Both locations of the Butler County Farmers' Market have been quite successful since opening in June.

On Thursdays it is located at the Hank Williams Pavilion in Georgiana and on Saturdays in Greenville at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds.

Both markets are scheduled to open at 7:30 a.m.; however, vendors and customers have been showing up as early as 6:30 a.m.

The market has been set up for farmers to sell fresh fruits and vegetables.

Many varieties have been sold including peas, okra, squash, tomatoes, field and sweet corn, peaches, blueberries, watermelons, and cantaloupes.

Honey has also been sold.

Over 100 buyers have supported the Georgiana market and the site in Greenville has had as many as 300 buyers.

Most of the vendors have been certified to accept Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) vouchers.

These vouchers were distributed by the Senior Nutrition Program to senior citizens throughout Butler County.

The vouchers can be used only for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables.

They cannot be spent for any processed foods such as jams and jellies or honey.

Initially, a good portion of the produce has been bought with vouchers, however cash sales are beginning to pick up.

There are a total of 22 vendors in Butler County certified to accept the vouchers as payment.

The Farmers' Market will continue to run each Thursday and Saturday till the week of the Butler County Fair.

The Fair will be the last week in September.

For more information on the Farmers' Market, phone 334-382-5111.

The 2002 Master Cattleman Program for Butler, Conecuh, and surrounding counties has been scheduled to start October 3 and conclude November 14.

Classes will meet each Thursday night at the David L. Burt Agriculture Building in Evergreen.

The cost of enrolling in the Master Cattleman Program is $65.

We must have a minimum of 15 participants to justify the class.

Anyone interested may register by sending a

$65 check payable to the Butler County Extension Office by September 4.