Special events & announcements
The Spring Breakfast is only two weeks away!
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 every 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! The buffet-style menu includes:
- Farm-fresh scrambled eggs with fava beans, green garlic, and peas or mushrooms
- Herbed potatoes
- Blueberry pancakes with lemon ricotta
- Dandelion green salad with bacon
- Fresh peaches, strawberries, cherries and blueberries with creme fraiche, yogurt, and honey
- Warm breakfast pastries and bread
- Artisan cheeses, handmade jams
- Coffee, tea, and juice
Click here to purchase tickets >
Waste Wise Farm Tour ~ Friday, June 13
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 >
Mp3 of Climate-Friendly Eating talk is up!
Listen to a panel discussion about environmentally conscious food choices. Learn about which foods have the biggest carbon footprint and how you can make cooler food choices.
Visit our Listen & Learn page to download the audio file >
California Department of Food and Agriculture listening sessions
From May 28 to July 8, the California Department of Food and Agriculture will be hosting listening sessions to inform their creation of an agricultural vision for the state.
See session schedules and locations >
Public meeting about development on the waterfront ~ May 27
The Port of San Francisco is considering development options for Seawall Lot 351, a parking lot at Embarcadero and Washington Street that currently provides visitor parking for the Ferry Building and the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Interested citizens, neighbors, shoppers, and the development community are invited to share their ideas for development criteria for the project, including appropriate uses and the character of the development, at a meeting on May 27 at 3:15 pm in the Ferry Building.
You can also share your thoughts on the Port's website >
CUESA is Hiring!
Click here to see the job announcement for our Visual and Virtual Education Manager >
Waste Wise Tip of the Week #1
Berry season is in full swing! Bring used yogurt containers or Tupperware to the market to hold delicate strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. You can give the baskets back to farmers for reuse, and save a plastic bag. In addition to reducing waste, this will keep your berries fresher--berry farmers agree that the best way to store berries in the refrigerator is in a plastic tub!
CUESA programs
Saturday, May 24 ~ Market to Table
10:30 am - Meet the producer
Ted or Bryce Loewen of Blossom Bluff Orchards interviewed by CUESA volunteer Earl Shaddix of All-Clad
11:00 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration
Leif Hedendal, local chef
Saturday, May 31 ~ Cherry Jubilee
10:30 - Cherry preserving demonstration
Todd Champagne of Happy Girl Kitchen
11:15 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration
Gabe Cole of Google
10 am to 1 pm - Cherry tasting
It's the height of cherry season! We'll set up a tasting table of cherries from each cherry grower; you bring your taste buds. Location: south driveway, near Eatwell Farm.
Tuesday, June 3 ~ Easy Market Meals
12:00, 12:30 and 1:00 pm ~ Seasonal cooking demonstration
Tia Harrison of Avedano's and Sociale
All programs take place in front of the Ferry Building on the north side (except when noted).
This week’s feature: The news in food
A new farm bill
After a long and winding legislative journey, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 has finally become law. Contentious debates in the House and Senate, a presidential veto, and a clerical mistake all presented hurdles for the bill. On Wednesday, the massive piece of farm, nutrition and fuel-related legislation, which solidly passed in Congress, went to the White House. As expected, the president vetoed the bill, saying, "At a time of high food prices and record farm income, this bill lacks program reform and fiscal discipline. It continues subsidies for the wealthy and increases farm bill spending by more than $20 billion, while using budget gimmicks to hide much of the increase. It is inconsistent with our objectives in international trade negotiations, which include securing greater market access for American farmers and ranchers." Congress promptly overrode his veto by an overwhelming margin, but an enrolling error (the omission of the entire 34-page trade title) left the final version with only 14 of the 15 titles that Congress originally passed.
Farm-Bill Veto Overridden Despite Glitch, Washington Post
There has been a lively discussion among sustainable agriculture advocates about the farm bill. Though there have been significant wins in some areas, it lacks the major farm subsidy reform and other changes that many hoped and fought for.
High food prices
Food prices are rising quickly, straining American's budgets and wreaking havoc in many countries.
New York Times Topics: Food Prices and Supply
Manufacturing a food crisis, The Nation
Other articles of interest
Roast with the most: A new generation of Bay Area coffee roasters pushes the perfect cup to the next level, San Francisco Chronicle
Tasting the bounty of the San Francisco Markets, New York Times
Locavores love nearby farms, InsideBayArea.com
Everything looks better when your head’s in the sand: The USDA stops tracking pesticide use, Ethicurean
Judge orders halt to spraying for moth, San Francisco Chronicle
Market update
 |
|---|
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 24
In/returning: Paoletti Farm
Out: The Apple Farm, Bernard Ranches, Hare Hollow, Juniper Ridge, Lucero Organic Farms, Niman Ranch
Tuesday, May 27
In/returning: Redwood Hill Farm, Devoto Gardens, Happy Quail Farms
Seasonality synopsis for May
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, 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