This will be my fourth Saturday here at Collegeville Farmers Market, and every week I am blown away by the unexpected bounty of local goodness, fresh from the farm and produced in our community.

So too, am I wowed by the awesome folks who come every week to socialize, to chat with local farmers and vendors and to load up their market bags with a rainbow of Swiss chard, crimson beets, orange carrots, and greens of every shade.

But inevitably, every week, someone asks the same question, "Where's the Fruit?" 

I've come to anticipate it, and I am grateful for the opportunity to talk about the role we play in keeping it real by supporting local and sustainable agriculture.

You won't find oranges or lemons or limes at our market, ever. They can't grow in our climate and they'd have to travel thousands of miles to get here. 

But cherries, peaches, plums, melons, raspberries, blueberries, apples and more will all be here...eventually, in their own sweet time.

It's the blessing and the curse of a producer-grower market like ours. Unlike your local produce mart or supermarket that might offer year-round produce at sometimes cut-rate prices. Everything our farmers/vendors bring to our market is grown locally and sustainably. No mass-produced waxed fruit, no tasteless tomatoes, just the fresh-picked goodness of produce that doesn't need a passport to get to your table. We support our local economy and are gentler to the environment, too. That's the blessing.

The curse? Well, who likes to wait?  Not me. But you've got to be patient; all good things come in good time.

And lucky for us, an extra-warm spring means that good times are approaching fast. Paul and Hana Crognale of Down Home Acres tell us the summer veggies are just around the corner. In fact, early tomatoes might be here by next week.

Image Credit: Frecon Farms

Likewise, Josh Smith of Frecon Farms, let us know last week that we can expect the first cherries of the season starting June 9. After that, each season will bring something new to appreciate and enjoy. It's like Christmas every Saturday from May through November. And for those of us who just can't wait to be surprised, this handy calendar for Penn State Cooperative Extension is a great planning tool.

Courtesy of Penn State Extension

Keep in mind, however, farming is an uncertain business so there are no guarantees, except for this: 

we will have the best seasonal, local produce, farm-fresh meat and dairy, quality prepared and specialty foods every single Saturday. 

Be sure to stop by to see what's fresh!