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Categories: Fruits & Veggies, Farmers Market
Neighborhoods: Civic Center/Tenderloin, SOMAWed., Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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I dig the scene.
The fruits and veggies aren't really that cheap, Safeway has better prices.
I only ever buy two things from the market:
1. Butter Toffee Almonds from G.L. Alfieri farms (Ripon, CA)
2. Roto-Roli 1/4 chicken and roasted potatoes.
Got the Roto-Roli today, 1/4 chicken isn't huge but more than enough. 4-5 roasted Yukon potatoes, both liberally doused with oregano, garlic and salt. Both cooked perfectly, I bet the self-basting has something to do with that!
Just like Mom used to make (and I now make). Very yums.
I need something sweet now, better go back for my almonds.
Ya feel me?
Shatangi is becoming a regular. Walking distance from mi casa, I can stock up Sundays on most of the grown stuff I'll need throughout the week. If you are on a budget and appreciate home cooking there's no better place to start your menu. Get to know your vendors. They are mostly smart and pretty cool!
Shatangi told you...
I live a 10 minute walk from here on a sunday, through phalanxes of the cracky populace, Muslim families on their way to or from worship, cardboard box sleepers, Southeast Asian shop owners, dogs, drug dealers, traffic, artists, turds, and loitering cops. I bring $15 and get my whole week of vegs.
If you're really looking for the best deal on everything, troll the entire place and identify the stands with the lowest prices. It's cheeseparing, but when you're poor that's what you do - 75 cents a pound is better than a dollar a pound.
Then do your shopping. If there's a veg you're not sure about, just stand there for a while and eventually you'll observe an old pro (usually short, older, Asian, and female - but not always) and you might learn something if you ask How do you choose the best [fill in the blank]. You'll probably learn some alternative medicine too, since in many cultures food is medicine, or better put, there is no difference between food and medicine, and prevention is the name of the game. But I digress.
If you want the freshest ever quail or chicken, come here. All you need to do is be willing to kill, gut, and pluck it. So far I haven't gotten up the gumption to do that, but eventually I will. I know it.
If you come here regularly you'll develop your routine and your favorite stands. One of my favorites is the four mix 'n' match herbs for $3 guys. They're so enthusiastic about people trying something new. I love their attitude and prices - I can have cilantro, thai basil, [delicious lemony leafy plant I can't catch the name of], and garlic chives for a week on $3). They've just put up signs saying $1 each but don't let that stop you - it's still 4 for $3.
Finally, it must be said that the diet of this country girl has become 10,000% more interesting, varied, and healthy because of this market. All on about 15 bucks a week. That's like 2 cabbages, a pound of carrots, and a few pounds of turnips where I come from. I'm just sayin.
this is a real farmers' market that really does not carry many prepped food vendors (kettle corn, i've seen the waffle truck here, middle eastern fare, etc.). they sell live poultry, loads of produce, and various other goods such as flavored nuts and dried fruit. the prices for the produce are fantastic as well, as they will not blow any budgets like the ferry building market will. yes, the neighborhood is not the best place to be walking around by yourself at odd hours, and some parts of this market do smell like urine, but prices are great, and if you're serious about farmers' markets, then you won't mind. come early though if you want the freshest produce.
Ditto everything Nam N. said. (Less expensive than Ferry Building. End-of-day dollar bags are a steal. Decent quality. No hot food stands.)
(Is "ditto" allowed on Yelp?)
Why do I love this market so? It's not just because I like counting the number of crack deals/ rocks I witness on my way down (although I am a fan of quantitative games). It's not just 'cause I like getting holla-ed at by all the unsavories (which is sadly flattering and insulting at the same time). Or because there's nothing like waking up with a big ol' whiff of piss/shit/vomit/half-eaten food/drug addiction on my Sunday morning (damn, what happened to my good ol' days of brunching on Sunday morning?)? No, it's because:
1. It's the cheapest.
2. I can't stop watching/ cringing when I see/ smell the line for live chickens.
3. Size matters--puts ones like the Fillmore one to shame! Tons of options, so shop around.
4. Mushrooms for cheap!
5. The people that come here are willing to brave the TL on a Sunday morning!
6. Being a SAMPLE WHORE is a cinch 'cause the market's so spread out and crowded!
Tip: The later you come the cheaper the produce. $1 bags--holla!
