Celebrate the market community at our Spring Breakfast ~ June 7

On June 7, CUESA's Dacor teaching kitchen in the North Arcade will be transformed into the setting for our annual breakfast gathering. Come delight in spring's abundance and the people who bring it to us each week. A market seller will be at each table to share stories about her or his business. There are three seatings--9:00, 10:00 and 11:00 am. Tickets are $25 per person ($15 for children 2-12) and proceeds benefit CUESA’s education programs. We sincerely hope you can join us!
Click here to purchase tickets >

Waste Wise volunteers needed this Saturday!

Help CUESA green the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market! As a Waste Wise volunteer, not only will you help divert waste from the landfill, you'll also teach thousands of shoppers to become more waste wise. You'll receive a free market tote bag and plenty of market snacks to keep you refreshed throughout the day. For more information, please contact Ashleigh Collier at ashleigh@cuesa.org.

Waste Wise Farm Tour ~ Friday, June 13

First, we'll visit the Jepson Prairie Organics facility, where the materials deposited in San Francisco's green bins are made into compost. Then, farmer Nigel Walker will take us on a guided tour of nearby Eatwell Farm, where he enriches the soil with loads and loads of compost from Jepson Prairie.
Click here to learn more and buy tickets >

CUESA is hiring a Visual and Virtual Education Manager

The Visual and Virtual Education Manager is responsible for our website, this weekly e-mail newsletter, and educational signage. He/she will also complete additional short-term projects such as special exhibits, themed displays, and new website features.
Click here to see the complete job description and requirements >

Saturday, May 17 ~ Market to Table

10:30 am - Meet the producer

11:00 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration
Margo True of Sunset Magazine

Saturday, May 24 ~ Market to Table

10:30 am - Meet the producer

11:00 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration
Leif Hedendal, Local Chef

All programs take place in front of the Ferry Building on the north side.

What better way to learn about where your food comes from than to visit the land on which it is produced? CUESA's recent Greenhouse Grown farm tour to Bruins Farms and Orangewood Farm reinforced to us that farm visits are one of our most important educational programs. Many urban dwellers are intimately familiar with farmers' market produce, but find food production mysterious. Farm tours allow us to become better acquainted with market sellers (who often have limited time to chat at the market), and are a rare opportunity to see firsthand what it takes to grow healthful, tasty food. Said one tour attendee, “The farmers were both extremely generous in sharing their practices and candidly answering questions. A great way to spend the day and reaffirm why I need to buy produce from local farmers. They work so hard!”

CUESA also seeks sponsorships to help cover the cost of the tours, allowing us to pay a stipend to farmers, provide a farmers' market lunch, and offer tickets to attendees for far less than it costs to put on the event. We'll be conducting several more farm tours this year, and hope you can join us for one of them! Click here for details about our upcoming Waste Wise farm tour >

See a slideshow of our time at Bruins Farms >

See a slideshow of our time at Orangewood Farm >

One of the tour attendees posted a two part summary of the tour on his weblog, EatsForOne...or more >

This is the most up-to-date information about which sellers will and won't be attending the market as of Friday, when we send this letter. If there are no changes to a seller's status, they will not be listed. To find out which farmers regularly attend each market, click here. Please understand that there are often last-minute changes--it's the nature of farming!

Saturday, May 17

In/returning: Bernard Ranches, Core Elations, Happy Quail Farms, Triple Delight Blueberries
Out: The Apple Farm, Juniper Ridge, Lucero Organic Farms
Moving: Happy Girl Kitchen (now next to Cowgirl Creamery in the back plaza)

Tuesday, May 20

In/returning: Blossom Bluff Orchards, Frog Hollow Farm, Happy Quail Farms, Redwood Hill Farm *new*

Returning this month (weather willing): Shallots, summer squash, squash blossoms, Cipollini onions, cherries, blueberries, apricots, raspberries, basil, heirloom roses, broccoli di cicco, Bloomsdale Spinach, halibut, squid, loquats

Plentiful: Strawberries, Stockton Red onions, baby root vegetables, lettuces, celery, fresh herbs, fava beans, English peas, fennel, artichokes, rapini

Winding down/limited supply: Asparagus, citrus, braising greens, nettles

Farms that may return this month (weather willing): Triple Delight Blueberries (hopefully May 10), Paoletti Farms, Kashiwase Farm

Recipes for May

Trio of Crostini: Braised Artichokes, Roasted Spring Onions and Roasted Beets with Fennel, Liza Shaw, A16 Restaurant

Zucchini Fritters, Former CUESA Market Chef Shanti Wilson

Fava Beans & Strawberry Salad with Pecorino, Chris Cosentino, Incanto Restaurant

Pan Roasted Squid with Iacopi Farms Gigande Beans, Rapini and Meyer Lemon,  Staffan Terje, Perbacco Ristorante and Bar