Vendors at Napa’s Farmers Market, feeling like nomads after years of wandering, are finally taking root in a highly visible location that is attracting locals to shop for fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers and crafts.

Attendance at the new location, on the north side of the Wine Train station on McKinstry Street, is up, and the vendors for the most part are happy as their season begins to wind down.

Originally, Napa Farmers Market was held next to the Cinedome Theater. Then it moved to Copia’s parking lot before it got removed as the center for wine, food and the arts descended into bankruptcy. The Farmers Market began this year on the south side of the Wine Train station before landing on the north side for the rest of the season.

“The Wine Train has been very supportive of us,” Lassa Skinner, president of the Napa Farmers Market board of directors, said.

Even after a successful first year at the new location, Napa Farmers Market is not planning to rest on its laurels. There are plans to invite chefs for cooking demonstrations next year. A questionnaire has been circulated among the vendors asking for their input.

At its peak, the number of vendors selling at the Tuesday and Saturday morning market reaches 60, with an average of 40 to 50 growers, mostly from the area and with small operations, Skinner said. Hours for the farmers market are 7:30 a.m. to noon, both days.

A quick stroll around the tables shaded by market umbrellas allows Napans will see what is in season. Now, there are lots of heirloom tomatoes, apples, sunflowers, cosmos, dahlias and exotic-looking gourds — harbingers of fall.

With school back in session, many teachers use the local farmers market as a teaching lab. Second graders from Napa Valley Language Academy turn out to sell seeds from their school garden. Each brown packet boasts a student-made drawing identifying the seeds.

Several chefs from high-end restaurants peruse the stands for the freshest produce possible.

One vendor selling small plastic pots of herbs and vegetables for winter gardens, and UC Master Gardeners are on hand with advice for growing healthy plants.

David Hernick, of Scully Ranch on Mount Veeder, said “It’s been a good market for us.”

Hernick, who also sells at the St. Helena Farmers Market, said business in Napa has been “variable,”  but “There have been days when we sell more here in Napa” than St. Helena.

Hernick mulled the idea of maybe putting a sign on the chain link fence facing Soscol Avenue to remind motorists to stop and shop at the farmers market.

Scully Ranch’s purple carrots and red carrots were a hit recently and were sold out by 10 a.m. Hernick lamented that maybe he sold them too cheap.

He said the secret to getting people to stop at his stand is to have a variety of items and keep the stand stocked consistently. Recently, Scully Ranch’s cornucopia of fresh produce included green beans, arugula, sunflowers, onions and spring onions, among other locally grown veggies.

Hernick pointed to a bin of apples he calls Star King Goldens. “These are from an orchard originally planted by the long-time Napa County Lyerla family.” The land is now part of Scully Ranch.

Those with green thumbs would appreciate the selection of herbs and winter vegetables at the stand of Morningsun Herb Farm, of Vacaville. Rose Loveall has been a fixture at the market since it was on Pearl Street near the Cinedome.

She praises the high visibility the market now enjoys. Tuesdays seem to be Morningsun’s strongest day. “But Saturdays have been constantly growing,” Loveall said.

Hot sellers for Loveall in the spring were tomato seedlings. Perennials are popular all summer long.

Now Loveall is selling a lot of winter vegetables such as kale, chard and broccoli. “A lot of people seem excited to put in a winter garden this year. Maybe it’s the economy,” she added. “There are lots of home gardeners who come to this market and many of them have been customers with me for 10 years.”

Meredith Lavene, a UC Master Gardener, oversees a table stacked with brochures and is  eager to answer questions from passersby. These days, many visitors want advice on dealing with snails and slugs. On a typical day,  she said, 30 to 60 people will stop by seeking information.

Lavene, who has lived in Napa about a year, finds working the Master Gardener’s table as a good way to meet people in Napa. “It’s not that big of a city.”

The Master Gardener said she is impressed at the large number of people who garden here. “Maybe it’s the economy or maybe they just like the hobby of gardening,” Lavene said.

With purple cosmos peeking out of her Trader Joe’s reusable grocery bag, Rosie Berger was at a recent market with a flock of second graders from Napa Valley Language Academy. Berger has been to the market before and said she likes to support the local farmers. “There is  a great atmosphere here,” she added.

Farmers market manager Randall Dunn said the main focus is on the small local farmers. “This is their livelihood. And we want to encourage the community to buy fresh produce,” he added.

Dunn said many of the farmers at the market have told him they are having their best season in about three or four years.

Dunn said that once a month market staff shows their appreciation to the vendors by fixing lunch, using what is in season and available, of course.