Your Farmers' Market Shopping Guide

ORGANIC OR NOT?
Most of the local farmers' markets offer organic and nonorganic produce to reach a variety of farmers and customers. "The question to ask is not if a farmer is organic, but if they spray," apple grower Leyna Tilbor says. "And even then, it's better to buy produce from a farm that uses minor pesticides and is 40 miles away than from a strictly organic farm in Peru."

HOW TO KEEP FARMERS' MARKETS THRIVING
1. Show up every week. Even when it's cold outside, frequent the markets to keep the farmers coming back for those sunnier days.

2. Create relationships with the vendors. Talk to them, encourage them to keep coming out, and include them in the community.

3. Make the markets a social event. Meet at the markets with friends for a fun, weekly ritual.

MARKETS

Alemany Farmers' Market
RUN BY: The City of San Francisco
WHERE: 100 Alemany (at Putnam)
WHEN: Saturdays 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
www.sfgov.org/alemanyfarmers

Crocker Galleria Farmers' Market
RUN BY: California Farmers' Markets Association
WHERE: 50 Post (at Montgomery)
WHEN: Thursdays 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
www.cafarmersmkts.com/SF.html

Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market
RUN BY: Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA)
WHERE: Ferry Building (Market and Embarcadero)
WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturdays 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
www.cuesa.org

Fillmore Farmers' Market
Run by: Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association
Where: O'Farrell (at Fillmore) and Fillmore Center Plaza
When: Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
www.pcfma.com

Heart of the City Farmers' Market
Run by: Heart of the City Farmers' Market Community Advisory Board
Where: United Nations Plaza, Civic Center
When: Wednesdays 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Sundays 7 a.m.–5 p.m.
www.hocfarmersmarket.org

Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Farmers' Market
Run by: Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association
Where: 2400 Geary (at St. Joseph's)
When: Wednesdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
www.pcfma.com

Noe Valley Farmers' Market
Run by: volunteers
Where: 3861 24th St. (at Sanchez)
When: Saturdays 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
www.noevalleyfarmersmarket.com

Parkmerced Farmers' Market
Run by: California Farmers' Markets Association
Where: 455 Arballo (at Serrano) vWhen: Saturdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m., mid-May to mid-December
www.cafarmersmkts.com/Parkmerced.html

UCSF Parnassus Farmers' Market
Run by: Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association
Where: 505 Parnassus (at Arguello), on UCSF Medical Center campus
When: Wednesdays 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
www.pcfma.com

New in 2009

Castro Farmers' Market
Run by: Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association
Where: Noe (at Market)
When: Wednesdays 4–8 p.m., April–October
www.pcfma.com

Divisadero Farmers' Market
Run by: Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association
Where: Grove (at Divisadero)
When: Sundays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
www.pcfma.com

Inner Sunset Farmers' Market
Run by: Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association
Where: Parking lot at 1318 Ninth Ave. (at Irving)
When: Sundays 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
www.pcfma.com

Stonestown Galleria Farmers' Market
Run by: Marin Farmers' Market and Stonestown Galleria
Where: 3251 20th Ave. (at Buckingham), parking lot behind Macy's
When: Sundays 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
www.stonestowngalleria.com/Events/Farmers–Market

Resolution Guide: Get Real! 2010

Be Social IRL: Get a real life this year — without giving up the digital one.
By Maya Kroth

Tastes Real: Support your local farmers' market for better food — and a better economy.
By Karen Macklin

Happy New Ear: Give a listen to this city's wide array of authentic music.
By Mike Rowell

Real Resolutions: How locals plan to make life changes in the new year.
By Tamara Palmer