What's a day hanging with the sister without going to a Farmer's Market??? Unheard of, I say!
So with puppy and bf in tow, my sister and I headed down to the Heart of the City Farmers Market this past Sunday just right before the stalls starting closing. And between you and I, this tactic of my sister's was brilliant! You get all the produce for amazing deals since vendor's either don't want to haul the items back to storage or the produce will go bad before the next time they set up shop!
From what I could see on this particular day, this Market offers mostly produce and flowers (not too many food stands if you're looking to get a snackie). However, the produce that they offered had a wide variety of items I rarely see at other places (veggies found in Asian and Latin cuisine, etc.).
And because we went near closing time, we capitalized on the Dollar A Bag closeouts! What did I walk away with?
- 2lb. Bag of Early Girl Tomatoes for $1
- Deliciously sweet and fresh peaches for $1 a pound
- Huge bag of sweet peppers for $1
- 5 Jalapeno Peppers and 1 Rat Tail Pepper for 5 Cents!! Yes, only a nickel!!!
Fresh produce at a bargain??? Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!! WINNER!
If you're coming to visit or you're local, got to check this one out. Where else can you get the freshest produce from practically local farmers? Farmer's markets like these remind me of the good old days as a sweet little kid running around with dad as we buy strawberries and an assortment of veggies from the farmer's in Sacramento. Or it was Sunday morning and mom and I would go to the market under the highway and I remember it crammed and intense with everybody trying to get the freshest food. That's the joy of growing up in northern cali.
By the way, the market is open on Sunday so don't think that Wednesday is your only opportunity.
So this farmers market is incredible because you can shop for practically anything that your heart desires. This is not to be missed and while you're at it grab a couple of tamales during lunchtime.
Website: none
Organizer: independent non-profit group of farmers, and managed by John Fernandez and Christine Adams.
Season: open all year, since 1981
Schedule: Wednesdays and Sundays 8am-5pm
closed during SF Pride parade, Xmas' & New Year's eve.
Previously, the 2nd farmers' market in the downtown area (Ferry Plaza is the other one), before the Crocker Galleria Farmers Market opened a few years ago, and the Island Earth Farmers Market joined the trend this year at the Metreon.
This is the only TRUE grass roots farmers market in the bay area. It caters mainly to both the low income residents that live nearby, and people that work in the area. Therefore it's less fashionable than other farmers markets, but in my opinion, prices are usually cheaper/ more affordable. It has a large number of produce & fruit vendors (but only some are organic), seafood (look for several trucks), and very few street food vendors - Roli Roti rotisserie chicken truck (Wednesdays only), Sukhi's samosas and sauces, kettle popped corn, tamales (sporadically), and waffles (not always there).
In short, like I said before it's not as trendy, it's just a good basic farmers market. It's worth visiting, during your lunch break on a Wednesday or any time on Sunday. Just hop on BART, get off at Civic Center station.
Tips:
- Only buy what u need. A few produce items don't last long. For example, I love the squash blossoms but those are highly perishable, should use on same day.
- Sort thru your produce to get rid of any squashed or damaged items, otherwise it'll spoil the other ones.
- Most delicate fruits should be stored at room temperature (the refrigerator will dehydrate and spoil them)
- After 2pm, a few vendors start making additional special offers (for example: half off, $1 per pound, etc.), and by 3 pm some vendors are willing to negotiate some prices, or round down totals in order to make sales. That's awesome!
As much as I love browsing and eating my way through the Ferry Building's farmers market, it's just way too expensive for me to actually purchase my week's produce there.
Which is why I've turned to the Civic Center farmers market on Sunday mornings. The fruit and veggies are local (and in many cases certified organic), and way cheaper and fresher than compared to any nearby supermarket. There aren't many cooked food stands, but Sukhi's Indian is perfect for a samosa pick-me-up before lunch.
Last week I picked up organic zucchini and green beans at $1/lb, organic blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries at $2.25 a basket. Champagne grapes were also a steal- and incredibly delicious too.
An easy to access location and not as many homeless and/or crackheads as you would expect. All of the sellers are so friendly too.
