“Banish the bland!” Tracy Weil, the founder of Heirloom Tomato Farms, tells passing farmers market customers.

Donned in an apron that says “tomato enthusiast” and with a full-face grin, Weil helps lead customers through his selection of heirloom tomato plants for sale, passing on his love for delicious tomatoes, inherited from his mom, to his customers.

“We started the company because we couldn’t find the interesting varieties (of tomatoes) we were looking for,” he said. “My slogan is banish the bland because it’s this sort of war against bland tomatoes.”

Weil was one of many Saturday vendors at Boulder Farmers Market, which started up for the season in April and plans to stay open into November.

Several tents away, Ibrahim Ayad and Aaryan Nema greeted customers with smiles from behind a colorful display of microgreen plants, including pea shoots, broccoli, kale, purple radish and mustard. 

Ayad shaved the tops of the greens off with a knife, adding layer after layer of color to a container for a customer.

When plants like broccoli are microgreens, they are packed with nutrients, far more so than the plants when they get bigger, he explained. 

Ayad has been growing microgreens for about six years, but only commercially selling them for three. 

Originally, he began his business because he liked the greens and wanted to share them with friends, family and neighbors. Now, he sells at farmers markets around the metro area. 

“I love to support locals and now I can provide things to locals as well,” he said. “It’s strengthening the economy in the place that I love, and I want the dollar to go around two or three times.”

Boulder is one of the metro area’s earliest opening farmers markets, but many others are starting to pop up, with opening dates throughout May and June. 

Here’s where the Denver area markets are and when they open.

Highlands Ranch Farmers Market – 9288 Dorchester St., Highlands Ranch

Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from April 7 to Oct. 17

South Pearl Farmers Market – 1527 S. Pearl St., Denver

Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May 5 to Nov. 10

Parker Farmers Market – 19565 Mainstreet, Parker

Sundays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting May 12

Highlands Square Farmers Market – W. 32nd Ave. and Lowell Blvd, Denver

Sundays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May 19 to Oct. 13

Festival Park Farmers Market – 300 2nd St., Castle Rock

Sundays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May 26 through Oct. 13

Arvada Farmers Market – 5702 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada

Sundays 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from June 2 to Sept. 29

Boulder Farmers Market – 13th St., Boulder

Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from April 6 to Nov. 23 and Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from May 1 to Oct. 2

Longmont Farmers Market – 9595 Nelson Rd., Longmont

Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April 6 to Nov. 23

Southwest Plaza Farmers Market – 8501 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton

Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or sellout) from May 4 to Oct. 3

University Hills Farmers Market – 2500 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May 11 to Oct. 26

Rebel Marketplace – 12000 E. 6th Ave., Aurora

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from June 1 to Aug. 31

Southlands Farmers Market – 6100 S. Main St., Aurora

Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May 11 to Sept. 28

Westminster Farmers Market – 5255 W. 98th St., Westminster 

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from June 1 to Sept. 28

Lakewood Farmers Market – 9077 E. Alameda Ave.

Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or sellout) from June 18 to Oct. 1

Cherry Creek Fresh Market – 1st and University, Denver

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May 4 to Oct. 12

City Park Farmers Market – 2551 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 to Oct. 6

Louisville Farmers Market – 824 Front St., Louisville

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 11 to Oct. 19

Golden Farmers Market – 1019 10th St., Golden

Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from June 1 to Oct. 5

South University Farmers Market – 5859 S. University Blvd., Greenwood Village

Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from June 7 to Sept. 27

Littleton Farmers Market – 7301 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton

Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or sellout) from June 19 to Sept. 25

Evergreen Farmers Market – 29260 US-40, Evergreen

Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May 28 to Oct. 1