One of the joys of shopping at our local Hall County Farmers Market is the variety of fresh produce and friendly smiles.

I find something new every week; one vendor had sun-dried heirloom tomatoes, another had scotch bonnet peppers and a type of eggplant I had never seen before. You might also find fresh ground cornmeal, rye and whole wheat flours.

And scuppernongs and muscadines were for sale last week at the market. Have you ever had a muscadine pie or scuppernong jam? You won't forget it.

The market has a supply of locally grown corn, tomatoes, squash, okra, peppers, green beans, peas, watermelons and cantaloupes. You will also find okra, garlic, collards, beets and potatoes. I also saw some beautiful hanging baskets.

The Hall County Farmers Market is open 6 a.m. until sellout on Tuesdays and 7 a.m. until sellout Saturdays. Many of the vendors also sell on Fridays at the downtown Gainesville square.

The farmers market is located on the corner of East Crescent Drive and Jesse Jewell Parkway just off Interstate 985 at exit 24.