I have a standing Sunday date with this farmer's market, because no matter how terrible the weather or painful the hangover, tasting and purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables on the cheap always makes me feel that perhaps the world isn't quite as terrible as I thought it was when I left the house.
All the produce is local and seasonal, so I wouldn't recommend shopping at the market with a list of produce because you might not find all of it. The farmers are extremely friendly and many of them use sustainable and organic farming practices, although many don't go through the costly certification process. The produce is cheaper than the grocery store, and in most cases you'll get to sample before purchasing.
If you can make it on a Wednesday, you'll have a better selection of produce along with cheese, breads, and more prepared foods. On a Sunday, if you arrive after noon you risk missing the cream of the crop: some of the best berry stands, for example, aim to be out of there by noon - which also means that around 11:30 you'll get some pretty good deals.
Good for fruits, vegetables, nuts, flowers, dried fruits (sometimes, depending on who is there) and eggs. Cheese and bread is great on Wednesdays, and naturally the market is a little more flavorful in the summer than it is in winter months.
Wednesday afternoon's have become 'Farmer's Market Wednesday' for me and half of my office - thanks to my suggestion, of course. And this hump-day venture has yet to disappoint.
Fresh fruit, free samples, walking around aimlessly in the middle of the work day, and vendor food - what more can you ask for really for lunch?
My favorite fruit stand is by far the 'melon man' who has a stand in the middle of the market near the 'bread man', around the same vicinity as the 'fresh fish people'. The melon is known for his cling peaches and, of course, his melons but if you can catch him when he has his french plums - OH MAN!!
And what goes better with fresh fruit than tamales?! I don't know.. that's why I'm asking. For ~$7 for 3 tamales - the price is just right. Don't forget to ask for the spicy sauce with your tamales - they don't give it to you unless you ask (the red and green sauces are decoy)
3.5 stars.
This is a pretty big farmer's market in early August. A lot bigger than the one on Tuesdays in downtown SJ. You get a lot of different vedors, but most selling the same produce (ie basil, cilantro, green beans, peaches, nectarines, etc.) for about the same price. They have a cheese stand (with free samples), honey vendor, a few orchid vendors, a couple of kettle corn stands, and a couple of snack food stands. Everything seemed to be decently priced anywhere from $0.75-$2.50/lb of produce.
Our highlight of the whole farmer's market was the Heirloom tomatoes! And SUCH a great deal too! We left happy campers with our 2 lb. green beans for $2, 5.5 lb. Heirloom tomatoes for $3 (by asking the right question of course), and cheese curds for $5.
**review for Wednesday farmer's market**
I love going to farmer's market during lunch on weekdays.
Today I ditched my yoga ritual, and checked out the civic center farmer's market for the first time since it's not TOOO far from work.
Dang I hecka wish I checked this place out earlier, this place is freaking awesome!
Likes:
- tamale vendor, no lard?! super delicious, long @ss line for the tamale. sooo good
- Super size peaches! Sooo juicy and sweet, and... they're ORGANIC!
- Rainbow chard and lots of greens- for a buck, you get to choose from the sea of greens
- the dates vendor, wow, so many type of dates to choose from, and they're no more than $3 bucks/lbs! SWEET!
I'm definitely coming back, maybe even every Wednesday. A tamale and a juicy peach?! now that's a perfect lunch....
Middle of the week and I ain't got shit to eat, but praise dog, I work just a few blocks from this market.
They've got a great selection of cheap, good produce--admittedly, it's mostly super-non-organic (you can tell because the string beans are the size of my leg, and the broccoli will help you carry your groceries), but look--it's fucking hump day and I need some Chinese long bean, whoyagonnacall?
There is organic produce, but they are incredible rip-off artists--$7.99 a pound for eggplant?! Really, good sirs, you must be taking the piss.
The mushroom guys are huuuuuge standouts--they regularly will toss in a handfull of "extra" shrooms, no matter what you get. I got a little 1/4 pound basket of Lion's Mane mushys and they gave me a few ore--basically doubling my order. NICE!
