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Baltimore Farmers' Market Opens For Another Season

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A steel drum band, festive atmosphere and lots of local food can only mean the Baltimore Farmers' Market is back in full swing.

Tim Williams has more on its opening day.

It may not be the Orioles, but for the home team of farmers, vendors and customers, it was perfect weather for opening day at the Baltimore Farmers' Market and Bazaar.

"It's opening day. It's so exciting; glad to be back," said Pam Miller, Humpty Dumpty Omelettes.

For 36 years, shoppers have been loading up on fresh food and produce. This year's start is one of the more fruitful in recent memory.

"The folks started coming out as soon as the sun peeked over the buildings," said Pam Stegall, Calvert Farm.

This marks the third year for an opening so early in April, but despite the date, farmers are already selling a decent selection of locally-grown flowers and greens. Produce from "urban farmers" is the newest trend.

"We can grow in under-utilized land in the city, using greenhouses and other farming-specific methods," said Anthony Dyee, Big City Farms.

More than 200,000 people visit the market every year.

"We come a lot and we love it, because it's just a great place for people watching and stuff," said regular customer Haywood Jones.

Regional farmers and merchants have looked toward the venue's reopening with hopes of subsidizing their incomes. This year's slogan sums it up.

"So it's promoting `Buying local, growing local and eating local,'" said Dionne McConkey, Office of Promotion and the Arts.

Located under the Jones Falls Expressway at Holliday and Saratoga, the market opens at 7 a.m. Sunday. It will be open every Sunday through Dec. 22.

"We get all our produce for the entire week and fresh fish, so it's great. Plus breakfast and coffee," said shopper Dave Carney.

If the first day is any indication, this should be a bumper season.

For more information on the farmers' market, click here or call 1-877-BALTIMORE.

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