In little more than a week the bell will ring to signal the opening of the second season of the Maple Valley Farmer’s Market.

The market opens at 9 a.m., Saturday, June 19, at Rock Creek Elementary School on Maple Valley Highway north of Four Corners.

There are 18 new vendors this year including Silver Springs Creamer, Chelane’s Jame, George’s Baker, Alpacas at Morning Star Ranch, Daily Bagel and Cougar Mountain Kettle Kettle Corn Co.

Another new feature, explained Market President Victoria Laise Jonas, will be the inaugural Chili Cook Off, which is sponsored by Ross Olive who owns State Farm Insurance in Maple Valley.

Jonas said the sponsors from the community have been a crucial part of building on the success of the market’s first season.

“We are all familiar with the African proverb, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ I often find myself thinking about this proverb as it relates to the creation of our very own Farmers Market,” Jonas said in an e-mail interview. “For us, it takes a community and a community’s support to ensure a successful farmers market season. And I must say, we have been humbled to receive so much local sponsorship support.”

As of press time, there were 10 days until the market opens, and Jonas said, ‘We are all working on finalizing last minute details.”

There is still time for anyone interested in offering their wares or services at the market to participate.

“We continue to receive inquiries about vending at our market,” she said. “We always welcome new farmers and a few more artisans would be ideal to balance out our season.”

Something important for the market’s board of directors, Jonas explained, was to receive the Washington Department of Health’s WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Certification.

“Both Patty Davis and I have been Farmer Market Manager certified and five of our farmers are authorized to accept Farmer’s Market Vouchers from eligible customers,” she said. “The purpose of this program is to provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers markets to eligible women, children and seniors.”

With the strong backing of the community, Jonas said, the market is well on its “way of achieving our mission of enhancing the livability of all of our community members … through the establishment of a Maple Valley Farmer’s Market.”

“As a community gathering place, the farmers market will become a location to discover all of the uniqueness that a farmers market has to offer,” she said. “And most importantly, weekly shopping at the farmers market will help financially support and sustain local/regional family farmers, vendors and local business owners.”

And when the bell rings on opening day, Jonas said, “our Maple Valley Farmer’s Market is the Saturday morning place to be.”

For more information about the market log on to maplevalleyfarmersmarket.org