There's also a falafel place (dry and not so good), a tamale place ($2.75 for a tamale--why is corn meal and an ounce of meat so expensive?), the roti-chicken joint (I'm pretty sure they raise their prices compared to when they're in Oakland), and the kettle corn dudes (enh). It's a damn fine middle-of-the-week urban farmer's market, and just because there are a lot of qualifiers doesn't mean I'm insincere.
The greatest thing about this place is that if you are not up at the crack of dawn, you can still come here in the afternoon, unlike most farmer's markets that are already packed up and gone. I came here on a Wednesday afternoon around 1pm and it was easy to navigate around and I didn't have to fight anyone for that nice ripe peach. Prices are pretty reasonable and I did find some unusual things I haven't seen before, like the French Charentais melons that are sweet as sugar and have a delectable taste.
You won't find eggs with Petrossian caviar here, but that's not what this market is about.
I go here on occassion (usually on Sundays, because I'm never around to go on Wednesdays; which is too bad because the Waffle truck is only there on Wednesdays!) to get some produce because its more affordable than the Ferry Building's Farmers Market (on Saturdays) but its not as fun. There are only 1-2 food vendors (I've seen greek and take-home indian food) so its more like a produce mart. For me, the highlight of going to a farmers market is the eating outside from food vendors. The produce here isn't as high quality as the Ferry Building's either.
Always an experience and a pleasure here. No matter how long I have lived in SF, this place and the surrounding 3 block radius always has something that will make me laugh out loud, feel dirty, put my purse in front of me or have me speaking another language in no time.
Sometimes it is like WWF with all of the women's up in there pawing and pushing each other, but i rather like it. It's comforting and reminds me of my years abroad and my ex gf's 92 year old Chinese grandmother yelling in Chinese. The things we miss :-)
Oh yes, bring $15 and take home a harvest. This place is on the cheap. Best deal: $2.25 for a dozen organic eggs. *gasps!!
I'm a big fan of this farmers market. Cheap, good quality produce with live chickens clucking in the distance, fresh kettle corn popping, and the aroma of hot tamales ready for consumption. The produce here is also far more varied than that of the Ferry Building--far more ethnic options. Nearly everything is local, a good portion of the offerings are organic, and the clientele rocks. Like that guy I saw last time selling pot, advertising his weed as "local, California grown, and organic" . . . only in SF. Hey, even the potheads care about their carbon footprint!
Why would anyone give this place anything lower than 5 stars?!
I absolutely love getting off the Civic Center BART station early Wednesday mornings to find all the vendors set up, the booths already busy with early bird shoppers, and the fresh smell of veggies and fruit (and sometimes even the sweet scent of fresh belgian waffles). I want to emphasize the fresh smell of the veggies and the fruit.
This place is great if you love getting lunch from vendors selling from a truck or stand. For some reason I always think the food is better when it comes from a small stand or truck. They have samosas, rotisserie chicken, belgian waffles, tamales, falafels...what more could a girl ask for?
I don't live in the City, but I sure do day dream about having my own place here and shopping during my lunch hour for some fresh fruit and veggies to bring home to cook later.
I also love how the vendors here are so helpful and knowledgeable about their particular specialty, whether it is fruit, nuts, honey, fish or plants. I'm so helpless when it comes to picking out the perfect peice of fruit, but luckily I got the help of the cashier to pick a delciously ripe yellow nectarine for me today. And if you're having troubles with allergies, then go to the Honey stand and they can tell you which one to get. I only had 6 bucks on me today and I was able to get 1 samosa, a bagful of cherry tomatoes and a nectarine. Doesn't sound much, but I'm full! I really wanted the blueberries and grapes too though!
If you're coming here for lunch, I recommend the falafel and rotisserie chicken stands. Only trouble is that there's limited seating, so take it to go!
If you ever see a Pupusera or Pupuseria stand, stay clear of it. I had a very bad experience and ended up throwing all of it away.
This place was awesome. I came here on a Wednesday and i was blown away. I did not expect so many produce stalls. I was so overwhelmed that I didn't even know where to begin. In the end, I just went to several stalls with the best looking produce.
I will definitely come back again to explore this market some more. The prices were reasonable unlike the Ferry Building Farmer's Market.
