Foodwise | October 13, 2023 | View as Webpage

For Bay Area Chefs, the Best Dishes Start at the Farmers Market

Every Saturday morning, among the swarms of people who bring the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market to life, Bay Area chefs can be spotted navigating the tents as they fill up their red chef carts with striking seasonal finds. Chefs are a reliable customer base for farmers, sometimes making up 50% of farmers’ sales and often promoting farm names on their menus.

As chefs pick up a bounty of bell peppers from one farm and a plethora of pluots from another, they’re not just picking up peak-season ingredients for their local restaurants. They’re also deepening friendships with family farmers and supporting values they hold close to their hearts. We asked a few chefs who are participating in Foodwise’s Sunday Supper this weekend to share a bit about the farms they keep coming back to, and what it means to them to be a part of our close-knit local food community.

This Week's Picks

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Last Chance! Just a Few Seats Left at Foodwise Sunday Supper

Our Sunday Supper: A Farm to City Feast is this weekend, and we have just a few tickets left! Join us at the Ferry Building for a four-course feast prepared by 30 of the Bay Area's best restaurants. Plus, you can bid on 10 exclusive live auction items, such as private dinners with Nopa's Laurence Jossel, Top Chef's Michelle Minori, or Spruce's Mark Sullivan. Support local farms, food access, and education, and do it deliciously!

Reserve your seat now

Autumn Molo Dumplings

At the Foodwise Classroom, Aaron Escalada, chef at Abacá shared this recipe for pork-and-shrimp-filled dumplings, served in a comforting, aromatic broth.

Try the recipe

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: Featured Vendors

New on Thursdays! Fried Chicken from SF Chickenbox

Among Eater SF's "spectacularly crunchy" picks, SF Chickenbox serves up crispy, halal fried chicken and mochi muffins. Try them for yourself now at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market!

Meet SF Chickenbox

Find Heritage Birds and More at Devil's Gulch Ranch

Mark Pasternak and Myriam Kaplan-Pasternak raise rabbits, pigs, sheep, heritage chickens, poussin, squab, and quail. Pick up your proteins for the week at their stand on Saturdays.

Meet Devil's Gulch Ranch

Mission Community Market: Featured Vendors

Get Día de los Muertos Treats at Norte54

Raquel Goldman creates traditional pan dulce (pastries), using seasonal produce. This month, pick from seasonal treats like Pan de Muerto, Calavera Cookies, and Pink Pearl Cardamom Conchas.

Meet Norte54

Pick Up Fresh and Local Pet Food from Pet Wants

Pet Wants San Francisco is a family-run pet nutrition and wellness business. Visit their stand on Thursdays for fresh dog and cat food, slow cooked in small batches.

Meet Pet Wants San Francisco

Community Happenings

Illuminations: An Illustrated Journey through Issues Shaping Our Futures (use code "EXPLORE" for 20% off) | October 13-28 | SF

Edible Schoolyard's Fall Festival | October 14 | Stockton

Salsa in the Streets | October 21 | SF

Hunters Point Shipyard Artists Open Studios with En2Action | October 21 & 22 | SF

Día de los Muertos and Halloween at Mission Community Market | October 26 | SF

Common Ground Film Screening at the Roxie Theater | Starts October 27 | SF

Ferry Building Marketplace Trick-or-Treat | October 30 | SF

Bayview Uncorked 2023: Southeast San Francisco Celebration | November 4 | SF

Slow Food East Bay’s Celebrating Cultural Food Traditions: Philippines | November 5 | Oakland

Market Updates

This is the most up-to-date info about this week's seller attendance at the time of publication. Please check in at the Foodwise Info Booth for any last-minute changes.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: Saturday, 8am-2pm | October 14

La Cocina Pop-Up: Camucha's Kitchen

Mandela Partners Pop-Up:Chef Sarah Germany

New! Canteen Meats

Returning: Hodo, Fifth Crow Farm

Out: Aedan Fermented Foods,Arata Farms,Capay Mills (until November), Knoll Farms (until January)

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: Tuesday, 10am-2pm | October 17

SF Black Wallstreet Pop-Up:Mo'Raysha's

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: Thursday, 10am-2pm | October 19

SF Black Wallstreet Pop-Up:Sukulenta SF

New!SF Chickenbox

Out: The Vegan Hoodchefs