During Florida’s growing season, Margie Pikarsky spends Saturdays harvesting crops like heirloom tomatoes, green beans, arugula and Cleopatra tangerines on her Bee Heaven Farm in Redland. She’s among a small group of South Florida farmers whose produce is in demand to help nourish a growing desire for fresh products coming off local farms instead of the grocery store shelf.

Pikarsky’s produce is found Sunday mornings at Pinecrest Gardens Green Market, where she and other farmers calling themselves Redland Organics are among the 50 vendors there.

“We’ve been doing this before ‘local’ became a buzzword,” Pikarsky says. “Every year there’s more demand.”

About 30 markets now operate in South Florida and more are in the planning stages.

“This is the prime time of year for local growers,” says Claire Tomlin, owner of The Market Company in Miami-Dade County. “Produce is abundant, people like to be outdoors at farmers’ markets and goods are just flying out the door.”

Tomlin manages more than a dozen weekly markets that range from the smallest eight-vendor stop at St. Johns on the Lake United Methodist Church in Miami Beach to Pinecrest Gardens, the largest.

Michael Lopez-Mata says he’s a regular customer at the Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market because he enjoys the short walk from his apartment to the market rather than driving his car to the grocery store. “All the food is healthier, tastier and makes me feel better, too,” he says.

Green markets today are as varied as the array of colorful fruits and vegetables sold in rustic stands from Parkland to Homestead.

Some markets are only open one day a week in town centers, malls and parks throughout Broward and Miami-Dade counties, while a handful, like the landmark Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and Farm in Homestead, operate out of permanent homes six to seven days a week.

While farming has been a way of life for the stand’s Robert Moehling, Marando Farms in commercial downtown Fort Lauderdale was initially started as a way to make a living after being caught in the economic crunch.

Owners Fred and Chelsea Marando were laid off from jobs in construction when they decided to grow their own food on land they first rented to launch a landscaping business.

“Now we’re harvesting tomatoes . . . lettuce, beets, kale and cucumbers,” says Chelsea Marando. The couple gets 90 percent of the produce they do not grow themselves from Florida farms. A loyal and growing customer base is keeping the couple financially afloat.

In recent years, urban markets have made locally grown food more available to needy residents in Miami-Dade County.

Roots of the City Farmers Market in Overtown, which was founded by Marvin Dunn and operates in partnership with The Wholesome Wave Foundation, Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink and Catalyst Miami, lets shoppers using the EBT (Electronic Balance Transfer cards)/ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars to buy up to $20 worth of fruits and vegetables for $10. All the produce sold is grown by residents and volunteers on several small urban farms that dot the Overtown neighborhood.

“We are truly changing the nature of local economies through farmers’ markets and local farmers being able to use unsold produce to make baked and canned goods to sell, thus reducing their financial risk,” says Sharon Yeago, technical Advisor to Miami-Dade Dept. of Health for the Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant program. The grant has helped establish a variety of farmers’ markets including the Brownsville Market in Miami and the North Miami Farmers’ Markets. “It’s exploded in the last three years.”

The next goal, she says, is replicating Miami-Dade County’s urban markets in Broward, then Pinellas counties. Broward will have a launch meeting on Feb. 16 to discuss the Community Transformation Grant for a new project called TOUCH (Transforming Our Community’s Health).

Yeago says consumers should realize that not all goods served at green markets are locally grown and some markets supplement locally produced crops with items like apples, pears and garlic that are grown elsewhere.

Laura Ramirez, who grows produce on her family farm, Laura’s Produce in Homestead, separates her own produce, items from Northern Florida and items that are shipped in from other states.

“We want to have everything the customer wants from what is grown on my farm to pineapples from somewhere else,” says Ramirez, who sells her fruits and vegetables at the Pinecrest market.

Tomlin said the interest in healthier fare has inspired younger consumers to grow their own produce and herbs in backyard gardens, and they often bring more exotic items like the fruit longon and bok choy to sell at markets.

Green market prices range week-to-week as they do in big chain grocery stores. Sometimes green market prices are a tad more, sometimes a lot more, sometimes less.

“But shoppers at green markets know the produce hasn’t been on a truck for five days,” Tomlin says. “The fresher the food, the more nutritional.”

Stan Glaser, of Glaser Organic Farms, who has run the Coconut Grove Saturday Organic Market for decades says he’s not in the business to compete with powerhouse grocery chains. In fact, when he’s not overseeing the raw, vegan and organic outdoor market, he is selling his goods online and distributing to storefront health food businesses, including Whole Foods.

