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By David Daniel Jr.

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Saturday, June 7, will mark the official opening of the Selma Farmers Market for the 2025 growing season.

However, if you don’t think you’ll be able to check out what the market has to offer this weekend don’t worry. Several local vegetable producers have been planning and working to provide a  variety of fresh locally grown produce over the coming months and there will be other chances to take part in our local market.

The Selma Farmers Market will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Saturday, June 7, through Nov. 3.

While the market is now officially getting ready to open, local vegetable and fruit producers have been preparing for this growing season for quite some time. Each year local producers register with the Extension office to list the crops they intend to grow and make available to the public at the local market.

Producers maintain their eligibility to participate in the market by completing annual training with the Alabama Farmers Market Authority and taking advantage of local Extension classes on topics such as safe produce handling and up to date production practices.  While the availability of different vegetables and fruits fluctuates throughout the year due to different crop maturity times and exact growing seasons, many producers have worked to plan their crops in hopes of increasing access to locally grown fresh produce all summer and fall.

Several local producers have also signed up to accept benefits through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). Earlier this year several Seniors here in Dallas County contacted our office to apply for the SFMNP funds. The regularly scheduled market will have several fresh vegetable providers who have taken the needed steps to accept these funds from local Seniors.

Not all kinds of produce may be available this Saturday, but several local producers intend to have vegetables such as squash, corn, tomatoes and peas available at different times over the summer. There are also several producers who intend to offer fruits such as figs, plums, watermelon, and peaches. To stay up to date on what’s going on at the Selma Market, make sure to follow the market’s “Selma/Dallas Co. Farmers Market” Facebook account.

David Daniel Jr. is the Dallas County Extension Director for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.