Ocean Springs Fresh Market

As a long-time fruit and vegetable grower on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and as the manager of another coast farmers market, I will tell you that August is about the worst month for local produce down here! Our summers start early so the plants are exhausted and diseased by now. The few surviving vegetables like eggplants, peppers, and okra slow down and even completely stop setting fruit in August because of the extreme heat and heavy rains that we had this year. Moreover, in August the farmers are busy out in the fields planting for the Fall. On the Central Gulf Coast, you have to abandon the idea of August as being the big harvest month that it is for the rest of the country! Conversely, if you come to Central Gulf Coast markets in NOVEMBER-DECEMBER when most other farmers markets across the country have completely shut down for the season, here on the coast you will find an abundance of citrus, persimmons, pears, leafy greens, lettuces, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, beets, kohlrabi, butternut, tomatoes, (yes, tomatoes are available till the first frost around mid December!) and so much more! You could consider August as our produce "winter," so to speak!

Ocean Springs Fresh Market is a "producer only" Farmer's Market which means that all of the products on sale at the Fresh Market are either locally grown or produced. We normally have very little produce in July and August because of the excessive heat and rain. This year has been particularly hot and wet, so much so that all of the farmers that sell at the Fresh Market have had problems with crops burning in the fields from the heat. They are planting now for the fall crop and we expect to have them back at the market in mid to late September, hurricanes permitting. Other markets in the area who have a range of produce in the summer months are generally resellers markets, bringing in the produce from other areas. We hope you give us another try when the fall crops come in. To save disappointment, please call me at 228-257-2496 to see what produce is at the market before you come. Diane Claughton, Co-Founder/Market Manager Ocean Springs Fresh Market

Sat the 21 August 2010 the woman running the market said that the heat stopped local production of produce. it will be back in about 4-6 weeks as they are planting fall crops now. they are also starting a little later 9 a.m.