The Vicksburg Farmers Market is feeling the summer heat.

With the entrance of summer, the market has welcomed fruit into its nutritious mix of homegrown goodies, including peaches, tomatoes, peas, squash and even fresh lemonade, in one of the best seasons Herschel “Sonny” Hale said he’s seen since he began working with the market four years ago.

“Business has been great. This market has been out of this world, and our vendors have been very happy with their sales,” he said. “We’ve got a good crowd. They come from every direction.”

The farmer’s market mainly focuses on produce, Hale said, with fruit being a welcome boost to sales but not lasting long enough to be a staple, though popular when it’s available. The market, now in its eight season, draws an estimated 250 to 300 people each Saturday and vendors from Rolling Fork, Bolton and Clinton, he said.

“We have more people come in from other areas than we do local vendors, and we have quite a few local vendors,” he said.

With a high of 22 vendors one Saturday, Hale said this season’s success is a combination of good weather and gradual growth.

For instance, this season’s market now includes fresh milk from Kin Growers, based in Rolling Fork.

“This is our best market. It’s a true farmers market,” said Jenny Murphy, one of the operators of the farm, which is expanding to 12 cows because business is doing so well. “We’ve sold out twice here since it began a few weeks ago.”

Many of the outfits are present at every farmers market gathering, which occur 8 to 11 a.m. Saturdays and from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, including Boyd Family Produce.

“I thought it would be slow because of the Fourth, but it’s been good so far,” said Coleman Boyd, the farm’s proprietor. “This will probably be our biggest week.”

The Boyds use the market as a chance to give their children the opportunity to make money from their hard work on the farm, he said, and they take turns making the sales.

“It all depends on who catches the customer,” Noah Boyd, 12, said, who mostly sold tomatoes at Saturday’s market.

The market runs through Saturday, July 30.

“We want to keep it where this is a place people can gather, talk about their crops, meet old friends and things of that nature,” Hale said. “It’s kind of like a family as it grows up.”