People from all over north Jefferson County and beyond came to shop at the opening day of the Gardendale farmers market on Thursday.

“I am so proud to have this,” said Charline Booth, a Mt. Olive woman who shopped at the market on opening day. “Everything looks great, and I’m looking forward to trading here all summer.”

Farmers from Hayden, Clay, Cullman County, Blount County, Cleveland, and other communities sold their produce at the market.

“It gives the truly local grown farmers a venue to sell their merchandise where the public knows it’s local grown produce,” said Richard Dender, the market manager. “It’s not something that came from Texas or Florida or California. Every one of these veggies is grown in Alabama.”

Thirteen farmers are signed up to sell their produce for 13 weeks. Assistant market manager Jim Parola said the there is at least one organic farmer signed up to sell at the market, and blueberries and honey would be available for sale later in the summer. He also said it might be possible to extend the market into fall because some of the farmers grow fall produce.

All farms that sell produce at the market are inspected by the state. If a farmer is selling produce that isn’t being grown on their farm, they can suffer penalties and even be excluded from selling at the market.

“People want to support local economy, and they want to know they’re getting fresh produce,” said Dender. “And it’s safe. That’s the big thing people want.”

Gardendale Mayor Othell Phillips said he had wanted a farmers’ market for the city for a while.

“Most progressive cities seem to be going after farmers markets,” said Phillips. “I think it’s going to be great. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback.”

June 24 at the market will be “Kids’ Day.” There will be miniature donkeys for kids to pet, as well as stuffed toy pigs they can win. A staff member from the Gardendale-Martha Moore Public Library will be dressed in a cow costume and will host a program on the importance of eating vegetables.

There will also be a fire engine at the market if the fire department can spare it.

Dender and Parola said they were hoping to have more special promotions; they said they were searching for a local chef to come and make a cooking demonstration.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale sponsors the farmers market by providing tents and tables for a nominal fee. The church also provides volunteers, free drinks and literature. They also pack up the tents and tables after the market closes, a service which Dender said is rare.

Any purchases made at the farmers market are exempt from sales tax.

The market is open every Thursday, 2-6 p.m., through August, in the Kmart parking lot in Gardendale.