At last, at last, it's Farmer's Market season once again. Saturday morning is the perfect time to have coffee at an outdoor community market, get a muffin or breakfast sandwich, and then shop for weekly meats, produce, and baked goods. Farmer's Market offers a weekly adventure, and Broad Ripple is a gem.

Early spring finds vendors offering vegetable and herbs plants in addition to spring asparagus and onions. As the weeks progress, the farmers' counters become weighted down by tomatoes, leeks, potatoes, corn, peaches, and berries. Some stands have weekly baked goods, flavored oils, wine, and even dog treats that find their way into customer's baskets. You can also buy fresh seed mixes for your backyard birds, lavender products, syrups, teas, and flowers.

Although the markets take a few weeks to get into full swing, early May visits affirm that summer is nigh. Check out the Broad Ripple Farmer's Market website for weekly news at www.broadripplefarmersmarket.org. Located just behind Broad Ripple High School, the Saturday morning market becomes a time to shop local and buy local so you can eat local.

Also remember there are some farmer's markets located around the Broad Ripple area, too. Check out Binford Farmer's Market at 62nd and Binford on Saturday mornings and the North United Methodist Church, 38th and Meridian on Thursday late afternoons. You may want to visit Locally Grown Gardens at 54th and the Monon where Ron Harris offers fabulous BBQ and apple pies in addition to the best of in-season fruits and vegetables. And don't forget Johnny's on North College during peach season for a divine treat.

I like the way Farmer's Market adds value to a community, giving consumers the chance to buy directly from producers. It's fascinating to hear stories about how goods are grown and/or produced directly from the source. The camaraderie between "farmers" and their customers is a wonderful exchange that happens again and again. Freshness of goods at Farmer's Market is another important plus. What's not to love about getting strawberries on a Saturday morning that were still in the fields 24 hours earlier? There's much to be said about getting foods harvested at the peak of their flavor and not losing nutritional value by days in storage or transport.

Farmer's Market is an interesting reflection of Broad Ripple culture - our tastes, what growers and artisans of the area produce, what items appear for sale in the course of the season, and how we as the public embrace this shopping experience. Rain or shine, it's wonderful to see people strolling with their children and dogs, greeting friends, and delighting in the pleasures of filling their shopping bags. Just think, all these good fortunes happen while we are keeping more dollars in our community. Look forward to seeing you at Farmer's Market!