One of the most vibrant facets of living in any city or community is the Farmer's Market. Not only is the produce fresher, it also provides a contact point between those folks who actually produce the food, and those of us that consume it.

If you live in the tropics, there's probably an open air marketplace where farmers congregate each day to sell their fruits and vegetables. If you live in Boston, there's the Haymarket. If you live "out in the country" there are roadside stands on every rural road. If you live in Mexico or Latin America, every community and city has a mercado. New York City has a Korean grocery on almost every street and avenue, with perfect produce trucked in each day from New Jersey farms.

No matter where you live, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of your local farmer's market. I've listed a few in San Antonio below.

Here's some listings for farmers markets in San Antonio:

San Antonio Farmers Market Association

Location 1: St. Leonard's Catholic Church
8510 South Zarzamora St.
Days of Operation: Monday
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Phone: (210) 649-1853
E-mail: marrsgardens@aol.com

Location 2: Olmos Basin, Jackson Keller and McCullough
Days of Operation: Tuesday, Saturday
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Phone: (210) 649-1853
E-mail: marrsgardens@aol.com

Location 3: St. Jude's Catholic Church
130 South San Augustine
Days of Operation: Wednesday
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Phone: (210) 649-1853
E-mail: marrsgardens@aol.com

Location 4: Leon Valley Community Center
6427 Evers Rd.
Days of Operation: Wednesday
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to noon
Phone: (210) 649-1853
E-mail: marrsgardens@aol.com

Location 5: Tejeda Park
500 Division Ave.
Days of Operation: Thursday
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Phone: (210) 649-1853
E-mail: marrsgardens@aol.com

Location 6: St. Matthew's Catholic Church
11121 Wurzbach Rd.
Days of Operation: Friday
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Phone: (210) 649-1853
E-mail: marrsgardens@aol.com

Location 7: 3920 North Loop 1604 East and Bulverde Rd.
Days of Operation: Saturday, Sunday
Hours of Operation: Saturday 1 to 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: (210) 649-1853
E-mail: marrsgardens@aol.com

South Texas Farmers Market Association
Location 1: Tullez Tamales
1737 South General McMullen
Days of Operation: Monday, Friday
Hours of Operation: Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday 2 to 6 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029

Location 2: Mid Town Market
1802 Blanco Rd.
Days of Operation: Saturday
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029
E-mail: n3farms@juno.com

Location 3: J C Food Market
3606 Fredericksburg Rd.
Days of Operation: Tuesday
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029
E-mail: n3farms@juno.com

Location 4: Ole's Richters
4642 Rigsby
Days of Operation: Wednesday, Saturday
Hours of Operation: Wednesday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029
E-mail: n3farms@juno.com

Location 5: Toudouze Market
800 Buena Vista
Days of Operation: Friday
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029
E-mail: n3farms@juno.com

Location 6: Goodwill Store
4722 Eisenhaur Rd. at IH 35
Days of Operation: Thursday
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029
E-mail: n3farms@juno.com

Location 7: Adelita Tamales
1130 Fresno Dr.
Days of Operation: Monday, Thursday
Hours of Operation: Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029
E-mail: n3farms@juno.com

Location 8: Grady's Bar-B-Que
7400 Bandera Rd.
Days of Operation: Tuesday, Thursday
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029

Location 9: Texas Thrift Store
6708 South Flores
Days of Operation: Tuesday, Saturday
Hours of Operation: Tuesday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029

Location 10: St. Bonaventure Catholic Church
1918 Palo Alto Rd.
Days of Operation: Friday
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029

Location 11: Munoz Market
1625 South Zarzamora St.
Days of Operation: Wednesday, Saturday
Hours of Operation: Wednesday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Phone: (210) 559-0029

Tri-County Farmers Market Association
Location 1: JC Food Market
1015 Rittiman Road
Days of Operation: Monday
Hours of Operation:7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Phone: (830) 665-3519

Location 2: Arbolitos
6700 South Flores
Days of Operation: Tuesday
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Phone: (830) 665-3519

Location 3: 123 Ascot St.
Days of Operation: Wednesday
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Phone: (830) 665-3519

Location 4: 1918 Palo Alto
Days of Operation: Thursday
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Phone: (830) 665-3519

Location 5: 8500 Jones Maltsburger
Days of Operation: Saturday
Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Phone: (830) 665-3519