Ease Into Summer at the Clayton Farmers Market

The kettle corn was popping, fresh produce and homemade bread were on display and many visitors munched on pastries as they strolled down Diablo Street on Saturday morning at the first Clayton Farmers Market of 2011.

Mayor David Shuey cut the red ribbon at 8 a.m. and then it was time to shop.

"It's awesome," Debbie Renfro said after buying cucumbers, onions, tomatoes and radishes at the market. "We're celebrating Mother's Day tomorrow so we got stuff for the cheeseburgers and salads."

There were 19 vendors on opening day, nine serving fresh food and 10 selling prepackaged goods.

One of the fresh food vendors was Mabel Lugan, who left her Modesto home in the wee hours of the morning to make it to Clayton with her oranges.

"We have been coming here for four years and it's my favorite farmers market," Lujan said. "The people are super nice and talkative and I've seen them the last couple years so we know each other's names. And (unlike other markets), no one haggles."

The market runs Saturday mornings through October, with more and more vendors expected as the weather warms. Frequent visitors are rewarded with free goodies, such as a basket of strawberries, after five visits to the market (just make sure to get your card punched).

"It's great to come down here and support local farms and the economy," Mary Ann Knelts said. "We are delighted with it."