A day before its grand opening, the farmers market at the Pearl Brewery already has become more than a gathering place for those with a shared love of local fare, from just-picked peaches to grass-fed beef.

To its organizers, the market is a magnet for people out on a Saturday morning, whether they want to hear live music while enjoying a cup of freshly brewed coffee or take their dogs for a walk along the new northern stretch of the River Walk.

Thousands of visitors to the soft openings have discovered that it's also a place to buy a host of local products, from lavender sprays to gluten-free mixes, all created within a 150-mile radius.

"There are so many prongs to this whole thing," says chef Andrew Weissman, who has long pushed for a market and has been involved in the planning.

He rattles off a list that includes the sense of community fostered by the weekly market, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, as well as the freshness of the food, the chance to connect with the people who grow or raise what you serve and the reduced carbon footprint that comes from eating local.