End result:
-2 huge yellow peaches
-1+ lb fresh Edamame
-little less than half a pound of okra
-a pound of tomatoes
= less than 6 dollars! weee!! I am super happy!
Are you a big, hung over loser who is doing the "walk of shame" past the bums, the junkies, and the skaters who are doing kick flips while blasting The Luniz on their boom boxes through the Tenderloin on a sunny Sunday morning? You can redeem yourself with fresh produce whilst heading back to the BART station.
Because I'm used to Oakland's Grand Lake Farmer's Market, I only think this one is "ok." It's smaller and doesn't have as much prepared food.
I can't believe I've lived in the city so long without coming here.
Mid-workday field trips are the best. Especially trips where I get to shop!
We had to find six potted plants on a budget. There were three orchid stands, so the choice was made for us as to what to buy. $8 for one, $10 for two. Awesome deal!
We had to get some kettle corn. By the time we got to the front of the line, kettle corn man ran out! So we stood while he cooks up a fresh batch. The smoke was getting in my hair and face, but it smelled so delicious that I waited another 30 seconds before stepping off to the side. Well worth the $3 and the wait.
It was quite an experience battling all the crazies out there (man with womanly hair and stuffed breasts, woman with half a shirt on and rolls underneath, etc.). But well worth the battle for the deals.
Next time, maybe $2 fresh chopped sugar canes?
This is not an upscale, overpriced farmers market aimed at gourmets and foodies, but I wouldn't hold that against it. There is a great mix of people -- everyone from Vietnamese grandmothers from the Tenderloin to broke students and even yuppies.
The produce is just as diverse -- you can find some organic stuff, some pesticide-free stuff that's basically, but not technically, organic (some farmers can't afford the lengthy, expensive FDA organic certification process), and some dirt-cheap conventionally-grown stuff.
My favorite things about this farmers market:
-The mushroom guys, with their fresh, amazing, cheap mushrooms
-The cheapest ethically-produced eggs I can find (I insist on pastured chickens without clipped beaks, and this can cost $8 a dozen at some supermarkets.)
-Talking to the people who grow my food, and getting their advice for cooking/storing it.
-The low-yield organic strawberries -- best I've ever tasted.
-The dates. The date people are fantastic!
-The farmers who give me free carrot tops for my rabbit
-Going at the end of the day when everybody lowers their prices because they're packing up
-Spending $20 for more produce than I can use in a week.
If you are not shopping here weekly (Wednesdays and Sundays) you are missing out on some of the best stuff that local people are bringing in.
The parking is a bit of a pain and the crowd is not in GUCCI- but get over it. The produce is fresh- local- mostly organic and the price are great! You go with $20 and you have food for a week! No joke! Check it out!
I love this market, and I like the feeling of sharing it with the whole city (not just the moneyed portion).
Decent plus more...
It's not the most creative in terms of selection, but I do think this farmers market has got some great deals on the basics--definitely cheaper than the Ferry Building Farmers Market.
I picked up a couple of pounds of juicy oranges for only $3.00, and best of all, there are is a stand with honey-covered almonds of addicting flavors...Two large containers for $10 and just scrumptious!
So if you're heading to the area, stop off at Civic Center, say "hi" to the crazies, then get your shopping on.
Another one for the "I am spoiled" list. But I'm not a fan of this market. After braving the gauntlet of homeless folks, I was disappointed to find only fruits and veggies here.
Where was the famous waffle truck? The lovely breads and pastries? The cheese? Vegetables? What am I supposed to do with those? Bah.
Every Sunday I walk into The Heart of City... where the sun shines, the drug deals go down and regular folks come out to prepare for a week of home cookin'. I love that this farmer's market is so quirky. The chickens are sold live out of the back of a truck only to have their necks wrung right before exchanging hands. What?
It's super cheap, too! Delicious Kettle Corn is $3 for a huge bag. The "succulent lady" always has exotic and interesting specimens for $2.75 a piece, and the mushroom man has oysters and portabellos for a steal.
The falafel purveyors get there at 4 a.m. to grind the beans and start making their hummus and hot sauce from scratch, and they give out huge samples for free. Now if the waffle truck and tamale stand would come out on Sundays, I would be perfectly happy. *sigh*
Advice for you... Follow the old Chinese ladies! If you can handle the pushing and shoving they will show you the way to the cheapest and best seasonal produce in the city.
