Produce doesn’t get much fresher than when it is picked from a garden, put in a box or basket and driven a short distance to a nearby market.

That is the recipe for success for the Fort Dodge Farmers Market.

That market has been around for decades. This year it is being held every Wednesday and Saturday through Oct.23.

The market will be open from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

It has long been held in the Crossroads Mall area, but it will be in a slightly different place this year thanks to redevelopment of the site into Corridor Plaza. The market will be on the 25th Street side of the property, behind Sparkle Car Wash and Ja-Mar Drive In Restaurant.

The market offers an ideal opportunity to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers. Tomatoes are a staple of the market. And when the sweet corn starts coming in, the traffic at the market really picks up. Honey, eggs, baked goods and kettle corn are among the other goodies to be found there.

In addition to being tasty, all that fresh produce is loaded with nutrients that people of every age need.

A trip to the Farmers Market offers one other side benefit: the chance to meet old friends and make some new ones.

We encourage everyone to make multiple visits to the Fort Dodge Farmers Market this year. It provides an easy way to gets some delicious food while supporting local growers.