“We grow a lot this time of year and we have to get the food to the people. That’s what we do, we feed people, so we want them to shop for our stuff here, there or online,” Glaser says.

Many markets also offer more than fresh produce.

Barry Schuck, of Tamarac, started selling his “famous” hummus, now called Barry’s Gourmet Hummus, at green markets in mid- 2010. So far he’s breaking even at Plantation, Tamarac, Parkland and Southwest Ranches markets.

“There’s no way I’ll get rich doing this but it keeps me busy and people like it,” Schuck says.

A new state cottage industry law has helped individuals offer cakes, pies, jams and jellies they make at home for direct sale to customers at places like farmers’ markets and roadside stands.

And some markets have also given local crafts people an outlet. Maria Ellis, of Pompano Beach, was making her own ultra organic soap as a hobby for years before setting up a booth at the Pompano Beach Green Market.

“I do it because I enjoy it,” Ellis says, “but it has turned out to be a nice part time job.”

The small market trend is likely to keep growing, says Teresa Olczyk, director of the University of Florida Miami-Dade County Extension Service. “In Europe, you have little markets everywhere and we’re seeing more movement in this direction,” she says. “People are more interested in locally produced products.”

Miami-Dade Markets

Robert is Here Fruit Stand and Farm

Robert Moehling’s produce sales business got off to a slow start 51 years ago when his father dropped him off on a rural street corner in Redland at age six to sell cucumbers. Everyone passed him by like he was invisible. The next day, Moehling’s future took root when he sold every last cucumber thanks to a hand-scribbled sign that read “Robert Is Here.” Today, cucumbers are among 50 fruits and vegetables grown on his family farm and sold at the Robert Is Here farmers market at Southwest 344th Street and Southwest 192 Avenue.

Locals and tourists pack the place to buy everything from salad greens to exotic tropical fruits, sugar cane and water coconuts.

“It tastes like fruity pear with pumpkin pie,” he tells a customer about the mamey sapote. For canistel fruit: “It’s the inside of a cream donut.” Shelves are packed with locally produced marinades, grilling sauces and dozens of salsas, pickles, preserves, jellies and fresh honey blends. On a recent Saturday, customers lined up a dozen deep for his milkshakes and smoothies packed with fresh-picked fruit. Families get a kick out of donkeys, turtles, chickens, goats and emu in the farm’s petting zoo, and playing in a new water playground next door.

Address: 19200 SW 344th St., Redland

Hours: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily

Contact: 305-246-1592; www.robertishere.com

Roots in the City Overtown Farmers Market

This grassroots farmers market features broccoli, collard greens, eggplant, green peppers and other fruit, vegetables and herbs grown by community volunteers in converted, empty lots throughout Overtown. The farms accept EBT cards. Marketgoers can purchase up to $10 worth of produce and get a coupon for $10 off the next visit.

Address: Northwest Third Avenue and 16th Street, Overtown; also Grand Avenue and Douglas Road, Coconut Grove.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday (Overtown); 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (Grove).

Contact: David Trujillo, 786-519-8631.

Coconut Grove Farmers Market

For 26 years, Stan Glaser, owner of Glaser Organic Farms, has been the king of raw, organic vegan food in Miami-Dade County. He sells produce like cucumbers, salad greens and beets and more exotic items like daikon radishes and maitaki mushrooms. Hundreds of items harvested, prepared and packed at his farm in Southwest Miami are organized in the parking lot market. You’ll find a variety of salad greens, dried herbs and spices, cold-pressed olives, honey bee products, flatbreads, pesto, dips and sauces. Rows of sweets include raw banana balls, carob fudgey brownies, chocolate haystacks and mixes of gently dehydrated fruits, rolled oats and nuts. Dairy-free ice creams including frozen banana walnut, cashew vanilla and strawberry macadamia are so superior in texture and flavor that Glaser calls the product “nice cream.”

Address: 19100 SW 137 St., Coconut Grove

Hours: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Saturday

Contact: 305-238-7747

Earth Learning Markets

The nonprofit group runs three markets in Miami-Dade County that accept EPT/SNAP. The Homestead Harvest Farmers’ Market at Verde Gardens, which is an indoor/outdoor market, sells local produce, eggs and grass-fed meats plus there’s a smoothie bar and gurapo (sugar cane juice) stand. 2-8 p.m. Friday; 12690 SW 280th St., Homestead. The South Miami Farmers’ Market offers fresh, sustainably-grown local foods, hand-made goods and green products. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; South Miami City Hall, 6130 Sunset Dr., Their latest market, opening Friday , is the Downtown Farmers’ Market. 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday, Government Center Metrorail Station, Stephen P. Clark Center; 111 NW First St., Miami. Call 786-233-2784.

Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market

If you like to people-watch while shopping for cukes and tomatoes, stroll along the 16-year-old Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market in South Beach, where about a dozen vendors between Meridian and Washington Avenues sell locally grown produce and other food items. Just Picked, owned by Mia and Scott Dequine and business partner Kirsten Hartburg, features salad greens from a Liberty City backyard farm, citrus from Indian River and everything else — from cherry tomatoes to sugar cane — from Homestead. They aim to get goods “from farms within a 30-mile radius so when we say local, we mean very local,” Scott Dequine said. Bananas are sold on the stalk and Brussels sprouts are still caked in farm soil. Other local vendors sell baked empanadas, chilly water coconuts, fresh cut flowers, baked goods, spices, tea and honey. The market is one of 12 produced by Claire Tomlin, owner of The Market Company.

Address: 400 Lincoln Rd., South Beach

Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday

Contact: 305-531-0038; www.themarketcompany.org

Pinecrest Gardens Green Market

Business booms on Sundays for 50 diverse vendors under a canopy of banyan trees at Pinecrest Gardens. A handful or so of South Florida farms bring truckloads of fresh picked produce. Pikarsky, of Bee Heaven Farm and the Redland Organics Association, said all the fruits and veggies that filled rows of bushels and baskets at her stand were fresh and grown in Miami-Dade soil. “We cobble together everything we have from our members and bring it here,” Pikarsky says. “That’s what direct from the farm really means.” Families can shop while they munch on wholesome organic foods from The Empanada Lady, Papa’s Wood Fired Pizza mobile oven, Cupcake World, Cucky Bellande’s homemade jellies, a crepe stand and a pickle booth. Two seafood vendors, two bread makers and spice and tea purveyors are also on hand.

Address: 5855 S.W. 111th St., Pinecrest

Hours: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday

Contact: 305-531-0038; www.themarketcompany.org

Broward Markets

Batten’s Farmers Market & Davie Argi-Tourism Center

Doors were closed in August 2008 but the town of Davie bought the landmark Davie farm from its former owner. It reopened in May 2011 under management by the North-South Institute, a nonprofit group that supports local growers and agricultural education. “We opened with 40 items, now we have an inventory of 450 plus,” says program director Samuel Scott. The group, which rents the land from Davie for $12,000 per year, re-established the farm’s popular smoothie stand, added a tropical food restaurant and a petting zoo with 36 animals. About 175 local produce and small business grocery vendors sell goods at the market. Scott’s wife Marcia Scott, who helps manage the farm, said prices are less than the major grocery stores. “We do it on purpose. We try to go under at all times, even if it means we sell at cost,” Scott says. Throughout the place, educational brochures teach the value of eating healthy, natural foods. The organization also assists two 30-acre farm land areas in Davie where South Florida residents grow seasonal crops for sale at the market.

Address: 5151 SW 64th Ave., Davie

Hours: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed Wednesday.

Contact: 954- 792-068

Josh’s Organic Garden

The food is certified organic and picked 24-to-48 hours before being sold at this oceanfront green market from founder Josh Steinhauser in Hollywood Beach. Produce, nuts, seeds and other items attract hundreds every Sunday. There’s a garden of greenery. Racks of wheat grass and sprouts line tables and bins are loaded with fresh-picked cucumbers, peppers, carrots and tomatoes plus there’s a juice and smoothie bar.

Address: Harrison Street and Hollywood Broadwalk, behind the Ramada Inn.

Hours: 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday

Contact: 954-456-3276

Marando Farms

Owners Fred and Chelsea Marando established their urban market when they lost jobs in the construction business and were facing foreclosure of their home in 2009. “It was literally touch and go from the beginning,” Chelsea Marando says. Rows of greens, herbs, peppers, tomatoes and beans grow from above-ground “u-pick” containers. Bushels of other produce are brought in from Florida farms within 325 miles from the city. About 40 regular customers are now members of the Marando Farms’ community supported agriculture program: They pay ahead for produce that is boxed and distributed in shares weekly. A collection of community gardens produce radishes, eggplant, cucumbers and other seasonal items — 25 percent of those items are donated to Broward food pantries for the poor. The general store stocks locally produced raw foods, honey, jams and jellies and homemade pet foods. Organic chicken and goose eggs; beef, pork and poultry; and salsas, hummus and baked goods are also available and they recently opened a smoothie bar. The farm’s menagerie of once homeless farm animals (goats, pigs, chickens and bunnies) is especially popular with the 4,000 local school children who visit annually for lessons about nutrition and gardening.

