Bonnie Blechle had been looking for rhubarbs for weeks at area grocery stores, but they didn't have them yet.

"When I saw that the farmer's market was open today, I knew they'd be here," said the Jackson resident. "And I knew they'd be fresher anyway. You know when you come here that they've probably been picked that morning."

That seemed to be the appeal to those who stopped by the kickoff the 20th year of the Cape Farmer's Market Thursday afternoon -- freshness, wide selections and healthier, tastier items that are grown by local farmers.

There typically are about 18 vendors who sell things like fresh bread, eggs, honey and leafy, green produce, said Marilyn Peters, president of the farmer's market.

"These people are selling and growing their own stuff," Peters aid. "They grow it and take care of it. It largely supports their life to a great deal. Many of them go to two or three farmer's markets a week."

The farmer's market is open each Thursday from 2:30 p.m. until the vendors are sold out. The market is open every Thursday between May and October at the Plaza Galleria parking lot at 2001 Independence Ave.

Peters said that the farmer's market has something of a cloud hanging over its head. Since last year, the Plaza Galleria has been for sale. They hope the new owner will be as cooperative as the existing owner and allow them to rent the parking lot.

"If not, we'll move," she said. "But we love it here. This has been a great spot for us."

In the meantime, Peters said, she's seen a renewed interest in health-conscious food.

"People are more interested in eating healthy," she said. "They want to know what their food has been sprayed with. They're curious about that. Here, we keep spraying to a minimum."

Carole Boguslawski of Cape Girardeau is a regular shopper at the farmer's market. On Thursday, she picked through strawberries and buttercrunch lettuce.

"It's fresh and some of it's organic," she said. "I also like to visit with the vendors."

One of the vendors is Bryan Truemper, who was selling free-range eggs with his wife, Christina, and their young son, Behner. Truemper's family owns Farrar Out Farm in Frohna. He said people who visit his spot like that the eggs come from chickens that live in open-air pens which are moved daily to fresh ground. In addition to pasture grasses, their animals eat fresh locally milled food with no antibiotics or hormones.

"But I think it's the flavor," he said. "The food tastes better than mass-produced grocery store-style eggs."

Bob Bailey sells honey. The Hayti, Mo., beekeeper sells honey, honey sauces, honey mustards, all from honey that is harvested from his 650 hives.

"We have a good market here and in Carbondale," he said. "What people like about the farmer's market is they know where the food comes from. I know I like knowing where my food comes from."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137