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A third farmers market is set to open in downtown Bethesda this weekend, but organizers and vendors say there is enough demand from shoppers and diversity among products to keep all three successful.

The new Bethesda Central Farm Market will kick off with an opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m., on Sunday, at 7255 Elm Street and will be open on Sundays and Thursdays. It will join the Montgomery Farm Women's Cooperative Market on Wisconsin Avenue and the Bethesda Farmer's Market in Veterans Park.

The founders and managers Ann Brody, a food and beverage consultant, and Mitch Berliner, a specialty food distributor, stressed the community orientation of the new market.

"The goal of the market is to bring quality producers and the community together in a fun environment where people can learn about their food," Berliner said.

He envisions the Bethesda Central Farm Market as a place where shoppers can purchase groceries for the entire week on Sunday and pick up things as-needed on Thursday. The market will have 25 vendors on Sundays, and approximately 10 on Thursdays, he said. Demand to sell at the market is high, Berliner said.

"There's been a pent up demand for a really comprehensive farm market," he said. "We have a waiting list of vendors."

The market will include flower vendors, seafood salesmen, butchers, produce vendors, cheese makers and other vendors.

Vendors plan to host farm dinners using their products, hold chef demonstrations and offer other community activities as well, Brody said.

In addition, the market has partnered with Manna Food Center and plans to provide leftover fresh food from the market to hungry county residents.

Thirteen farmer's markets operate throughout the county, according to the Montgomery County Department of Agriculture, and the county helps manage three of those markets, including the Bethesda Farmer's market, said Kristin Fisher, agricultural programs specialist for the county's agriculture department.

"A lot of the community-based markets are doing really well, and I think that will continue," she said. "And the more robust a market is the better everyone involved in the market does."

Market directors say the differences among Bethesda's three markets will appeal to different shoppers for different reasons. Bethesda's oldest market, the Montgomery Farm Women's Cooperative, features more crafts and prepared foods than fresh produce. But after being in business for nearly 80 years, the market has devoted customers.

"We've been around since 1932," said Director John Paul. "We have a loyal customer base that's followed us from generation to generation."

Becca Madison, 50, of Germantown, is one of the markets longtime customers, who says it's more than the jewelry stands and produce that keeps her coming back.

"I've been coming here for 30 years," she said. "You make friends here."