Gather in Washington’s Central Park and hear the bell ring to kick off the 31st season of the Washington Farmers’ Market this Thursday. If you grow it, bake it, or make it, then it can be sold at the market.

Washington County Public Health Administrator and City Councilor Danielle Pettit-Majewski says it’s important to have these markets for the community’s well-being, “I think it’s important because it’s a good way to get people together, it’s a good way to encourage community collaboration and also to share an opportunity for our vendors to share their fruits and vegetables, give people access to maybe healthy produce they wouldn’t otherwise try. And so, I think it’s just a really great opportunity for people to have conversations with these local growers so that they can, you know, try new things, try new healthy fruits and vegetables, and also have that social experience that they have with the rest of the community.”

This Thursday at 5 p.m. Market Master Bob Shepherd will ring in the new season. There will be vegetables, fruits, baked goods, art, ready-made food for a quick dinner, and food trucks on site. The market is held every Thursday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in Central Park through October 17th, except the Fourth of July.