FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Several people stood around Jean Fontaine’s table of vegetables last Thursday afternoon.

“I’m just looking,” one woman said, leaning over to get a better look at the small peaches, nectarines, squash and jars of homemade blueberry jelly.

“You’ll miss out, if you don’t look,” said Fontaine, who drove from Silverhill.

May 22 was the first day of the Fairhope Outdoor Market. Fontaine and her husband ran a Christmas tree farm for years there and now have a small farm of vegetables and fruit trees.

“I just thought of something,” she said, to her customers. “I’ve got some snap beans I need to get out of the car. I got so busy, I just forgot.”

As she was putting the new vegetables on her table, two more people came up, and the first two headed to another table, with a bag of what Fontaine called “ugly nectarines” in their hands.

The Fairhope Outdoor Market is every Thursday from 4-6 p.m. and runs through July 17 on Church Street in downtown Fairhope.

"The Fairhope Outdoor Market provides a place where community members can buy fresh and quality products, while supporting our local farmers,” said Alex Robinson, special events coordinator for the city. “The market is held … to encourage people to come downtown in the afternoon and not only visit the market but hopefully drop by their favorite store or have dinner."

While people wandered from table to table, a band played jazz, kids skateboarded, and several couples walked dogs on leashes.

"The Fairhope Outdoor Market has many new vendors this year and offers great things to grab for dinner, fresh flowers, honey, plants and of course great produce,” Robinson said. “The market once again has live entertainment, face painting for the kids and The Haven is holding pet adoptions. The market really has something for everyone."

For additional information about becoming a vendor or questions about the market call 929-1466.