BERLIN — Looking for a high-profile spot to put your hard-earned produce, cottage kitchen goodies, and other farm-friendly goods on display? Then head to Berlin on Friday, March 1.

That’s when the Berlin Farmers Market will hold an organizational meeting for growers, both new and familiar with the East Cullman County town’s increasingly popular marketplace, ahead of this year’s opening date, and it’s a chance for any grower who’d like to sell at the venue (and offer input on how to make the upcoming season a success) to share their ideas.

Growers’ input is so vital to the market, in fact, that Berlin town leaders won’t even set an opening date for this year’s market until after they’ve heard from growers at the meeting.

“It’s an opportunity for us to get connected with who our growers are, and to figure out what they’ll have available for sale,” said market manager Keirstyn Montgomery. “Plus, to find out when it makes sense for us to open the market for the season. The growers are definitely in charge, and they really have a lot of say in picking the opening date and helping to make all kinds of decisions big and small.”

This year’s growers’ meeting will be held at the Berlin Town Hall (located at 461 County Road 1615, Cullman), and will take place from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday, March 1. Montgomery noted that growers of all types are encouraged to attend, whether they plan to reserve a market space all season long or only for a shorter window that complements their particular growing season.

The Berlin Farmers Market is located not far from the town hall, fronting U.S. Highway 278 on the highway’s north side where it intersects with County Road 735. Eight covered vendor spaces are available at the market, as well as numerous uncovered selling spaces that can be scaled to match seasonal demand, said Montgomery.

In addition to the market’s customary fully-staffed open days that fall every Saturday throughout the warm-weather growing season, growers who affiliate with the market are welcome to stage popup sales during daytime hours on any weekday during the season. For more information about the market as well as this year’s March 1 growers’ meeting, visit the market’s website at berlinal.gov/berlin-farmers-market/.