It's a beautiful Saturday morning in August. You roll out of bed, throw on your favorite shorts, T-shirt and cap and fill your travel mug with steaming coffee. After a long week, you finally have time to relax and stroll through the local Farmer's Market. Your primary mission today is to gather bunches of fresh basil for your favorite pesto recipe. You also look forward to your weekly exchange with the couple that's been selling corn and berries from their local farm for more than 35 years.

That couple was up long before you, packing their truck and driving to the city. After a long week of hard work, they have come into town to reap the rewards. They spread out their bountiful crops beneath a tent and are ready for their first customer by 7 am. As one of more than 6,000 small farmers that depend solely on revenue generated at farmer's markets, they're counting on a busy day.

The 1996 National Farmer's Market Directory listed 2,411 farmer's markets in the United States, a 27% increase over 1994. The United States Department of Agriculture estimated a 10% increase in 1998, which brought the total to just under 3,000.

What you'll find at a farmer's market is determined greatly by season and locale. The array of goodies at the farmer's market in Blue Hill, Maine will be very different from what you'll find in Irvine, Calif. From summer squash in Sonoma County to marionberries in the Rogue Valley of Oregon, whatever you find at the markets will be fresh and grown with care.




Can't get up early enough? Take a virtual stroll through markets across America at any time of day. You can even do some grocery shopping at Farmacopia and Farmer's Market Online. The online markets allow shoppers from around the world to meet and purchase products directly from producers. Get tips directly from the growers on how to store artichokes, find out which fruits are in season when, and meet farmers and craftspeople who sell their goods online.

To find a market near you, check out the map index of U.S. farmer's markets at the Cafe Creosote Summer Edition Web site. The USDA also maintains a list of farmer's markets in the United States. Some markets offer Web sites with crop calendars, recipes highlighting local ingredients and information on how to participate as a vendor. In Colorado, the Boulder County Farmer's Market offers recipes like Farmer's Market Soup and Roasted Vegetables with Pasta. You'll discover that late summer is a great time in Colorado for apricots, honeydew melons, peaches and eggplant. The Deerfield Farmer's Market points out that doing business directly with farmers turns food shopping into a social event. Friends and neighbors gather at this market to stock up on maple syrup and honey grown in their community. If you can't get to Deerfield, stop by their site for an Overnight Pickles recipe. Bring your tortilla chips! The California Federation of Certified Farmer's Markets features a complete listing of what California produce is ripe when. For example, buy avocados and cauliflower in february, watermelon and sweet corn in june, and figs and brussel sprouts in october.

In urban areas, small towns and rural communities, farmer's markets are beneficial to vendors and consumers. From Maine to Hawaii, the markets provide consumers with inexpensive, locally grown, farm-fresh produce. Openair-Market Net is a great source for learning about outdoor markets worldwide. The site notes that farmer's markets allow shoppers to conduct business face-to-face with vendors who have a personal commitment to the produce and products they sell. The markets allow farmers to inexpensively start an enterprise, exchange information, build reputations and earn income. They also allow farmers sell fresh-picked, vine- and tree-ripened produce that is too delicate for the packing and shipping process. This lowers cost for consumers, increases profits for vendors and produces less waste.

Perhaps one of the best things about farmer's markets is the spontaneous atmosphere. The lighthearted, festive air is a welcome break from the grocery store rut. So throw the boring list out the window and dive into an array of new tastes, smells and experiences!