Spring has ripened for the farmers market season to kick off today in Bradford.

The weekly markets will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays near Taco Bell in the Bradford Mall until the end of September.

Geri Schillinger, who manages the markets, said last year was a good year for vendors and customers.

“The vendors were pretty happy; of course we had a good location,” Schillinger said. “It’s not like it used to be but I think we did pretty good and people were quite happy.”

She noted there will be a few new vendors this year.

“We have a vendor from Eldred –– they have their own farm and their own animals –– so we will be having beef and pork from Miles Farm in Eldred. They went and got a state certification so they could bring their meat to the market,” Schillinger said.

She added an Amish farmer will be at the markets as well as Ben Grice, a hydroponics farmer, who grows crops with water.

Long-time participant in the farmers market and Smethport native Greg Gee said this year will tally nearly 20 years of selling goods at the market.

Gee said some of the goods he sells includes tomatoes, cherries and peaches.

“Of course I also bring blueberries,” Gee said, who owns Gee’s Blueberry Hill Farm in Smethport.

“Last year wasn’t too bad; it all depends on the weather. Some weeks and some months are better than others,” he said, noting this year’s wet weather has made it hard to get things done.

Vendors may be faced with some more wet weather today as the forecast from the National Weather Service shows a 70% chance of thunderstorms today and tonight.