Gabe Miller visits the Green Cedar Farm booth at the Quincy Certified Farmers’ Market, which starts for the season Thursday, June 14. The weekly market begins at 4:30 p.m. and features local and regional produce, meat, crafts, food and entertainment. Photo courtesy Quincy Certified Farmers’ Market

Those who have been longing for the fresh-picked taste of summertime fare need wait no longer. The 13th annual Quincy Certified Farmers’ Market is kicking off this Thursday, June 14, at 4:30 p.m. on the corner of Church and Main streets with local and regional produce, handcrafted goods, on-site massage, plant sales and a variety of hot food and cold drinks.

The Happy Happy Joy Joy Family Band and Keely will serenade shoppers with a mix of jazz, folk, bluegrass and more. The group is an enthusiastic mix of Quincy High School students and graduates: Garrett and Austin Hagwood, Kelsey and Natalie Kepple, Chris and Nathan Retallack, Emmanuel and Alex Lemnah and Keely Nesbit.

Changes to this year’s market include an earlier time of 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in order to accommodate after-work shoppers, and a market season that’s two weeks longer than last year, running June 14 through Sept. 13 for a total of 14 weeks.

Also new this season, shoppers who purchase produce, meat or crafts before 6 p.m. can enter a weekly drawing for goodies from local merchants and produce from the market.

The farmers’ market is getting high tech this year with their own website — QuincyFarmersMarket.org — complete with an entertainment schedule and links to market sponsors. Customers can also like Quincy Farmers’ Market on Facebook to receive updates on produce coming into season and learn more about vendors.

Questions or comments can be directed to Market Manager Elizabeth Powell at 229-4009 or QCFMmanager@yahoo.com.