By CATHY DYSON

None of the regulars at the King George Farmers Market seem surprised that their small market, which just started last year, is getting more votes in a nationwide contest than others its size, even in places like Chicago, San Francisco and Lancaster, Pa.

"Maybe that tells you that the people who come here care," said June Jahn, who sells jams and jellies she has made from figs and every kind of berry imaginable. "This is their market. It's just like home."

Customers and vendors alike praised the market for its down-home feel. Residents talked about the progress of the new pharmacy being built on U.S. 301 or how so-and-so was doing after a recent illness as they scanned the tables for brown eggs or okra by the pint.

"This is my favorite social event in King George County," said Meg Ulfers. "You run into everybody here: I've seen the kids' old teachers, the school nurse and the woman who was my vet for years."

Her husband, Bernie, leads singalongs on second Saturdays. Children, parents and older people sing about the animals on Old MacDonald's farm, accompanied by a makeshift band of guitar, mandolin and fiddler players.

Held each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of King George Elementary School, the market offers goods harvested from the fields, forests and waters of the county only. There has been incredible community support, said DeLaura Padovan, market manager. She said average attendance has grown to about 400 people a week.

Customers regularly bring empty egg cartons and jelly jars back to the sellers, in an effort to contribute to the cause. Most carry reusable bags; some even bring buckets of water to transport their bouquets of fresh-cut flowers.

Chances are, if they've been to the market and been greeted by Padovan, they've heard about the nationwide contest. She's an enthusiastic speaker, and she has the spiel down pat.

The American Farmland Trust is sponsoring an online contest to bring more awareness of the importance of fresh produce and local markets like the one in King George.

Markets sign up to be included in the contest, which is divided in four categories based on the number of vendors, and market officials ask the public to vote for them online.