Now that the sun has punched through, how is your garden growing? You can definitely see the effects of the warmth down at the Homer Farmers Market these days.

This warmth has brought about those amazing bundles of garlic that Lori braids at Synergy Gardens, but it also is bringing in the onions, carrots and amazing salad greens and bok choy all over the market. This is the time of the year when we get to relish once again in fresh herbs and spunky stir fries. Yet the coolness of the year has meant that you can still get radishes and tender turnips as well.

And thanks to Carey at Home Hilltop Farm, you don’t have to take all the greens home for a salad, you can get a pre-made salad to-go right there at the market. This may not sound like a big deal, but it is much more difficult to sell a salad than it is to sell the whole head of lettuce. Regulations allow farmers the “one cut rule,” meaning that they can only cut a vegetable once before selling it or else they need permits and DEC-approved kitchen facilities.

Add the new salad option to the other food options, whether it is a healthy curry from Shiva Boom or a bowl of ice cream from Udder Delights, and you have some of the best that the market has to offer.

The variety of options at the market is only going to grow this coming week. The next Kid’s Vending Day is Wednesday, Aug. 9. If you know a youth with a special product to sell, don’t forget to fill out a kids membership form at the info table and check out the guidelines in the Market Policy Manual to make sure that their product qualifies to be sold at the market. Then bring them to the Market at 1:30 p.m. to get assigned a spot to set up their table.

So head on down to the market this Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. or Wednesday from 2-5 p.m. and see what our local producers, crafters and local kids have waiting for you.