Tired of wobbly carts, long lines, marginal produce and dim lights in your neighborhood grocery store? Push away your shopping cart, run away from the not-so-express line and get outside to a farmer?s market in the Sacramento area.

At a farmer?s market there are no coupons, ATM machines or club cards; but this is a fair trade for the best produce available. The farmer?s market is your opportunity to buy high-quality produce that is fresh, high in nutritional value and priced very competitively direct from local growers.

At farmer?s markets you can expect to find mainstream produce as well as hard to find and specialty goods. Some favorites to watch for include cut and potted herbs, sweet and low in acid Heirloom tomatoes, and multi-colored bell peppers that add flare to any dish. Most markets also host vendors selling freshly cut flowers sold at a fraction of florist and store prices.

In addition to farm fresh produce, most of the markets in the area offer entertainment and food. To many, a farmer?s market is more than a meeting place for the agrarian and urban communities to do business; the market is a social scene. European style outdoor markets serve as a place to entertain, socialize and enjoy being outside.

There are several markets in Sacramento and surrounding areas that offer the freshest available produce at great prices virtually every day of the week.

Tuesday:

? Roosevelt Park at 9th & P Streets, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., May-October.

? Country Club Center at El Camino and Watt, 8 to 11:30 a.m.; for information call (916) 688-0100.

? In Woodland at the County Fair Mall, on East Gibson Rd. and East Street 5 pm to 8 p.m., May-October.

Wednesday:

? Cesar Chavez Plaza at 10th and I Streets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

? Davis at Central Park on 4th and C Street from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., April ?September.

Thursday:

? Florin Mall at the 65th Street parking lot behind Sears 8 to 11:30 a.m., for information call (916) 688-0100.

? Garcia Bend Park from 4 to 8 p.m., June-September.

Friday:

? Westfield Shoppingtown at Downtown Plaza on 4th and K Streets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May-September.

Saturday:

? Country Club Mall on Watt Avenue and El Camino behind Macys from 8a.m. to 12 p.m.

? Woodland at County Fair Mall on East Gibson Road at East Street from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., May-October.

? Davis in Central Park on C and Fourth Streets from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; For information call (530) 756-1695.

? Sunrise Mall on Sunrise Blvd. in the Sears parking lot from 8a.m. to 12 p.m.; for information call (916) 688-0100.

Sunday:

? In Sacramento at 8th Avenue & W Street under Highway 80 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.