The market was initiated in the late 1980s and has been located at Walnut Valley Packing parking lot, 1100 S. Main, for decades.
The Farmers Market is open from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
