With less than two weeks until the Renton’s Farmers Market opens for the season, thousands (yes thousands) are counting down the days until they can get their favorite heirloom tomatoes and giant bouquets.

“It’s such a feather in our cap to have a farmers market and one that’s so loved,” said Linda Middlebrooks, president of Piazza Renton, which puts on the weekly market. “Where else and when else can you find that many people coming to the core of Renton?”

With 2,000-3,000 people attending the market every Tuesday, this year’s June 1 opening comes with much anticipation.

Last year was a big recruitment year, attracting several new vendors toward the end.

Many of those new vendors plan to return, Middlebrooks said. “They love our market, they really want to come back.”

The Twisted S Ranch, which sells eggs and bacon, is the first egg vendor at the market in about five years, she said. “It’s going to be really nice to have them here right from the first.”

Alongside cupcakes and a take-n-bake pizza stand, the market has also attracted a beef, rabbit and lamb booth.

All of the market’s 50-60 vendors sell food or flowers. Like all farmers markets in the state, everything is grown or made in Washington.

“I think there is a new interest in our society to buy locally grown things, for health reasons, for one thing, for freshness, to support the local farmer,” Middlebrooks said, adding when people buy local produce, less fuel is used to transport the goods.

The market will stay open an extra two weeks this year.

In year’s past the shorter days and disinterest ended the market mid-September, Middlebrooks said.

This year there are enough vendors and organizers who wanted to finish out September, she said.

It’s now open every Tuesday from 3-7 p.m., June through September.

In addition to vendors, the market plans to host local musicians, kids activities and chef demonstrations every week.

The no-hurry environment has several places to grab dinner.

“You see friends and neighbors down there,” Middlebrooks said. “It’s just a gathering place.”