NATCHEZ — Local food, produce and craft vendors plan to gear up for the summer Downtown Natchez Farmers Market during an organizational meeting today, and it is not too late for new growers to join the crop.

Director Eddie Burkes said an annual organizational meeting at 9 a.m. today in the Adams County Extension Center at 7 Carthage Point Road would provide an opportunity for those interested in joining the Farmers Market family to ask questions and receive information about participating in the market.

“The people we would like to see attend are new vendors who have not participated in the Farmers Market in the past,” Burkes said. “We will go over the rules and regulations so they can make a smooth transition into the market.”

Burkes said new participants could register up until the market opens and attendance at today’s meeting is not required.

The summer market begins 8 a.m. and lasts until noon June 1 at the 100 block of South Commerce Street and will continue each week until the products run out, Burkes said.

The market takes out the middleman, large grocery chains that ship products across oceans, and allows local consumers to buy directly from the people who grow their food, Burkes said.

“The Downtown Natchez Farmers Market was established, first and foremost, as a market for local farmers to sell their crops,” Burkes said. “On another level, it gives local people the opportunity to buy locally grown fresh produce and get to know the farmers that grew them. … It is also a community project that helps bring people into Downtown Natchez.”

Those who would like to participate in the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program, a program that offers vouchers to low-income seniors so they can exchange the vouchers for edible goods, can also fill out applications during the meeting or contact Burkes for more information, he said.

“On average, we have around 35 vendors every week,” Burkes said. “The rain may have caused some setbacks this year, but there will still be plenty of fall produce, arts and crafts, and a lot of local folks.”

Burkes said anyone who wants to participate in the market should contact him at 662-816-5458 or by email to eburkes@natchez.ms.us.