Bill and Joy Price have a good reminder of when they got serious about growing their own food -- their daughter, Hannah.

As they were expecting their youngest child 10 years ago, the importance of the family garden grew and grew.

"We had five children to feed," Joy Price said with a smile Tuesday evening amid a row of peas. "I remember being out here picking pregnant."

This week the Prices and three of their children were harvesting peas, potatoes, broccoli and cabbage from their garden south of Lucama, but this produce might be headed for your table, not theirs.

The Prices are among the charter members of the Wilson County Farmers Market, which opens today at the county fairgrounds on U.S. 301. Hours will be 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays throughout the summer, except for July 12.

Agriculture Extension agent Billy Little warns that this will only be a "limited" opening, merely a taste of what the market can and will be. Because the emphasis is on locally grown produce, sellers are limited by what's in season. Most crops in this area won't begin to come off until June.

For now, buyers will be able to find cold-weather crops, which include strawberries, cabbage, collards, lettuce and broccoli.

But the summer will bring tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, watermelons, corn, actually a cornucopia of vegetables. There will be as many as a dozen vendors each weekend.

Not everything will be grown here. For example, a coffee roaster will be importing his beans but roasting and producing gourmet blends here, Little said. Another individual will be bringing shrimp from the coast.

Not every seller will be from Wilson County, but every vendor will need to go through certification to ensure food is produced locally.

"What's going to be great about our market is that you'll be able to meet the person who actually grew or produced your food," Little said. "That's our ace."

That means people like the Prices, who have nearly doubled the size of their garden this year in anticipation of the market. Bill Price works full-time for Progress Energy while his wife has her hands full with the children -- Mary 20; William, 18; twins Rebecca and Josh, 15; and Hannah, 9.

The Prices fill three chest freezers full of vegetables during the summer, but they have also set up produce stands and tables in summers past, partially as a way to allow the children to make some spending money, Joy Price said.

They are excited to have a regular space to sell and hopeful that the market succeeds, Bill Price said. If this summer is successful, the Prices will plant an even larger area next year, but it will not replace his career, he said.

"Maybe it'll be something I do more of after I retire," he said.

The Price children are happy for a chance to pitch in.

"I like getting outside, not sitting around the house all day," Rebecca said.

Homegrown produce has a better taste, added Josh. "With canned vegetables, you can taste the can," he said.

Matthew Garrett will be trying his luck this summer with a variety of organically grown items, including eggplant, beans and three types of tomatoes.

Gardening has been a family hobby, said Garrett, 22, a Fike High School graduate and now a student at Wilson Community College. His stepfather had been part of the original organic foods movement, he said.

"This is a hobby that I am hoping will pay for itself," Garrett said. "I am testing the waters this year and if all goes well, I'll do more next year."

mshaw@wilsontimes.com | 265-7878

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Farmers Market

"Limited" opening: Today

Location: Wilson County Fairgrounds, U.S. 301

Hours: Every Saturday this summer from 7:30 a.m. to noon, except July 12, the weekend of the Easy Riders motorcycle rally at the fairgrounds.

Sellers today will include: Jerry Coleman, Bill and Joy Price, Matthew Garrett and Premium Produce

Today's wares: Cold-weather crops, like strawberries, cabbage and collards, and bedding plants for sale.

By June: Up to a dozen vendors when more produce will be ready