“The market is definitely rain or shine,” said Vicksburg’s Farmers’ Market Volunteer Coordinator Mary Beth Lasseter just after Saturday morning’s downpour — that lasted only long enough to make a little mud.

Within the first 30 minutes, about 75 shoppers perused produce, jellies and artworks on display at Catfish Row Art Park as blues musicians Osgood and Blaque played on. By the end of the morning, 400 had meandered through mud and ducked water falling from the edges of tents to get the season’s first produce.

“I was delighted that so many came out despite the rain,” said Lasseter.

Bob and Rachel Gray of Roseland Drive braved the weather to shop and get advice from Warren County Master Gardeners on plants that “do well in the area.”

“I always want to get theirs because they do a lot of research,” said Bob Gray.

Providing free gardening tips on topics ranging from vegetable and fruit production and ornamentals to composting, mulching and recycling along with attracting birds and identifying of snakes won the Master Gardeners the Outstanding Project Award that will be presented at the 13th annual State Conference Mississippi Master Gardeners in Southaven Thursday. The group earned 100 of 100 possible points.

“They’re looking for how much education we’re providing to the public, how many people we’re providing that service for, and how many in our group are involved,” said Judy Pennington, 2010 president of the Warren County Master Gardeners.

Dana Klimas, organizer, said 750 people visited the booth during the first farmers’ market in 2008, and 1,310 stopped by last year to get pamphlets from 44 participating Master Gardeners. Forty-nine of Mississippi’s 82 counties have about 1,000 Master Gardeners.

“Every week, we have a topic we focus on. But, we’re available for any questions that people have,” said Klimas.

The group exists, Pennington said, to meet the needs of the public, offering lectures each Monday in March as well as other programs during the year through the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

On Saturday morning, the group had a bouquet of hydrangeas, day lilies, blue salvia and coneflowers from one of their gardens to spark interest in what flowers are blooming in the area now.

By late morning, about 50 visitors had passed through the booth, Klimas said.

“This was the first year it rained,” she said. “It was a good crowd for the rain.”

The gardeners and vendors will be in the park near LD’s Kitchen, a block north of the Levee Street Depot, from 8 until 11 a.m. each Saturdaysand from 4 until 7 p.m. each Wednesday throughout the summer.

Vendors setting up tables and umbrellas can use the sidewalk while those selling from truck beds will have the parking lot.