I love that they take EBT at this farmers markets. You purchase the little $1 tokens with the EBT card and can use them at the various carts.
I love to come here and pretend I don't speak english. I love the tangerines with weird nipples on the top. Kumquats. What's a kumquat? Here I'll show you.
Well now I like kumquats. Whatever the hell they are.
Ginger for $1.50/lb, and cheap baby bok choy, carrots, mushrooms, and fish..
I'm glad this is here, it's a neighborhood staple.
Waffles, tamales, fresh fruit, fresh produce, fresh eggs, the yummiest kettle corn ever, cheap prices. Sorry, but you really can't beat it.
You can get everything you need for the week all in one place while supporting local farmers. You can't beat that it's right off the civic center bart stop either! love it!
My most recent discoveries: Shinko pears, tamales (I think they're made by All Star? I forgot the name, I'm probably way off), and the Belgian Waffle truck. I didn't get to go to the truck today but my co-worker brought some waffles back for me when she went. $12 for 4 slabs of powdered sugared Belgian waffle goodness. Well worth the money! There's no syrup on top but throughout the waffle are moments of maple goodness. There is no other way to verbalize this mouth orgasm.
I bought 2 tamales last week after 2pm and they knocked off a $1 off the price. And yes, they were delicious but I'm not sure how they compare to the Tamale Lady. The only other Farmer's Market I go to is in Daly City, in the Serramonte parking lot. I can't even compare the two. Makes you look forward to Wednesdays!
If you are brave enough to venture into the tenderloin, you will find excellent prices and much more entertainment than the Ferry Building. The live chicken stall is my favorite for forgetting that you are in California. Orchids are a great deal here.
This is literally across the street from my apt building (I live in a great area don't I?!?!) so I absolutely LOVE this famers market. Not only do I get MANY of my staples for the week from here for GREAT prices, but I also find yummy little extras...like the different flavored pistachio nuts. Wasabi is my favorite. I usually buy eggs, mushrooms, mixed greens for salads, and anything else that catches my fancy.
I DO hate having to walk by the Balut truck to get there though, because I definitely gag everytime (CAN MY NOSE JUST LISTEN TO ME AND NOT BREATHE IN?!?!), but that's pretty much the only downside.
The reason I go to work on Wednesdays.
My favorite farmers market in the City & come here Sunday morning after a trip to the nearby Central Y (closing June 30th - so sad..)
This is definitely a different place to the Ferry Plaza & my local Noe Valley Saturday affair, and I love it the most. 70+% local Chinese who are "ladies on a mission" when it comes to spotting the best produce & bargains. Just follow them - keeping a respectable & safe (beware elbow in ribs) distance - & do as they do. Can't go wrong.
Great bargains - twenty bucks will keep you in fruit & veg for the week.
February 11, 2009
9:37 AM, Cold Rainy Wednesday Morning
FARMER'S MARKET GOODIES:
PART I:
I made a beeline between stalls checking out the goodies while I was munching on my freshly made hot sweet sugary waffle. (See my review of the Waffle Mania Truck.) My eyes were big as saucers when I saw the following:
1. Fresh rotisserie chicken ($12.00/whole chicken but you can also buy half for $6.50)
2. Tamales (I felt like I hit the Jackpot!!!! Dinner for tonight and the following Wednesdays!! No need to cook dinner on Wednesdays anymore!)
3. Freshly made falafel
4. Bottles of olive oil and clover honey
5. Artisan cheese
6. Dried fruits and nuts
7. Lots and lots of fruits and veggies for cheap!
8. Different varieties of mushrooms
9. Crates of fresh eggs
10. Potted plants and flowers for $3-5/freshly cut flowers.
11. Kettle corn!
I was just on a Coffee break when I made this mad dash to this farmer's market. I did not want to cart a whole load of veggies back to my office so I decided to return at 2 PM during my lunch break.
It was a cozy morning today at the farmer's market because of the soft rain and the UN Plaza fountain in the background. Being surrounded by impressive architectures of City Hall, Asian Museum and the Main Library added to the charm of this farmer's market. I was not bothered by any homeless people who have made a home of this part of the City. I'm so lucky I am just a skip and a hop away!
