It’s amazing to see the amount of fresh, local produce at the market these last few Saturdays as the Kingston Farmers Market nears its Oct. 9 finale.

With our Northwest seasons and our “mature” market — remember we turned 21 years this summer — we finally have all the fresh veggies and seasonal fruit we could wish for.

In the old days, the market manager checked every Saturday to see how many produce vendors appeared, hoping there would be enough to satisfy customers. What a different scene today.

Last week, despite the threatening skies early in the morning, five well-stocked farm outlets offered potatoes, tomatoes, celery, beets, beans, apples, peaches, pears, radishes, squash, plums, carrots, onions, leeks and more, along with baked goods, smoked cheese, nuts and ice cream.

The season will end in musical style:

• Sept. 25: Gerry Sherman, rollicking blues)

• Oct. 2: 10 a.m. to noon, Brendan McCloud alternative country and alternative rock; noon to 2 p.m., Susan Welch and Billy Forrester, eclectic folk, rock.

• Oct. 9: Kel Schmitz, smooth country, pop

Come on down these last few weeks of the 2010 season at the Kingston Farmers Market and support our local farm and food vendors.