With summer just a couple weeks away, our mouths are beginning to water for juicy tomatoes, fresh green beans, buttery homegrown corn and other flavorful fruits and veggies of all kinds.

Thankfully, Franklin County has two great sources for locally-grown produce.

Our county boasts two thriving farmers markets – one in Russellville, adjacent to the A.W. Todd Center, and one in Red Bay at the Fun Park. Each market is open multiple days of the week throughout the growing season to provide fresh, homegrown fruits and veggies to our citizens.

We encourage everyone – both growers and customers – to give their support to these local markets.

Our markets need more farmers to set up and sell fresh produce, and people in our communities need to patronize these markets and take advantage of the locally-grown items.

These farmers are your friends and neighbors, and when they sell you a melon, a potato, a cucumber or a zucchini, you know exactly where it came from. You know that as recently as a few hours ago, it was still rooted in warm north Alabama soil.

You just can’t get any fresher than that.

The Franklin County Farmers Market in Russellville opened May 24 and is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon through October. Farmers set up at the covered pavilion next to the A.W. Todd Center.

The Red Bay Farmers Market pavilion is located at Red Bay Fun Park, just across the parking lot from the water park. It is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through September.

Both of these markets are coordinated by the Franklin County Extension, and both participate in the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, through which qualified senior customers can purchase fruits and veggies using voucher coupons received through the Franklin County Extension.

In addition to offering a wide variety of fresh produce and canned items, both markets host special events like drawings for giveaways and Tomato Sandwich Day.

Don’t forget the assets we have right here in Franklin County in the form of our local farmers markets.