Gooseberries, Japanese turnips, baby dandelion, and red Russian kale all made their debut at the opening of the Norwood Farmers Market two weeks ago.

The first day of the market, which will be open every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Jerome Avenue and West Mosholu Parkway North, appeared to be a success, with a steady stream of customers, sunny weather, and friendly vendors.

The market bustled with Bronxites stocking up on radishes, beets, parsley, spinach, corn, cherries, zucchini, and squash. “It’s been excellent for the first day,” said Marshall Collins, the market’s manager. “There are no kinks to work out. Everything’s beautiful.”

The prices for the fresh goods were described by customer Orlando Rodriguez as “so-so” — Japanese turnips went for $2 a bunch, apricots for $5 a pound — but many customers used coupons from the federal Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, the city Health Department’s Health Bucks Program, and the NY State Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program. WIC recently expanded its program to include monthly subsidies for fruits and vegetables.

Vendors from three upstate New York farms — Migliorelli Farm of Tivoli, Glebocki Farm of Goshen, and Red Jacket Orchards of Geneva— sold from sidewalk stands under the 4 train. Bread Alone, a Catskills bakery, also joined the vendors the second week to sell organic bread and pies.

Farmers made a point of explaining their environmentally conscious practices to their customers.

The Red Jacket Orchards stand offered a pamphlet explaining their use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a system that uses natural, gentler pest-control methods instead of synthetic pesticides.

Most people passing by at least paused for a look at the market, and customers agreed that the market will positively affect the community. “You can come by every week because you know where the market’s at,” said Rodriguez, while buying corn at the Migliorelli stand.

Vendor John Glebocki, a fifth generation farmer, also loved the location. “It’s a great spot,” he said. “People going to and from the 4 train automatically see the market and check out what’s going on.”

Collins stressed the market’s role in community health: “People need fresh vegetables,” he said. “They need fresh food. The more fresh vegetables they eat, the less high blood pressure they’ll have.”

Even kids seem to be getting the message. “All the food here tastes better than it usually does at other places because it’s more fresh,” said 10-year-old Elaine Ordonez, who was shopping with her mother.