Callaway County residents no longer have to rely on the grocery store for their fruits and vegetables.
After a winter hiatus, the Fulton Farmers Market will kick off the 2014 season Saturday in the Brick District.
Vendors will offer fresh vegetables and canned and baked goods from 9 a.m. to noon on Fifth Street between Court and Market streets.
Fulton Farmers Market President Joan Schwede said there will be around five vendors out Saturday - "we start out slow" - offering up lettuce, spinach, greens, asparagus, radishes, breads, jellies and jams, with plans to grow as the season progresses.
"I'm just excited because this year should be bigger and better than last year," Schwede said. "We're even trying to get a greater variety of vendors."
Although there are no major changes planned for this year's market, Danielle Warren with the Brick District Association said, "we're planning to rearrange a little bit."
"We're going to move the music closer and put out tables and chairs in front of the courthouse so people can stay and enjoy the atmosphere a little more," Warren said. "We're also going to be selling bottles of water."
She also echoed Schwede's plan to find a larger variety of vendors this year - particularly meat vendors.
"We're looking to see what kind of interesting local things we can get beyond the standard (offerings)," Warren said.
She said the Art House also is working on plans to do something in connection with the farmers market, similar to the series of portraits local artist Jane Mudd painted last year.
Warren said she is looking forward to having the farmers market downtown again.
"I like how nice the atmosphere is and how it makes the whole downtown feel alive and celebrating what people are doing," Warren said.
The Fulton Farmers Market also is open from 3:30-6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Although they are looking for a new location closer to downtown, Schwede said for now the Wednesday market will remain in the Sutherland's parking lot.
Katherine Cummins can be reached at (573) 826-2418 or [email protected].