Plump, ripe and red, strawberries beckoned visitors to the Roanoke Valley Farmers Market today, the opening day of the market on Highway 158.

“The crop is excellent this year,” said Kathy Barnhill of Plants and Things Greenhouse and Nursery between Brinkleyville and Aurelian Springs on Highway 48. “We had wonderful weather.”

Barnhill has been coming to the farmers market for about seven years. She has been growing strawberries for 14 years, starting it as a hobby and honing it to science by growing hydroponic berries, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Barnhill says the hydroponic strawberries should be ready by the end of the may. She says they are just as tasty as the normal berries, if not more. “They have a stronger strawberry flavor,” she said. “They’re like the kind your grandmother used to grow in the backyard.”

Halifax Cooperative Extension Agent Matt Stevens was impressed with this year’s crop. “We’ve got real good looking strawberries and homemade strawberry desserts.”

Today kicked off a series of events which will be held at the market through the fall. “We’re going to have yard sales the first Saturday of the month. I think that will attract a pretty good crowd.”

On May 8 will be the Plants and Plates event where Stevens will sell plants he has grown at home, some common and some unusual. There will barbecue plates for sale that day to benefit the market.

The farmers market remains an important part of communities, Stevens said. “I think it’s very important because farmers in the community get a place to sell their products. It benefits the community because they can buy fresh produce they know has been taken care of. They trust the farmers. It’s a good alternative to grocery store produce.”

Wearing his trademark suit with a bow tie, Richard Lee and his wife, Katherine, sold Mr. Lee’s homemade breads, pies, cookies and ice cream.

Mr. Lee begins baking on Friday for the next day’s farmers market. “I enjoy baking. I enjoy meeting people.”

He said his preference is baking. “I enjoy baking more. I see a recipe in the paper and I try it out.”