With the crop and garden season now in full swing, the Farmers Market is set to open for business on Friday, June 1 at the facility located at Mountain View Park just north of Albany. The market will remain open through August 31.

The market hours for any vendors selling their produce this spring and summer will be Saturdays from 6-11 a.m. and Tuesdays and Fridays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to Park Director Bobby Reneau, who oversees the facility.

The only week the market will not be open for vegetable and produce sales will be July 31 through August 6, the week of the U.S. 127 yard sale.

Clinton County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Phil Smith, in noting the local Farmers Market was a Kentucky Proud member, outlined some of the various products that can be sold at the facility throughout the summer, as well as items that are not allowed.

Producers can sell vegetables of all types, fruits, honey, hay and straw, sorghum, as well as nursery and greenhouse items.

Some of the items prohibited include any type of live animals, wine and no processed meat products.

Reneau said this is about the thirteenth year that the Farmers Market has supplied an outlet for local producers to set up and sell their produce and vegetables and noted that participation has grown somewhat over the past few years.

Also, other than the normal hours and days listed above, vendors who wish to set up at other times should contact Reneau at the park or by calling 688-4337 to schedule a day and time they wish to sell when the facility is otherwise not in use..

“It’s (market) open to anyone who wants to sell,” said Reneau. “We have never charged for the booths.”

The Farmers Market was funded several years ago and continues to receive funds from the Phase II tobacco settlement and the Rec/Park Board maintains the building.

Strawberries have already been sold from the market and Reneau noted they would try to accommodate any vendor that has early crops they would like to sell at the location.

“As long as the building is not being used, especially week days for sure,” producers will be allowed to set up and sell their products.

Reneau noted that last year, there were seven or eight regular vendors who operated most of the growing season while several others used the building at various other times.