MEXICO — Beef, eggs, fresh greens, cookies, pies, and a multitude of other locally grown or produced foods will be available for local shoppers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the River Valley Farmers’ Market. 

Launching its second season, the market will be open every Friday from June 18 through Oct. 15 at the Labonville parking lot, rain or shine.

Market master Gail Cutting said several special events will highlight the opening day.

Each hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., samples from one of the vendors will be given away to someone who is at the market. Also, anyone who attends the market may sign up for a chance to win a basket filled with items from each vendor.

Cutting said balloons will be given to children and Anna Schauffler of Norway will be available to sign copies of her book, “Food for Living, Bread for Life.” She will offer hints on baking and cooking seasonal vegetables with fresh herbs. Schauffler is a baker at Cafe di Cocoa in Bethel and Cafe Nomad in Norway, as well as a caterer.

Participating in the market, so far, this year are:

— Roy’s Family Farm, Rumford, offering homegrown vegetables, as well as fruits and berries from other Maine farms.

— Stan Haynes of Clay Hill Farm, Peru, offering angus beef and poultry vacuum frozen, along with fresh chicken eggs.

— Dave and Ann Kimball of Kimball Farm, Rumford, with farm-raised vegetables, blueberries, and brown chicken eggs, as well as gladiolas and sunflowers later in the season.

— Larry and Clarice Hodges, Dixfield, offering vegetables, herbs, raspberries, jams and maple syrup.

— Richard and Louise Kangas of Kangas Farm, Bryant Pond, attending the market later in the season with vegetables, apples, plums, frozen rhubarb and canned vegetables.

— Carl and Gail Cutting of Grandma’s House Bakery and Gardens, Mexico, offering vegetables, herbs, berries and seedlings as well as baked goods, an organically-based blood and bone meal fertilizer, a pancake mix, blueberries and maple syrup.

Cutting said the market is looking for additional farmers to join the River Valley Farmers Market Association, as well as artisans who may want to show their work.

For more information on the association, those interested may call Cutting at 364-3424.

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