Spring is finally getting here.

By Staff
Jason Cannon, Franklin County Times
There's nothing better than that feeling you get when you pull out your shorts and shove your sweaters to the back of the closet for what you think is the last time of the season.
Weather in Alabama can be a little strange: 80 degree highs one day and 40 degree highs the next.
Our unusual weather patterns have already spelled tragedy for many of our local farmers.
Hard freezes a few weeks ago killed many row crops. Much of the crop that wasn't killed will suffer some type of deformity thanks to the stunting cold snap.
This freeze not only hurts out local farmers financially, it drives the price of these goods up for consumers.
There is also a residual effect as things like wheat and corn are used for many purposes.
Both are used in livestock feed.
As the cost of feed goes up due to the scarcity of the corn and grain, the price of cattle, hogs and chicken will rise, too.
Alabama is the second largest producer of broiler chickens and the tenth largest producer of eggs in the nation. The cattle industry is one of Alabama's largest agricultural products in terms of cash income.
As consumers, we all feel the pain.
With temperatures climbing into the 80s, and only a few more weeks away from the 90s,
I look forward to the fresh produce that's still ripening.
Lizzie, my two-year-old daughter, loves fresh strawberries.
In my opinion, there's nothing better than a tomato sandwich. Of course, that tomato has to be fresh and vine-ripe.
As the thoughts of spring start dancing in your heads and you begin to look for the fresh, colorful produce that come with it, I encourage you to buy your produce locally.
Locally grown produce is among the freshest on the market and it helps sustain our local farmers.
While you're out this spring enjoying the warm weather, stop by one of Franklin County's local curb markets or roadside stands.
When you bite down on that tomato sandwich or an ear of fresh corn, you'll be glad you did.