The parking lot is filling up as Marker Miller Orchards is open for the season.

Co-owner John Marker says people have "new" options this year. They can pick their own peaches and black-berries to save some money.

"The prices are down, people can also come out and pick their own. It is not a whole lot cheaper, but you get exactly what you want," explains Marker.

Leading up to the opening, Marker and others have been harvesting the fields.

Marker says the spring growing season was a fairly good one. There wasn't too much damage due to frost, and the heavy rains in May and June weren't enough to affect the end product.

"I learned a long time ago that it is probably better to work with too much rain than not any," jokes Marker.

Marker says many items are ready to be eaten including Lodi apples, green beans, plums, yellow onions, and the usual apple treats from the bakery.

This year workers at the orchards want to focus on customers as well as their products.

"We are interested in talking with our customers, seeing what they want. If they have questions there is one of us here to answer them. To have satisfied customers, that is the name of the game," says Marker.

A few more tomato crops have been added this year, but Marker is more concerned about the quality rather than the quantity.

Marker Miller Orchards will hold their opening festival Saturday, July 4.
Saturday, July 11 the Frederick County Farm Bureau will have farm day at the orchards to teach people about the agriculture industry.