Benicia Certified Farmers Market opens its 23rd season Thursday afternoon with a full array of produce, flowers, arts and crafts, Benicia Main Street Executive Director Nancy Martinez said.

“A majority are returning,” Martinez said of the 14 farmers and about 40 other booth vendors who have made the farmers market popular enough to attract an estimated 99,000 people to the foot of First Street last season.

However, “We have a new honey person,” Martinez said, explaining that Marshalls Farm Natural Honey had a limited crop this year. Instead, shoppers will find A to Z Farms, a Hollister honey farm.

Among the arts, they’ll see another new entry, Bob Watkins Drawing and painting.

A few First Street businesses are participating in the farmers market for the first time, too, Martinez said.

Chrysalis Bath and Body will make an appearance, and throughout the season, which ends Oct. 29, First Street businesses that request and reserve dates with Main Street will be given a complimentary one-time spot, too, Martinez said.

Gloria McKenzie’s Two-Day Jewelry and Got Plate Lunch are returning to the weekly farmers market. Big Bob’s Mini Doughnuts is expanding its presence at the market, and the granola sellers Way to Life Foods will be back as well, Martinez said.

Produce changes as spring turns into summer and then to fall, Martinez said. But on opening day shoppers are likely to find beets, cabbage, carrots, strawberries, blackberries, cauliflower, cherries, kiwi and sweet potatoes. Great Valley Poultry will bring their farm-fresh eggs.

In the next few weeks, apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, pluots and more strawberries will be in season, Martinez said.

Those who like buying fresh-cut flowers will find vendors selling those, too, she said.

Starting this week, Benicia is changing its primary electricity provider from Pacific Gas and Electric to Marin Clean Energy, and that community choice aggregation agency also will be present at the farmers market, Martinez said.

City government also will have a booth throughout the season, with different departments sending staff to provide information or answer questions.

The farmers market got its start 23 years ago on a day so rainy that only a few drenched vendors and shoppers endured the day. But the market persevered and rapidly grew in popularity, so that Benicia Main Street now shares some of its parking area with Tannery Building tenants who reserve space.

Some shoppers park in the gravel East E Street parking lot across from the Benicia Yacht Club, and others put their cars much farther up First Street in order to stroll its length and stop by local restaurants for dinner after making their market purchases.

“I see a lot of people walking and the restaurants seem to do well,” Martinez said. “I like to see that.”

Opening day is a celebration for the farmers market, and Bruno Grossi and his acoustic guitar will perform. For youngsters, the market has a new jumping house, Martinez said.

She said she still is hoping to find beef and seafood vendors. Those with recommendations may call Main Street Event Coordinator Deborah Housman, 707-745-9791.

To accommodate vendors, B and D streets are closed at First Street starting at 3 p.m. Thursdays this week through Oct. 29. Market hours are 4-8 p.m. until mid-September, when they are shortened to 4-7 p.m.