The Charlotte County Farmer’s Market at Drakes Branch — along with its vendors and volunteers who organize its activities — deserve our support.

The market — which opened for the season on Friday, May 5 — is only as strong as the support we lend it during the many weeks ahead.

For weeks leading up to its opening, both vendors and volunteers have been working hard to grow crops and organize schedules for the public’s benefit.

According to Farmer’s Market Adviser Bob Jones, the market saw about 84 customers within the first hour on opening day. He said by the end of the day on May 5, the market saw more than 300 people, more than last year’s opening day.

Turnout is always big on the market’s opening days, and we should strive to repeat that every Friday and Saturday it’s open.

“We really do need the support on both days,” Jones said, pointing to the market being open one Saturday morning monthly.

Options offered on the market’s opening day and the following Saturday included many old favorites, such as fresh produce, homemade baked and canned goods, jams and jelly, local herbs, herb crafts and Amish wood-crafted products.

A new vendor is in attendance this year providing beef, pork, poultry and farm-fresh eggs.

“It looks like the market is continuing to grow,” said Jones. “…Please keep supporting us. We’ll keep providing as much variety as we can.”

Like any vegetable or flower, the only way the market can grow is through nourishment, or support from the community, in the market’s case.

Charlotte County has a unique opportunity to capture more and more residents, farmers and visitors through its farmer’s market, and it’s going to take our support for the market to be successful.