Summertime is known for hot weather and vacation, but it’s also known for gardens and months of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Local farmers are ready to show off their homegrown goods this weekend at the opening of The Selma Farmers Market.

The market will be open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m., or until the vendors run out of products. The first day of this year’s market is Saturday, June 6 and it will run through the first week of November.

Fresh vegetables and fruit, eggs, fresh cut flowers, homemade bread and baked goods, jams, jellies and preserves are some of the items that vendors will have at the market.

But Saturday, there will be more than just the normal 15 to 25 vendors set up at the market.

“For the opening on Saturday, the [Dallas County Master Gardeners Association] will be there with a display and educational activities on butterflies, because we are the butterfly capitol of Alabama,” said Callie Nelson, agent coordinator for the Dallas County Extension Office. “They will be there passing out information for people who may be interested in starting a butterfly garden and how to attract butterflies to your landscape. It’s such a neat thing to be able to attract butterflies to your back yard.”

Nelson said Selma is lucky to have a farmers market where the community can enjoy local grown produce from area farmers, among other benefits.

“We’re very fortunate to have a farmers market because there are areas where people have a difficult time getting fresh produce, and this market helps provide that for us,” she said.

“One of the main reasons is because we know people who eat more fresh produce it helps to one, control weight, and we are a county that has issues with being obese and being overweight, and so our fresh produce can really help people to be able to control their weight.”

Nelson said the farmers market has been trying to get other vendors interested in setting up shop so there will be a wide variety in choices and produce.

“We continue to try to attract different vendors to the market, like the baked goods and fresh eggs. Some of those are the newer thing that were trying to let people know that those are available at the market,” Nelson said. “We just want people to come out and support the market and also let them know that the vendors are very equip to accept the nutrition vouchers for both seniors… and WIC.”

Some vendors will also have the option of using an EBT or debit card.

For more information about the farmers market, call the Dallas County Extension Office at (334) 875-3200.