Leslie Allen, owner of Pea Pickle Farm, converses with Angie Cherrette, right, a vendor from the Sage and Spry massage booth. (Journal photo by Jackie Jahfetson)

MARQUETTE — With 58 vendors selling items from fresh produce to homemade maple syrup products, the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market had a little bit of everything to shop for as it opened its season from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The weekend’s sunny temperatures welcomed a large crowd to the farmers market where shoppers indulged in a wide range of vendor goods, like baked goods from Marquette Baking Co., honey and fresh produce from Swanzy Farm or natural bath and body products from Sage and Spry.

Among the popular selling items, flowers from local florist Jeffrey Heidtman were a hit for many shoppers. Heidtman, who’s been flower farming for 25 years, said the farmers market is a way to make people happy and share what he loves with others.

“I love flowers. I loved flowers since I could walk, I’ve been ripping plants out of my mom’s pots since I was a little kid,” Heidtman said. “My grandparents nurtured that and wanted me to do whatever I loved.”

Being involved with the farmers market since the beginning, Heidtman sells a variety of flowers such as perennials and succulents, he said, adding he hopes for a “long, warm season with plenty of rain.”

The farmers market will continue its season through Dec. 14, and will also feature a Wednesday Evening Market going from 5 to 7 p.m. June 12 to Sept. 25.

The market accepts cash, credit/debit, SNAP, Double Up Food bucks and Hoophouses for Health, and from June 1 to Oct. 31, WIC Project Fresh and Senior Market Fresh will be accepted as well.

The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market is held at the Marquette Commons, at 112 S. Third St.