Looking for fresh produce for your weekend cookout or a local, homemade gift for a friend? You'll find these items and many more at The Market at Lock 3.

The Market, sponsored by Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP) and the City of Akron, will return to Downtown Akron every Friday, July 16 through October 15, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Lock 3, 200 S. Main St. Downtown workers and visitors can ride the free Lunch Trolley to The Market at Lock 3 on Fridays. The Trolley runs on Main Street from Spaghetti Warehouse to Northside. The Market offers something for everyone including farm fresh produce, farm products, honey, nuts, candies, breads, pastries and other food products in addition to soap, fresh cut flowers, summer clothing, handmade jewelry, pottery and other art.

Eating local food is a delicious and healthy way to support the environment and the local economy. Purchasing from The Market ensures that your food is fresh and that you are helping local businesses, farms and artists. Consuming local food is also more sustainable than eating food that has been shipped from further distances. The food at The Market at Lock 3 is always fresh and local.

Four Downtown businesses will have a presence at The Market. The Peanut Shoppe will sell fresh roasted peanuts and peanut butter. Additionally, Street Treats will be at The Market with their homemade Greek dressing and other homemade treats. Hattie's Café will provide baked goods and candy. Damascus Road will be selling bags of fresh roasted coffee.

This year, Market visitors will see a few new products among the 28 local vendors. One vendor new to The Market this year is Lucky Penny Creamery, a Northeast Ohio family owned farm that produces a variety of goat dairy products. All products are made on the farm, and Lucky Penny controls the entire process from pasture to the plate. The Market at Lock 3 will feature fresh products like goat cheese, goat milk, yogurt, butter and caramel sauce from Lucky Penny Creamery. This is the first year cheese and dairy products will be sold at The Market.

Also new to The Market at Lock 3 this year is Maize Valley Farm Market & Winery. Maize Valley, located in Hartville, Ohio, is dedicated to community. They feature local Ohio produce including sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelons, peppers, green beans, squash, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

In addition to these and other new selections, the 2010 Market at Lock 3 will also feature returning vendors including a Market favorite, Homemade Delites. Located in Fairlawn, Homemade Delites provides a delicious assortment of baked goods including their signature Oatmeal Raisin Walnut Cookies. Baked goods will also be provided by Highland Baking Company, Dian's Sweet Dreams, Homemade 2 Order, Big Fat Greek & Italian Pastries, and Hattie's Café & gifts.

Special this year, DAP has teamed up with SummaCare to offer the Everyday Health Series. This free program allows participants to build a pocket folder of resources with weekly tips on how to live healthy and stay healthy. Topics include stress management, heart healthy cooking and how to pick fresh produce and experts will be on hand each week to answer questions. After five visits to the markets, participants will get a free reusable produce bag and after 10 visits they will be entered into a drawing for great prizes.

Market visitors can also enjoy the use of free sports equipment in the new Grotto area at Lock 3 on Friday afternoons. Equipment includes bocce sets, Frisbees, cornhole, marbles, kites, gloves and balls.

The 28 Market at Lock 3 vendors are Lucky Penny Farm & Creamery, Charlie's Gourmet Garlic Farm, TreeHouse Organics, Richardson Farms, Fashions by Lindsay Jean-Marie, Project EverGreen, Hattie's Cafe & Gifts, Barley's Orchard & Farm Market, Maize Valley Farm Market & Winery, The Peanut Shoppe, Street Treats, Damascus Road Coffee, OSU Master Gardeners, McCoy's Custom Catering, Quiroz Produce, Big Fat Greek & Italian Pastries, Homemade Delites, Hidden Willow Pond, The Fig Tree, Dian's Sweet Dreams, Homemade 2 Order, Irish Potter's Wheel, Silverwear: TinestoTreasure, Don Meyers Tomato Farm & Crafts, Highland Baking Company, Ms. Julie's Kitchen, Wolcott Farm and Aunt Pat Inc.

Visit www.downtownakron.com/market for more information about The Market and the vendors.