The 2023 Hope Farmers Market got started this morning, with tall tomato plants and many other items on sale starting at 7:00 a.m. in The Hub.

Farmers Market 2023 set up shop under The Pavilion in The Hub with 12 vendors. The every Tuesday event will run until the fall, organized again by Deana Gilbert, who called today "a very good opening morning."

The hospitality table this week was occupied by the Farmers Market volunteers themselves. Other hosts will be expected to take over in future weeks.

On sale around 10:45 a.m when we visited were farm-raised beef from Farm on the Hill, tomato plants, vegetables and cakes from Silvey Farms, carrots, onions and other items from Solomon Farms in Emmet, houseplants from Miss Diane and honey and pies from Poppy's Pies, a new vendor this year.

"It's still a little slow on our produce," Gilbert acknowledged. But she was heartened by "excellent turnout today [from our] vendors and customers. We're very excited to see our season started."

Asked what she expected of the season, Gilbert said, "The cold weather and the wet weather put a slowdown on some stuff. When the good Lord sends it, we're going to have it." But more vendors are coming. "A couple talked to me about signing up today," Gilbert said.