AMARILLO, TEXAS -- "It's too dry", says one local Amarillo citizen as she sums up the what seems to be the general consensus for most people in the Panhandle this year.
But Tuesday, those at the Amarillo Farmers Market found it to be particularly true for them, as our worsening drought affects their crops.
It's going to hurt the yield and some things just aren't going to make at all. Bean are not making, our tomatoes aren't as pretty as normal in the field, field tomatoes", says Farmers Market gardner, George Howard.
Regular shoppers like Jenelle Brock say they are starting to miss their usual fresh produce finds.
"The people with the corn don't have much to bring because of the drought. I'm concerned that they don't have it and I miss getting it. And I just feel for them", adds Brock.
But it's not just the crops disappearing from the market, it's the farmers. As it gets harder and harder to maintain a plentiful crop, more and more stop selling.
"By this time last year we had about 20 farmers coming out and this year our biggest is about 12, so we're down considerably. We need more people out here selling. The more people that sell, the more people that show up", adds Howard.
Even with the majority of the crops still available, the intensifying drought, fewer farmers and crops could be the reason even a few weekly regulars are becoming not so regular, after all.
"I'll come back, but I don't come back as often as I used to", continues Brock.
The Farmers Market is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the Sunset Center parking lot from 7:00 in the morning until sell out, which is usually around noon.
Farmers will continue to sell every week until the first freeze of the year.
