Farmers shared crop stories with local folk, while shoppers, like Tom Greene, picked from a variety of fresh produce and other products.

"I come to the farmers market every time I have an opportunity," Greene said. "I love the superior fresh vegetables, very competitive prices and interacting with the people. We as a community need to support the local farms and farmers."

Birgit Briggs, community service coordinator, works in conjunction with the Coffee County Extension Service to plan and coordinate the Coffee County Farmers Market, located near The Depot.

"Everyone can go to the grocery store and get their food," Briggs says. "But you can come here and find out how the crops are doing,

MORE INFORMATION

The Coffee County Farmers Market is open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 7 until 10:30 a.m. Find these mouth-watering items at the Coffee County Farmer’s Market: • Squash • Tomatoes • Strawberries • Leeks • New Potatoes • Cabbages • Corn-on-the-cob • Onions • Radishes • Boiled peanuts • Scallions • Homemade jams and jellies • Honey • Cucumbers

enjoy the ambience and see the best-of-the-best home grown products."

Nine vendors participated in Saturday's grand opening and were excited to see the acceptance of local agriculture.

"We see many of the same customers each year," Roger Shaw said, who has sold a variety of items at the market since it opened four years ago. "Many return for the freshness that is not available in grocery stores."

Shaw and his wife, Cherin, own Backwoods Daylily Farm, located about 17 miles north of Enterprise.

"It's satisfying that people appreciate our work because we take great pride in what we sell, which is only the highest quality," Cherin said. "If it isn't the best, we don't put it out for sale. Customers like the idea of buying directly from the farmer. They want food that tastes ripe and fresh, like it is picked that morning, and it is."

Whether it is seasonal fruits and vegetables, hot boiled peanuts, fresh steamed corn-on-the-cob, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, corn, cabbage, potatoes toward autumn, or jars filled with jams and homemade pickles, the market is a smorgasbord for those who don't want to miss out on something good.

"The Farmers Market is an outlet for small farmers whose farms are too small to sell to mainstream grocery stores, but who have more than they can consume themselves," Briggs said. "The farmers pick their produce first thing in the morning before the market opens. They keep it fresh so that by the time the customer arrives, within a few hours of the produce being picked, it's on the dinner table at home. Not only is the taste better, but the nutritional value is much better."

Briggs thanked the farmers, customers, as well as about 75 businesses that provided door prizes in support of the opening.