One of the few gardening topics that just about everyone agrees upon is that home grown tomatoes taste better than their store bought counterparts.

Garden grown tomatoes along with other fresh garden produce are considered one of life's guilty pleasures. However, not all of us have the time or space to grow a garden of our own, but there is another option available where we can still buy fresh, locally grown produce.

The Jefferson County Master Gardeners Farmers Market will be opening on May 31 at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport. This will be the fourth year of service that the Master Gardeners Farmers Market has provided to the area. Various selections of fresh seasonal produce is available for purchase at the market. Expected produce will be tomatos, blueberries, potato, green beans, cucumbers, squash, plus preserves, jellies, and other canned goods. The market opens up at 8 a.m. and lasts until 10 a.m. Get there early to get the best selections. Besides buying fresh items at the market, there are also many knowledgeable gardeners and Master Gardeners around to ask questions and learn tips from.

Becoming a vendor is easy. The rules are simple, what you sell must be locally grown and it must be edible. There is a small vendors space fee. For more information contact Arthur Newman 791-0484 or Jerry McInnis at 727-0044 or the Extension office at 835-8461. Hope to see you there on May 31.

Also The Jefferson County Master Gardener Short-course will be held from July 16-July 27. The course will cost $150 this includes a 500 page manual, handouts, and instruction. Classes meet from 9am-3pm with an hour lunch. Contact the AgriLife Extension office at (409) 835-8461 to get an application.

Don't forget the 36th Annual Fruit Vegetable & Herb Show is coming up on June 14th at Central Mall.

Micah Meyer is county extension agent-horticulture of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Jefferson County. He can be reached at 409-835-8461 or cmmeyer@ag.tamu.edu.