Springtime means variety at Farmers' Market

Springtime brings a variety of fresh fruit and potted plants to the Ventura County Certified Farmers' Market.

For salads and fixings, the farmers' market offers tomato plants with heirloom varieties at the Saturday Market in downtown Ventura.

The strawberry fruit is at its peak of the season through June.

Shoppers can also select from tangerines, grapefruit and Valencia oranges now in season.

Other available fruits and vegetables this spring include blueberries, asparagus, artichokes and all varieties of avocados. For those ready to start planting their gardens, the Farmers' Markets offer landscaping plants including watersaving succulent plants. The Ventura County Certified Farmers' Market Association operates four weekly markets with two in Ventura, one in Thousand Oaks and one in Santa Clarita.

•Thousand Oaks: 2 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, rooftop of Recreation & Park Building.

•Ventura: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, front west parking lot of Pacific View Mall.

•Downtown Ventura: 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

•Santa Clarita Market: 8:30 a.m. to noon Sundays, College of the Canyons.

For more information, call (805) 529-6266 or visit www.vccfarmersmarkets.com.