The summer months are an ideal time for a number of things, among them trips to the beach, the year's best movies and being able to choose from the best collection of produce this growing season has to offer.

Vendors from Cherokee and surrounding counties are doing their part in making an assortment of crops available to local customers, hauling their corn, beans, watermelon and other goods to the Gaffney Farmers Market.

Located at a vacant city parking lot near the old post office at Granard and Frederick streets, the market is open Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon from now until the end of November.

The farmer's market returned after several years in 2008 when the City of Gaffney and the local Clemson Extension agency joined forces to bring the outdoor marketplace back to life.

According to local Clemson Extension agent and farmers market manager Alana West, last year's season was affected by drought conditions along with the market opening the same weekend as the S.C. Peach Festival.

Hoping not to make the same mistake twice, West and others decided to have the farmers market season run from May through November.

"We wanted to have the opportunity to have cool weather vegetables available," West said.

West said approximately 13 vendors currently sell produce items at the outdoor marketplace. Customers making their way to the farmers market has picked up in recent weeks, as the summer selection of fruits and vegetables hit the shelves.

However, you will not see eggs or meats of any kind. The market sells only produce items, flowers and honey.

Vendors must obtain a grower's certificate from the local Clemson University Extension office. A season-long certificate costs only $20. Daily certificates are $5.

Contact West at (864) 489-3141, ext. 115.