Rainbow City, AL - This summer you'll find more options for fresh produce at farmer's markets across the state. Eating Alabama-grown foods is part of our state's agricultural tradition. This year more and more people are "farming for deals" at their local farmer's market. One location where produce is picked fresh is the Rainbow City farmer's market. On Mondays and Wednesdays shoppers like Wanda Ryder stock up on food farmed in Alabama.

She says she "Just bought green beans and cucumbers."

Ryder drove twelve miles to get here. She says she goes to several markets. They're growing in popularity this season. They're blooming almost everywhere including Attalla, Center Point and Helena.

According to Ryder, "I think it's because people are looking for the freshest produce they can buy."

Buying affordable staples like green beans and cucumbers and specialty items, too including pickled eggs and even bird houses.

James Ragsdale sells produce he grows himself. He explains, "The prices in the big stores are so high people can come to the farmer's market and buy it cheaper and I try to give them their money's worth."

On Wednesday work crews in Anniston prepared for this weekend's market.

Betsy Bean is an organizer. She explains, "It was so popular last year and it was this huge, unexpected success for us."

So successful there was never a doubt that it would return to Zinn Park every Saturday this Summer. It shares a theme with most Alabama farmer's markets - "buy fresh, buy local."

Bean explains, "There's none of this going to a state farmer's market and bringing back California produce. This is grown by local farmers within the local county area."

It's produce often picked just before it hits the sales table.

According to Ragsdale, "I usually pick it every day or early in the morning before I come to the market."

For a list of farmer's markets across the state CLICK HERE.

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