Vashon’s Farmers Market opened for the season on Saturday to huge crowds and brisk sales. According to Lindsay Hart, who chairs the farmers market committee for the Vashon Island Growers Association, nearly 400 customers were counted and sales for the day reached $5,800, much stronger than last year’s opening day, when there was a similar number of customers but sales came in at $3,342.

Hart attributes the higher sales to the fact that the market opened a couple weeks later this year, resulting in more produce that farmers could offer. What’s more, she said, “I think we ended the market last year on a high note. It became a very positive, energetic place through the season, and it started out with that same energy.”

New this year to the market is La Playa, which served shrimp tacos and other fare on Saturday, and Café Luna, which offered up soup, quiche, coffee and pastries. Most of the regular vendors set up booths, where they sold veggie starts, fresh greens, overwintered produce, native plants and crafts. And some vendors that haven’t sold at the market for a few years were back, including Loki Fish Co. from West Seattle and Vashon’s Langley Fine Gardens, Hart said. “It was a great start,” she said.

Photos in slide show by Natalie Johnson and Ralph Moore.