Cliff Boutwell of the Spring Hill community has taken the reins as the manager of the Pike Farmers Market for the 2012 summer harvest season.

Boutwell has participated in the Pike Farmers Market as a vendor for the Berry Patch for four years and said he is looking forward to wearing a different hat this year.

“The outlook for the Pike Farmers Market is good,” Boutwell said. “The market opened with eight producers and, as the season really gets under way, we hope to add other producers.”

As in the past, the Pike Farmers Market will set up on the back parking lot of First United Methodist Church in Troy.

“The market opens at 7 a.m. on Saturdays and, after the first Saturday in June, we will go to a three-day-a-week farmers market,” Boutwell said. “The market will then open at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the same location and be open ‘until.’ ”

The market will feature blueberries, blackberries and raspberries from the Berry Patch and possibly peaches from Chilton County.

“The warm weather has produced a lot of berries and some really sweet ones,” Boutwell said. “The locally-grown berries won’t be available after June so you’ll want to shop early for them.”

Beans, cucumbers, squash and tomatoes will be also be available at the market.

The community supported agriculture farms have organically grown vegetables ready for market and will have a variety of vegetables throughout the summer.

Home baked breads and sweets are also available at the Pike Farmers Market.

Hassie Green, director of the Lillian D. Green Nutrition Center in Troy, said the vouchers for the Senior Farmers Market program will be mailed around the first of June to those who are signed up for the program.

“The vouchers may be redeemed at the Pike Farmers Market,” Green said. “Not only can you get farm-fresh fruits and vegetables at great prices at the market, you are also supporting local farmers. So, the vouchers are a benefit to the consumer and the producer.”