At the market are rows of bins containing almost every fruit and vegetable imaginable. From elephant garlic and fresh horseradish root to French tarragon, the farmers' market has a cornucopia of spices, fruits and vegetables.

Some of the more exotic fruits include cherry plums, apple pears and bitter melons. The avocados sold at the market are locally grown, as is most of the other produce.

There are plants for sale, as well as orchids, rosebushes and potted herbs. Bouquets of dried and edible flowers are also available for purchase.

Offering fresh produce from local growers as well as other sundry items, the market also gives community members a chance to come together.

On Sept. 14 the market hosted Children's Day, which was dedicated to honoring the children of Willow Glen and keeping them safe from harm.

Child Quest International sponsored the event. The nonprofit organization offered fingerprinting kits for children and distributed safety education literature and videos. Child Quest International representatives also spoke with parents about how to prevent their children from being abducted.

To date, Child Quest International, which began serving families in 1990, has helped recover more than 2,800 kidnapped children. There is never a charge for the services they provide to families of missing children.

In addition to finding missing children, the group also educates the public on how to recognize abused and exploited children and at-risk adults.

At Saturday's market children were taught to avoid the temptation of candy and helping someone to find their "lost pet"—the bait most child predators use to get children into their cars.

The training was conducted in a child-friendly atmosphere, and the children were taught without being "scared" into caution.

The claim has been made that less than one-third of the children in Willow Glen have been fingerprinted. The number is much smaller in other communities nationwide. While a kidnapper can change a child's hair and appearance, the child's fingerprints will always remain the same and therefore are the most effective form of identification.

At the farmers' market children were also invited to make donations for less fortunate children. Organizers asked that the children bring and donate books they are no longer using. All the books collected will be sent to a teacher stationed in Micronesia who is a member of the Peace Corps.

The Willow Glen Farmers' Market is held each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon in the Willow Glen Elementary School parking lot at the corner of Lincoln and Minnesota avenues. For more information about the farmers' market, call 408.353.4293. For more information on Child Quest International, visit their website at www.childquest.org.