COURTLAND—Summer is a time of fresh produce, plants and flowers. Whether they’re needed in bulk or even small amounts, one place to find them is at the annual Thursday Night Produce Auction in Courtland.

The weekly event, which began earlier this month, features the aforementioned goods in season.

“Last week we had watermelons from Georgia because the ones in our area are not ready,” said Mike Marks, who’s the market manager. “I’ve even gotten got cantaloupes, tomatoes of the greenhouse variety from southeast Virginia, and peaches from North Carolina and Georgia.

“There’s squash, zucchini, cucumbers and lettuce that’s really pretty. Different greens, beets and onions, all local and good quality.”

Both buyers and sellers are welcome and there are both retail and wholesale lots available.

The auction is not completely new to the area; it was “rebooted” one or two years ago, said Marks, who became manager five years ago.

“There used to be one there [in Courtland] years ago, but it dwindled,” he said, adding that the renewed auction was done to “see if we could make it work to the satisfaction of all around.”

People bring produce, etc., for selling, buying, canning, pickling and freezing. Growers come within a 50- to 70-mile radius, which can include the Pungo area of Virginia Beach, northeastern North Carolina, Roanoke Rapids, Emporia and Petersburg, according to Marks.

Adding to the ambience of the sale are the Thursday Nite Produce Pick’rs, who will perform bluegrass-style music most evenings.

The auction begins at 6:30 p.m. each Thursday with refreshments sold through Oct. 23, with the exception of July 3. That week, an Ice Cream Night is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1. Other special events will be a Watermelon Night on Aug. 7; a bake sale on Sept. 18; and the fourth annual Covered-Dish Dinner on Oct. 23.

“They’re nice, nice events,” said Marks.

The Courtland Farmers Market is located at 24540 Agri-Park Drive in the Southampton Business Park, which is located behind the Food Lion on Route 58 in Courtland.

For details, call Marks at 653-0728.