File Photo - Jen Digmann (from left) of Marion holds open a bag for Jackie Oster of Cedar Rapids as she picks out organic carrots at the Grinnell Heritage Farm booth at the Downtown Farmers' Market in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, June 5, 2010. (Stephen Mally/Freelance)

The Downtown Cedar Rapids Farmers Market will kick off its season Saturday along Third and Fourth Avenues, Second, Third and Fifth Streets SE as well as Greene Square Park.

The market will feature a record 224 Iowa vendors, making it one of the largest farmers’ markets in the Midwest. Vendors will offer produce, meats, baked goods, flowers and artisan gifts.

The downtown market takes place on the first and third Saturday of the month June through September. On other Saturdays, there is a market in Cedar Rapids at the Eighth Avenue SE parking lot.

There are dozens of other farmers markets throughout Eastern Iowa, most continuing through September or October.

Here’s a list that we put together called “A guide to area farmers markets.”