As the summer draws to a close, many will mourn the loss of the delicious heirloom tomatoes, peaches and other local produce that could be found at the Market on the Square.

But the sadness will be short-lived. Just a week after the closing of the summer market, Market on the Square will be hosting its first ever fall and winter farmers market.

The farmers market will be held indoors at the Main Street Market building downtown.

Four farmers and two vendors selling local honey and baked goods are signed up to sell at the first market, Oct. 15.

The farmers market will take place on Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m.

Steven Thomas, manager of the Market On the Square, said farmers rarely have an opportunity to sell their winter crops.

"What I found out is that in the past, the farmers had no place to sell fall and winter crops," Thomas said. "They do grow them for themselves, and so I asked them if they would grow them to sell if I found them a place to sell."

Many of the farmers grow fruits and vegetables during the cold months. "My attitude is, and it's their attitude too, is if they're growing it anyway, they're just going to be growing more to share it with others," Thomas said.

Thomas said there are a lot of exciting seasonal crops that people rarely have a chance to buy outside of the supermarket.

Turnips, radishes, squashes, spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples and pears will be among the local cold weather crops available at the market during the fall and winter at the farmers market.

"Things we look forward to during the holiday season we'll be able to get fresh picked," Thomas said.

Many crops actually thrive in colder weather. Carrots, for example, are sweetest after the first frost, Thomas said.

"It's pretty amazing what people still have in their gardens," Thomas said.

Ronnie Mathis, a farmer from Clarkesville, said he is looking forward to the indoor market during the fall.

"We go through the fall and usually have enough crops through November," said Mathis, who planted a little extra in anticipation of the fall market in Gainesville.

"Most of the markets end in late October. After that ends, we'll sell to wholesalers and stores."

He said he will have beans, butternut squash and cabbage among other crops as the weather cools down.

"The downtown market has been pretty good. We've had a lot of good folks come out and buy our veggies and fruits," Mathis said.