Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Five vendors gathered outside the Luverne United Methodist Church Monday to sell their wares at the first Crenshaw County Farmer’s Market.

Fresh produce ranging from zucchinis to peaches, homemade soap and chap stick and cakes were available, among many other items.

Local producers such as Avalon Farms from Lapine and the Heartsills from Greenville brought locally grown produce, while others such as Chilton County’s Evans Farms came from around the state to set up shop.

Keith Evans, who travels five days a week to various markets and had peaches and other fresh produce, said, “We’ve been doing this probably about 10 to 12 years now and we’ve gotten a little bigger. We’ve been doing strawberry u-pick, and we’ve just increased it and the farming operation. It’s just one of those things I enjoy doing. And these markets, they help the farmers out where we can get retail for our [products], and not have to sell everything wholesale. I drive about two hours to get here, you have to find locations where you can sell. Down here, there’s no peach growers, so you go to areas where they don’t have the stuff you have.”

Evans, who is from Verbena, says he plans on returning to the farmer’s market every Monday until it ends in August.

Allen Sexton, who is managing the Crenshaw Farmer’s Market, said the first day was a success and will only grow from here.

“We already have a blueberry grower for next week,” Sexton explained, “I expect we’ll have about 8 vendors next Monday.”

He extended thanks to all who helped organize the event, especially the Extension Office and the United Methodist Church.

Sexton emphasized that any growers interested in participating can contact him at (334) 301- 5590, or “just show up” and he will help set them up.

They are also looking for people with hand-made arts and crafts and similar items.

“It’s just a good thing for the community, we needed something like this,” Sexton concluded.

The Farmer’s Market is on Mondays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.