By Annie Dockery, Harker Heights Evening Star

The first Farmers Market of the 2015 season opened on Saturday with a large assortment   of vendors including local farmers, artisans and bakers.

“It is the first day of the season, it is going really well,” Heather Cox of the Harker Heights Parks and Recreation Department said. “We have 43 vendors that are signed up. I don’t think we could ask for anything better.”

Shoppers started arriving even before the Market opened at 8 a.m. and many vendors returned from the 2014 season.

“What is really great this year is seeing that we have made our stake in the community and we are getting a lot of returners from last year,” Cox said. “It is always nice to hear that people are looking forward to seeing us every year and they couldn’t wait till we were here. We’re pretty packed and it is going well.”

Cynthia Romero, Farmers Market shopper said, “I love the Famers Market. I was excited it started back up. I like to come out every Saturday and see all the new stuff.”

Luna Juice Bar set up their booth and offered samples to shoppers.

“I love being out here at the Farmers Market,” Aprille McLaughlin of Luna Juice Bar said. “It’s great because we get to talk to our customers and they are what makes us. We get to talk to them and see what they like and what they don’t want and what they want us to bring out. That is our favorite part.”

“We have freshly pressed fruits and vegetables. We pride ourselves and try stay local as much as possible. We buy from as many farmers as we can find,” McLaughlin said.

Mayor Robinson held his monthly ‘Coffee with the Mayor’ at the event.

Mildred Smith had the chance to speak with the Mayor about zoning, different property add-ons and zero-scaping.”

Mildred Smith said, “It is nice to see him. I hadn’t met him before and so it a wonderful opportunity for us to speak directly to him.”

Patrons of the Farmers Market  were able to stop by the Mayor’s booth and speak with him in the relaxed environment of the Farmers Market.

Mayor Rob Robinson said, “The Farmers Market is just a great venue that people can walk by and take their time. The weather is beautiful, the vendors are great and the location is great. I am just very glad to be here, part of this to let citizens come by and shoot the breeze …… with the Mayor because that is what we are supposed to be, accessible to the public.”

Mayor Robinson was able to answer questions and direct people to the correct city offices to find additional information.

“It is going very well. A number of people have stopped by but they just want to talk,” Mayor Robinson said. “I’ve had some questions and some of them I have referred them to some City people but it is just a question not a complaint and so I find that very positive.”

The Farmers Market located in the front parking lot of Seton Medical Center, 850 W CenTex Expwy is open  every Saturday thru October 31.