Address: 1401 SW 1st Ave., Fort Lauderdale

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday. Closed Wednesday.

Contact: Chelsea Marando, 954-294-2331; www.marandofarms.com.

Yellow Green Farmers Market

Business was meant to grow when the 100,000-square-foot Yellow Green Farmers Market opened in Hollywood in late 2010. Sixty percent of 350 available stalls rented to vendors makes 140 stalls up for grabs. “We’re a special find for shoppers and vendors but once they discover us, we’re on their list for good,” says General Manager Mark Menagh. Maria Corona, of Miami, sells scallions, fresh green garlic, peppers, celery and other seasonal items fresh picked daily from her family farm. Six other produce stands dot the place. Several Hollywood residents launching home-based cottage businesses include Anita Borghi, the solitary baker behind HomeSlice Breads; Cynthia Adams, who’s The Pie Lady; and soup and quiche cook Haydee Chopov of Soups & More. Novel boutique businesses are also a highlight. Shoppers can pick from 67 types of olives and flavor-infused olive oils, lunch on Kobe burgers, take a beer break at the bar, pick up Amish butter and cheeses and try Asian-Caribbean fusion veggies and seasonings.

Address: 1940 N. 30th Rd., Hollywood

Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Contact: Mark Menagh, 954-513-3990; http://www.ygfarmersmarket.com

Las Olas Outdoor Gourmet Market

During a lazy morning stroll along the boulevard, check out the small market, with a dozen vendors offering a wide range of items like fruits and vegetables brought in by former farmers and current distributors for local growers, Michael and Sherry Ryback. Sample fresh fish and stone crabs; baked goods; pasta; olive oil; and all natural personal care items like shea butter lotion and homemade soap.

Address: 101 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

Hours: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday.

Contact: Brion O’Neil; 954-698-6607.

Southwest Ranches Farmers Market

Sheila Garcia and business partner Clarence McDowell opened this small neighborhood stand three years ago when both lost jobs in the construction business. McDowell used his construction skills to build the tent and wood frame. Garcia channeled her love of gardening and nutritional know-how. All the produce is grown in Florida and 80 percent of the goods come from local, pesticide- free or organic growers as nearby as a friend’s backyard farm in Davie. Locally produced seeds and dry beans were recently added to the inventory. A “u-pick” garden is growing behind the market. McDowell, who is now also a full time carpenter in Pembroke Pines, said the small business is “on the cusp” of finally turning a profit. Don’t leave without all natural Barry’s Gourmet Hummus and a pint of Garcia’s homemade salsa.

Address: 5150 S. Flamingo Rd., Southwest Ranches

Hours: 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. Closed Thursday.

Contact: Sheila Garcia, 754-423-3786; www.swrfarmersmarket.com

Pompano Beach Green Market

The Pompano Beach Historical Society decided nine years ago to bring back the flavor of the once agriculture rich town known nationally for peppers and bean crops. “What is grown here is sold here,” says the organization’s executive director Dan Hobby. Three fruit and vegetable vendors, including former farmers Michael and Sherry Ryback, sell locally grown goods from sugar cane out of Belle Glade to green beans from Boca Raton. Linda DuBois and her sister-in-law Claudia DuBois, of Pompano, sell fresh squeezed Florida orange, lemon, tangerine and grapefruit juice from Kennesaw Fruit and Juice packing and bottling company in Pompano Beach “just across the railroad tracks.” Try Ethel Burns’ beloved sweet potato and coconut cream pies.

Address: 100 NE 1st St., Pompano Beach

Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday.

Contact: Dan Hobby, 954-782-3015

Parkland Farmers Market

Nearly 3,000 people flock to this city-operated market in the rural Parkland Equestrian Center. Organizer Colleen O’Dea provides goods by local growers and small businesses including Brother’s Produce from Davie, Two Sisters Juice Company from Pompano Beach, Biscotti Girl from Fort Lauderdale, Muzzle Meals organic pet food from Coral Springs and Anita’s Guacamole from North Miami Beach. Rebecca Nahom, says she and her two sons eat their way through the market every week. “We don’t have to pack a lunch,” Nahom says. “We snack on fresh veggies, home-baked breads, hummus, cheese. For dessert we go to the organic fruit stand and pluck an apple off the table.”

Address: 8350 Ranch Rd., Parkland

Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday

Contact: Colleen O’Dea, 954--757-4120