An unusually wet spring has caused delays in spring planting, including produce and garden products. But, there is enough produce available from area growers for the Farmers Market, located at Mountain View Park, to open for business on schedule.

The Farmers Market will open this Thursday, June 16 to sell fresh, Kentucky produce to local residents and out-of-town visitors shopping for home grown fruits, vegetables and other nature made products.

Since opening for business a few years ago, the Farmers Market has steadily grown, adding more sellers each year and offering a wider variety of produce available to the public.

All products sold from the market has to comply with state and federal USDA regulations, assuring a safe and freshly produced product for buyers.

A meeting was held last Thursday morning at the Clinton County Extension Office that involved most individuals who had sold produce last year.

The purpose of the meeting was to plan a schedule for market days and hours, as well as review regulations of what products could or could not be sold under USDA guidelines.

The market will open Thursday, June 16 and remain open through August 30. Hours will be Monday through Friday from 12 noon to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon (closed on Sundays.)

Any producer of products that can be sold from the Farmers Market are welcome to set up in the facility and since the building is located at the Mountain View Park, should contact Park Director Bobby Reneau at 688-4337 to work out a schedule. Reneau will also serve as the market manager, who handles the scheduling and management of market spaces.

The market follows criteria set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is administered, in part, through the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service through the local extension office and managed on site by Park Director Reneau.

Last year, the market was only open for about a full two-month period, but partly due to the late planting season because of the wetter than usual spring, the market will remain open for approximately two and-a-half months through the end of August.

According to Reneau, there is one exception for selling dates and times, that being during the first weekend of August due to the U.S. 127 Sale.

The days that yard sale activity at the park is going on, the market will be closed and will reopen the following Monday in August.

The 127 Sale is the annual fundraiser for the park and is set aside for sale vendors during that weekend period.

The market will accept all types of Kentucky grown fruits and vegetables, as well as honey, jellies, jams, etc.

Due to both USDA and health department regulations, there are certain items that will not be allowed to be sold at the market. These include, among others:

* No live animals (chickens, etc.)

* No processed foods (i.e. fried chicken or any pre-baked product.)

* No flea market type items of a non-produce food nature.

According to Reneau, the number of vendors selling their produce at the local market has picked up in the past years. There are a total of 11 spaces available at any given time for vegetable and fruit producers to sell their products.

Producers from adjoining counties will also be allowed to set up at the market, however, their products must be Kentucky grown.

There is no cost to the producer to set up and sell their products and it is very important to note that all vendors who sell products will be responsible for the clean-up of their vending areas. Reneau asks all vendors to use the dumpsters set up at the park to dispose of their trash.

The market is open to all fruit and vegetable producers with Kentucky grown products. Anyone wishing to sell their produce at the market or have questions regarding regulations or use are asked to contact Reneau at the park or call 688-4337 or Phil Smith at the County Extension Office at 606-387-5404.