More than 1,000 people turned out on Saturday for the opening of the Port Townsend Farmers Market, and the first day may have set a new sales record, said Amanda Milholland, market manager.

“We are yet to total all of our vendor market sales. However, our bookkeeper, Amy Goetz, and board treasurer John Estes both guess that opening day 2016 may have broken a record in opening-day sales for our vendors,” Milholland said in an email on Monday, April 4.

“Several of our vendors told me that it was their best opening day ever. Crust Pies, Olgita's, Paella House and several other vendors told me that they sold out.”

A successful opening is heartening to vendors.

“It's so helpful for our vendors, many of whom rely on the Port Townsend and Chimacum farmers markets for a majority of their income, to start off the season strong after the lean fall and winter months. We are really thankful for the support of our local as well as regional community,” she said.

There was something for everyone on Saturday: music, food, crafts, a cooking lesson and even a chance for young ones to plant a sunflower seed.

Jefferson Healthcare chef Arran Stark delighted a small crowd with a cooking lesson. Stark used a variety of veggies from vendors, including broccoli rabe and leeks.

“I don't cry when I cut onions ’cause I close my eyes,” he joked as he looked out over the crowd and cut an onion without watching what he was doing, all while talking, and briefly worrying some in the crowd unaccustomed to his humor.

“As usual, I came to the market not knowing what I was going to do today,” Stark said, proceeding to cook up dishes, which onlookers were then invited to taste.

Stark is considered a rock-star chef in Port Townsend, in part because of his outgoing personality, which comes through during cooking demonstrations: he's funny, self-depreciating and educational.

There were new market vendors this year, including Shirley Moss, better known in the community as the executive director of the Port Townsend Food Bank. Moss also is a silver jewelry maker working as The Chain Maker. Her creations are on display at the Port Townsend Gallery. She's making affordable solid sterling rings available for sale at the market.

Brian Iverson of Ivy Class also is new to the market. He was hawking artful glass pieces, including some little blowfish, glass beads, glass balls and garden markers.

Not new to the market was Hannah Albaugh, 10, who was helping her father, Konrad, at Amie's Flowers, and tending to her own small flower booth. This is the third year that Hannah has been at the market. Amie's Flowers has been selling at the market for eight years.

Across from the flower stand, Olgita's was doing a brisk business selling freshly made tortillas and salsa, as well as pupusas, which are thicker corn tortillas stuffed with cheese and pork. The pork pupusas were selling fast.

There also were lines at the end of the market where Mo-Chilli BBQ food truck was set up. At about noon, one customer asked how the food truck was doing, and someone inside answered that it had enough food on hand to last another 30-45 minutes.

All of the regular farmers were on hand with bountiful selections of fresh greens, potatoes, onions and more.

Some children had gathered in a booth that was set up so that they could dig up some dirt and put it into a small pot with a sunflower seed.

Although the sun was not out, the rain didn't pour either, making the day a Goldilocks “just right” kind of opening day.

People were catching up on news and greeting friends they hadn't seen since the market closed for the season in December.

The market blossoms on Tyler Street off Lawrence Street every Saturday at 9 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. For more information, see jcfmarkets.org.