Starting next month, a Gardendale parking lot will look like it has been sprouting fruits and veggies.

The Gardendale Farmers Market kicks off June 7 in a new location. For the past two years, the market was set up weekly at the K-Mart parking lot; this year it will be at the corner of Main Street and Mt. Olive Road across from Gardendale High School.

Market manager Jim Parola said the market is moving because the K-Mart property owners are raising insurance requirements, and the cost was too steep for the weekly market.

The new location is the only change in the popular event, however.

“We will have as many growers as we did last year, with a waiting list,” Parola said. “There is only one new grower; the rest from last year wanted to come back.”

There will be about 12 booths at the market, including seven growers selling vegetables, two offering baked goods, and one each selling fruit, honey and flowers. During the first week, a vendor will also be selling refrigerator storage containers.

Parola said the first two seasons saw a steady stream of customers and many repeat shoppers.

“We’ve gotten a lot of positive response from the people,” he said, including notes and letters.

Parola said people mostly like knowing the fruits and vegetables are fresh, and that they are grown locally.

“When you go to the grocery store, you don’t know when it’s been picked,” he said. “At the market, it’s been picked that morning or late the evening before. People like that it’s fresh.”

Parola said the market is also good for the growers, who are all from Blount or Cullman counties.

“It gives them some place local to sell,” he said. “They all say Gardendale is their second highest(volume) market after Pepper Place (in Birmingham).”

He said the grower/vendors are good to each other and to their customers. They often help each other set up their tents or do other work. And they usually will replace vegetables or fruits at no cost when a customer from the previous week lets them know that, for example, a watermelon or tomato was not ripe.

Water and lemonade will again be given away for free this year at the farmers market.

Some popular events will also make a reappearance, at dates to be determined, including knife-sharpening day, tomato day and watermelon day.

The grand opening, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony, is June 7.

The market is open every Thursday, 1-5 p.m., from June 7 to Sept. 27.

All farmers are certified through the Alabama Farmers Market Authority.

Cash, local checks, Senior Citizen coupons and WIC coupons are accepted. No credit or debit cards are accepted.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gardendale sponsors the market.

To learn more, visit gardendalefarmersmarket.com.