Seasonal colors abundant at small Beach market

On Saturday, farmers market offerings at Red Mill Commons in Virginia Beach summed up the season perfectly. Under Flanagan Farm’s tent, sturdy cartons of tomatoes, among the last of the season, sat alongside the first flush of Knotts Island apples.

“You better get it now, or you’re not going to get it,” Jeannie Flanagan said of her farm’s summer produce.

Late August can be deceiving. It’s still plenty hot and sunny, but summer crops are waning while the full bounty of fall is a few weeks away.

Just two produce stands were open Saturday at the Green Market at Red Mill Commons, which runs through Labor Day weekend. But the stands spanned the gap between seasons with late peaches and tomatoes, scuppernong grapes, okra, squashes and more.

Zinnia Girls, a mother-and-daughter operation in Ivor, each week sets up a dazzling display of fresh flowers, inviting shoppers to arrange their own posies or to have co-owner Diane Newbern create a custom bouquet.

“They last forever,” said Suzanne Panneton, a weekly customer.

Arts and crafts booths, as well as others with information about Lyme disease and horse rescues, rounded out the market. Organizers expect more vendors to set up shop on the next two weekends, including fresh-baked breads from Rigoletto Italian Bakery & Cafe, seafood from Uncle Chuck’s Seafood and dog treats from Pawsitively Delish Treats.

The scene: Small, neighborly market

The location: In the parking lot of Red Mill Commons, at the corner of Upton Drive and Elson Green Drive, Virginia Beach, (757) 497-7700 or ellis-gibson@ellisgibson.com. It’s about 20 miles from downtown Norfolk.

The hours: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, through Labor Day weekend. Other markets will be scheduled around Thanksgiving and the winter holidays.

Variety: A pair of produce vendors covered the interim between summer and fall crops, plus jewelry, art and a flower mart. No meats or eggs.

Most unexpected offering: At the tent shading A Pinch of Southern, vibrant paintings of sea life surrounded a tiny table proffering smoked tuna dip, $9 for about 9 ounces.

Meats, fish, etc. Smoked tuna dip

Produce: Zucchinis, potatoes, eggplants, butternut squashes, watermelons, peaches, scuppernong grapes, okra and the last of summer tomatoes and peaches

Prepared foods: Pickled watermelon rinds, fig preserves from Waterboys’ Produce on Knotts Island; banana-chocolate chip bread from A Pinch of Southern (the flavor changes weekly)

Parking: In the shopping center parking lot, plentiful with easy handicap access

Don’t forget: Bring cash, as well as a cooler and reusable bag for your purchases.