Local farmer's markets are in full swing, bursting with delectable summer delights. This year's long, wet spring caused a delay for the planting season, but the harvest seems to be turning out just fine.

“There have been some reported losses due to the hail and freeze in April and May, mainly vegetable crops and berries,” said Nevada County Agricultural Commissioner Jeff Pylman. “Even though things were a little bit late, and consumers who went out early on saw the amount of produce being offered was light, because the season appears to be later, vegetables should be available for purchasing.”

Pylman said many growers were forced to replant after the late May freeze. “People who had berries impacted didn't have an opportunity to replant,” he explained. “They'll have a much lower yield this season.”

Alan Haight, owner of Riverhill Farm outside Nevada City, was a victim of re-planting; his cucumbers struggled with beetles and the early freeze. “They don't like the cold, that's for sure, but they were certainly ready to come up in June,” he said.

Except for its effect on the cucumbers, the weather has “been a benefit to us,” he added. “We've had great crops of broccoli. Normally, it's too hot for that this time of year. Eggplants and peppers and tomatoes, they are all doing very well.”

The harvest has met the customer demands so far, and planting continues. “The season is going pretty much the way it should,” Haight said.

Arlene Tofte of Chicago Park Produce also got a late jump on the season because of the weather. She now considers herself one of the “lucky ones” who avoided having to re-plant. “Everything looks great, it's just late,” she said.

Tofte hopes to go sell at the market Saturday for the first time. “Normally we are there by the middle of July,” she noted.

Chris Bierwagen, owner of Bierwagen's Donner Trail Fruit in Chicago Park, usually begins planting during the first two weeks of May. This year he didn't begin until June 15.

The late spring “affected getting the vegetables planted, that was the main thing,” he said.

He's just getting started with his squash and cucumbers, and anticipates a few more weeks until tomatoes are ready.

Elevation played a role in the harvest. “I saw tomatoes in the lower elevations,” Bierwagen noted. His farm is at 2,500 feet elevation. “South County areas could have planted earlier, could be harvested now.”

Bierwagen fears the late start will impact his business. “I don't see enough time frame to sell, that's the issue. People are only going to buy so many squash,” he said.

But there's always an upside. With Bierwagen it's fruit, especially apples and peaches. “We'll have good peaches ‘till the first week of October, and people will buy them,” he said.

“Farmer Bob” Keyser, who runs Farmer Bob's produce stand on Sutton Way, benefited from the lower elevation of Gridley, where his produce is grown. While he usually gets tomatoes by the first of June and “didn't have them until July” this year, he still had them a few weeks before others.

“The biggest challenge with the late season is you have to work longer,” he said.