Best Farmers Markets in San Francisco
There are lots of places to buy organic in San Francisco. Nothing beats the feel of a Bay Area farmers’ market, though. More than any other major California metro, we value healthy food. In this city, local farmers can become famous. You don’t just go for the fresh produce, meat and eggs, either. Go for the experience: Talking with the people who grew your food, picking through newly bloomed flowers, and discovering exotic recipes and ingredients. They’re a great place for people watching too – a way to get to know the neighborhoods of this unique city. Here’s our roster of the greatest – the Best Farmers Markets in San Francisco.
Fort Mason Farmers’ Market
A visit to the Fort Mason Farmers’ Market is always in season – rain or shine, all year round, the market graces Fort Mason Center on Sunday morning. You could go for the views alone: The market sits snug to the shoreline, with an enchanting view of the Golden Gate Bridge stretched nearby. But you’ll keep coming back for this market’s focus on the seasons. Seasonal recipes are offered by the market itself, and they provide updates on every season’s crops throughout the year, so you know what to expect.
Fort Mason Center, Marina & Buchanan, San Francisco, CA 94123, Sundays 9:30am – 1:30pm
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Quantity. Quality. Celebrity. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market has got it all. The nonprofit that runs it – CUESA, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture – may sound stodgy. Their market is anything but. It draws in famous farmers and chefs, like Leah Brooks and Luisa Alberto. They offer cooking demos and expertise on everything you’ll buy – from exotic herbs to humanely sourced meats. On Thursdays, the experience is taken to the next level, as all those delicious ingredients are made into artisan street food, right before your eyes.
Ferry Marketplace, One Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111, Tuesday & Thursday 10am – 2pm, Saturday 8am – 2pm
Stonestown Farmers’ Market
If you’re feeling like taking the whole family to the market, head to Stonestown Galleria on Sunday. It’s not just a selection of healthy food. It’s a celebration, with classes and activities for the kiddos. It’s also got tons of free parking, which is even rarer in San Francisco than truffles. That focus on fun and convenience earned the Stonestown Farmers’ Market honors as San Francisco’s Best Family-Oriented Farmers Market from SF Weekly for four years running. It operates like a family too, with vendors being featured – online and in the market – by Market Manager Katy Chapman, who singles out the specialties of each. There’s true relationship building here. If you’re looking for a market where everybody knows your name, look no further than Stonestown Farmers Market.
Stonestown Galleria, 3251 20th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, Sunday 9am – 1pm
Alemany Farmers’ Market
Known as “the people’s market,” the Alemany Certified Farmers’ Market is the grand dame of farmers’ markets – first in all of California, founded 1943. And, like the pioneer it is, it’s got a no-nonsense quality to it: Its vendors open at 6am and they don’t charge nearly as much as other markets. The focus is truly local flavor, with Chinese and Latino offerings in abundance. Beyond the eggplant and artisan cheese you’d expect from a San Francisco farmers market, you can buy Hong Kong-style barbecue, banana-leaf tamales and Asian herbs from the Han Hing Herb Co. There’s even a dash of Southern flavor, with beignets, gumbo and southern-style fried seafood served by Queen’s Louisiana Po-Boy Café. It’s vintage, with a flair for the exotic. Just like San Francisco likes it.
Alemany Certified Farmers’ Market, 100 Alemany Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94110, Saturday 6am – 2:30pm
Heart of the City Farmers Market
Their website claims to be “San Francisco’s only independent, farmer-operated non-profit farmers market since 1981.” As for their other outstanding qualities, we can totally vouch for them – the Heart of the City Farmers’ Market is one of a kind. There are almost too many to list: they have long, convenient hours, on Sunday and Wednesday. They take credit and debit, EBT, WIC, and VeggieRX. They have delicacies like honey, fungi, and some of the best selection of Asian herbs. And, above all, they’ve got the location – spread in the tree-lined aisles before San Francisco’s gorgeous city hall. Bringing together grandeur and genuine co-op charm, The Heart of the City Farmers’ Market earns its name, and should earn a visit from you.
Heart of the City Farmers Market, 1182 Market Street #415, San Francisco, CA 94102 Wednesday 7am – 5:30pm, Sunday 7am – 5pm