The Maple Valley Farmers Market opened Saturday at Rock Creek Elementary for its seventh season.

This year’s farmers market is the first year under new directors.

Along  with new directors there are some new vendors.

This year, Market Manager Linda Kowalsky said the new vendors include Breaking Bread, Happy Roots Farm and a gluten free bakery among many others.

There will be more than 50 vendors participating in this year’s market.

Kowalsky said that number is up from last year.

She said there will be a food saver program to help educate the public on food preservation.

The market will also hold a canning demonstration and a fresh pie bake off this year.

Every week, Kowalsky said, there will be a local musician performing.

On July 11 the market will host Kids Day, Kowalsky said.

The Maple Valley Farmers Market will also be accepting state provided vouchers.

Kowalsky and her husband prior to becoming directors of the market were vendors for the past 10 years.

She said her husband does vinegar and oil and she does a pasta stand.

Aside from running the Maple Valley Farmers Market, the couple also operates a farmers market in Arizona.

In Washington, they participate in a number of area farmers markets including Kent, Issaquah, Mercer Island and Everett.

Kowalsky believes the importance of a farmers market to the community is “making local food available to people.”

She added, markets “stimulate the local economy.”

Kowalsky said according to the Farmers Market Coalition, 60 percent of people say farmers markets have better prices than groceries stores and people who attend farmers markets tend to be healthier than those who don’t.

The Maple Valley Farmers Market is now open through September 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The market will not be open on Saturday, July 4.

“It’s the Saturday morning place to be,” Kowalsky said.