ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND — Address and hours first: St. Michaels Farmers Market, Saturdays 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., at 206 South Talbot Street — the tree-lined parking lot between Knotty Living and Pemberton Pharmacy. Rain or shine unless the lot is unsafe. No admission. Bring cash and a bag.

The market is in its 29th season. It runs from April through the Saturday before Thanksgiving; vendors have been listing November 21 as this year's close. Confirm that date with the market before treating it as fixed. It is an independent nonprofit and producer-only: food and goods grown or made within about 60 miles, sold by the people who grew or made them.

At full stride there are 20 to 30 vendors — vegetables and fruit in season, eggs and meat, flowers, baked goods, a Hoopers Island waterman with Chesapeake seafood, plus St. Michaels Winery and Lyon Rum when they set up. Late August means tomatoes, corn, peppers, and the last easy herbs before nights cool.

If you cook from the county, this is the St. Michaels stop. Easton's year-round Saturday market on North Harrison Street is the other. Organizers say Maryland Route 33 keeps some up-county residents from making the drive. That is a 20-minute problem, not a reason to skip it.