With summer approaching, farmers markets in Charleston have been heating up along with the temperatures.

This year Charleston has two offerings: 18th Street Farmers Market, which is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, and the Farmers Market on the Square, which is open from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesdays.

The 18th Street Farmers Market, which is located at the Center for Human Services, had its first event of the year last Saturday.

The Farmers Market on the Square, which is located around the Coles County Courthouse, is set to begin June 3.

The two individuals in charge of the Farmers Market on the Square are Connie Baker and Kayla Baker, owner and manager of Lawyer & Richie Florists, respectively.

Mike Knoop, who had been running the market since it began 26 years ago, retired at the end of last year, leaving the Baker family to take over.

Connie Baker said she has gotten help from the city of Charleston and the 18th Street market to ease her transition from just being involved to being in control.

Repairs to the Coles County Courthouse have challenged the Farmers Market on the Square. Parking around the downtown square has been taken up by the construction, leaving little area for vendors. These repairs forced the market to end a month early last year, but repairs are expected to be over by early June.

Steve Runyon, owner of Home Again Consignment Shop, has been in charge of the 18th Street Farmers Market since its inception last year.

Runyon said his market has implemented EBT payment methods starting this year.

EBT allows the market to accept credit and SNAP cards to purchase any produce items, which makes “fresh produce accessible to everyone,” Runyon said. SNAP card users are not able to buy non-produce items at the market.

Items available at both markets include baked goods, sweet corn, tomatoes, strawberries, pumpkins, garden produce, bracelets, jewelry, flowers, soap and handcrafted items such as pottery.

The 18th Street Farmers Market also has “music on the market” events in which local bands donate an hour to play various genres of music while the farmers market is taking place.

Runyon has had farmers ask him to start the market earlier this year, which is why the 18th Street Farmers Market starts two weeks before the Farmers Market on the Square.

Anyone interested in becoming a vendor for the Farmers Market on the Square may contact Connie Baker, and those interested in being in the 18th Street Farmers Market or volunteering as a band may contact Steve Runyon.

Both farmers markets are expected to close in October, with the 18th Street Farmers Market closing on Oct 3.

Tony Komada can be reached at 581-2812 or tskomada@eiu.edu.