TRAVERSE CITY -- Tim Volas watched with a wide grin as a steady stream of shoppers browsed his geraniums, oriental lilies and hanging baskets on opening day of the Sara Hardy Farmers Market in downtown Traverse City.
"It's going pretty good and it is a beautiful day today," said Volas, of Eden Hill Greenhouses in Beulah. "It's a great farmers market and it picks up as we move into June. It just gets better and better each weekend."
Saturday's sunny, near-60-degree weather and a bustling corridor of flowers, food and handmade crafts greeted hundreds of shoppers who stopped at the blue awning near the intersection of Union Street and Grandview Parkway.
"I think it's gorgeous right by the river," said Illinois resident Sue Young, who was in town to visit her daughter. "We have farmers markets ... but this one is much nicer, more varied products. They have everything from ... dog treats to flowers and even emu eggs."
But the variety of offerings is only part of the reason Cal Steinorth has spent most of his Saturdays downtown for more than five years. The market allows him to support local agriculture, and it's a place to catch up with friends.
"It's a Saturday morning ritual -- stock up on veggies and you get to socialize with people," he said. "It's still early and there's not too much down here, but it's still fun, exciting."
The ideal weather, combined with a strong turnout, made for a good morning for Janet Post, who sells twig wreaths she crafts from blueberry bush clippings. The early-season energy at the market makes selling her wreaths enjoyable, she said, and it doesn't hurt business either.
"About half of my wreaths are gone and it's 10:30 a.m., so ... I'm real pleased with that," Post said. "The farmers market is great, everyone is happy and meeting friends, so it's great to be here."
Farther down the line, several shoppers huddled around a table where Anna Sangemino from Frankfort's Creation Farm sold an array of all-natural skin care products. Her herbal salves and organic moisturizing creams were selling particularly well Saturday, she said, and she looks forward to offering potted plants and produce from the farm later in the season.
"It's really a down-home market," she said. "It is a very mellow crowd."
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