Bedner's Farm Fresh Market west of Boynton Beach is ready to celebrate fall.

You can barely tell it here in South Florida, but fall has arrived.

Soon the pumpkins (trucked in from up north) will be sprouting at supermarkets and roadside stands. But there may be fewer to choose from this year, as Hurricane Irene destroyed many pumpkin patches in the Northeast.

Meanwhile, there are a few places to experience a touch of fall without fleeing the tropics.

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market west of Boynton Beach is your best bet. Starting Oct. 1, it will kick off a monthlong Fall Festival. It will have “hayrides”, a corn maze, a haunted house and a pumpkin patch, plus plenty of vendors serving barbecue, homemade ice cream and giant caramel apples.

When you’re done checking out the fields, shopping for produce and eating, you can rest for a bit in one of the big cedar rocking chairs in the shade of the front porch.

Bedner’s is at 10066 Lee Rd., Boynton Beach. Call 561-733-5490.

More ideas for fallish fun:

Green markets

The local green markets open up again.  Boca Raton’s starts Oct. 8 and runs most Saturdays through Dec. 17. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Royal Palm Place in Downtown Boca. … West Palm Beach has a big one on the waterfront on Saturday mornings, starting Oct. 15. … Delray Beach’s starts Oct. 15 on Saturday mornings along Southeast Fourth Avenue, just south of Atlantic Avenue.

Family hay rides

Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Rd., hosts a hay ride and marshmallow roast for the whole family. 7 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28. $3.50 a person. Reserve tickets in advance at 954-357-5100.

Halloween

The city is offering several activities for kids of all ages at Sugar Sand Park, including the popular haunted house. Get all the details at BocaBooDays.com.

- CHARLENE PACENTI

October ushers in the season for green markets around South Florida – and we’ve got a new one in the Boca Raton area this year.

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market, on U.S. 441 west of Boynton Beach, is all decked out for Halloween, with dollar “hay rides” (hay-strewn trolley pulled by a tractor) and giant caramel apples.

The indoor market has fresh corn, peppers, fruits, etc., all cheaper than you would find at the local chain grocery store.

Strawberries, cucumbers and tomatoes are grown in the fields outside the store. They will be open for u-pick on Dec. 1.

The market started its fall festival celebration Oct. 2 with barbecue, gourmet food truck The Rolling Stove, banana ice cream and other treats. A large chickee hut has picnic tables that make for a shady lunch spot. Orchids were for sale, three for $20.

In one field, workers have converted a few rows of cucumbers to a “pumpkin patch,” though the pumpkins were shipped from up north. (Pumpkins do not grow in South Florida). And there are plenty of spots to take that cute fall photo of the kids.

Bedner’s is at 12033 State Road 7.  It’s open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Other green markets:

• The Boca Raton Green Market opens Oct. 9 and runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at Royal Palm Place,  Federal Highway and South Mizner Boulevard. In honor of Columbus Day, Italian food will be featured the first weekend. There will be live music, too.

• The West Palm Beach Green Market opens on the waterfront at 101 N. Flagler Dr. on Oct. 16.

• And a huge one just opened in Hollywood. The Yellow Green Farmers Market will be open year-round with 300 booths.

Hay rides

Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach has monthly hay rides, with a campfire and marshmallow roast. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 4. $3 a person includes hayride and the stuff to make smores, plus $1.50 park entrance fee. Make a reservation at 954-357-5100.

Halloween events

Find the listings  on our Things to Do page.