PART II:
Same day, 2:15 PM, Still Raining
I bolted out of my meeting and ran to the farmer's market to do my actual shopping.
1. Most of the stalls were already packing up but prices were going down.(The rotisserie chicken stand was no longer there.)
2. The TAMALE stand was also already packing up. I paid $10.00 for 5 giant hot tamales which were being sold for $11.75 for 5 this morning. (Red pork, beef mole, spinach and cheese, green pork, black beans and cheese, picadillo)
3. I spent $3.30 for 3 heirloom tomatoes, a bunch of cilantro and 3 limes.
4. $4.00 for a basket of trumpet mushrooms.
5. I went back to buy one more chile-cheese tamale for $2.00
6. The FALAFEL guy called me and gave me a lemonade "On The House!!!" eventhough I didn't buy anything from him. He said he saw me walking around. 5 stars for the falafel guy!
7. I would have bought a potted plant for $3.00 and cut flowers but I didn't drive today.
Total purchase this afternoon: $17.30
Goodbye, Whole Foods. I think I finally got over you. Consider yourself replaced (Okay, not totally but you have competition!)
Here's how I do the farmer's market.
I go at around 3 p.m. on Wednesdays. Most of the vendors are still there, and they want to go home, so I often get discounts on already-cheap stuff because the farmers don't want to load it back in the truck. (If you want first pick, or live chickens --no shit-- go early in the morning. If you want lunch, like fresh samosas and fried veggie nummies, go at lunchtime)
If I go late in the day, my first stops are in the middle of the plaza: I make a beeline to see if the mushroom lady is still there, and buy whatever is unusual plus a $3 basket of tree oysters. If the egg man is there (he's a couple stalls down from Mushrooms), and I need eggs, I buy them from him -- cage free for a fraction of any grocery store (roughly $2/dozen).
I enter on the end closest to the Library/8th Street. That's the Kettle Corn end.
If I haven't been in a couple weeks, I stroll around and see what's in season; if there's a new crop of something like plums or persimmons, I look and see and whose fruit looks more ripe but less bruised.
If I don't feel like wandering around and I need specific items, I get them usually at the first two booths on the library end.
1. The Mexican Cowboy booth. (Picture a Mexican cowboy. This is his booth.) It's the one that has an enormous flower stall beyond the enormous produce stall. I get bell peppers, heirloom tomatoes, small potatoes, red onions here, among other things. They have the best one-stop shopping and the lowest prices, although you have to do some picking by the end of the day.
2. The hippie vegan booth. (Picture cute vaguely dirty dudes with dreadlocks.) Not all of their stuff is certified organic, but most of the stuff is pesticide-free and soforth. Hands down the best broccoli around, and I go here for carrots, cherry tomatoes, arugula, and baby spinach.
There are a couple booths that are certified all organic, usually in the middle of the plaza. Other things I like: the nut guys (wasabi almonds!), and the rare but magnificent homemade cheese stand (near the kettle corn).
I give the Farmers Market 4 not five stars... they could have more trash cans and more variety in the offerings.... How about more prepared food like the Oakland Farmers Market has (haven't been in 2 yrs!!). I'd like to see more fish, sausages, and regular music..... and maybe more tables and chairs.
This is a bit cheaper than the Saturday and Tuesday Farmer's Markets at the Ferry Building.
Great fish offered here! Seriously. And SO cheap! I was amazed with the Salmon I got here- over a pound for six bucks. And delicious in a Brazilian-style soup!
This one is a bit more diversified than the Ferry Building, so you really get a taste of San Francisco. Arguing over Cilantro with a Filipina lady, who will promptly smile wide wide wide, when you two have finally decided on a price, is the way I like to buy my herbs, for sure.
And there's amazing nut stands here, selling pounds of Almonds and the like for usually a buck or two less than Rainbow!
Go Tenderloin. Go.
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA
Category: Farmers Market
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA
Category: Fruits & Veggies
Neighborhood: Embarcadero
Category: Farmers Market
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Farmers Market
Neighborhood: Embarcadero
Category: Farmers Market
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