Announcing resources for teachers and parents!

Hundreds of school children visit the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market each year to learn about farms, sustainability, and seasonal produce. CUESA just made these field trips a little easier by developing two activities and compiling some useful resources for teachers. Both activities--a bingo game for grades 2-3 and a scavenger hunt for grades 4 and up--are designed to facilitate inquiry and learning as classes explore the market. They are available to download on a new Teacher Resources page on our website, where there are also guidelines for classes visiting the market and links to useful lesson plans about food and farming. Thanks to volunteer Lynn Lampky for helping to create the activities! Click here to see the page >

New Year's resolutions for market shoppers

Can't decide what to resolve to do differently this year? Why not become a better market shopper? Here's how:

In 2007, resolve to...

...dress warmly on winter days and come to the farmers' market to shop, knowing there will be plenty of fresh local products and probably fewer crowds. On rainy days, wear protective clothing and come to stock your refrigerator, ensuring that farmers' trips to the city will be worth their while and that you will have ample ingredients for soups, stews, roasts and other warming foods.

...not sneak your pet, no matter how cute, into the market unless it is a service animal, understanding that it is a health department violation to do so and a nuisance to other shoppers.

...take advantage of the many learning opportunities within the market by attending one of our free programs (resuming in February) and by asking the sellers about how your food is produced.

...support the organization that runs the market, by volunteering or giving.

Happy 2007!

Though 2006 was a great year for CUESA and the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, it ended on a bit of a sad note. Beloved market mainstay Hoffman Game Birds announced that they will not attend the market in 2007. For many years, Ruth Hoffman, who is “well above retirement age,” packed up her truck, left her Manteca farm by 5:00 am or earlier and drove over 70 miles to arrive at the market in time to serve droves of poultry-loving customers. She has reluctantly decided that 2007 is the year to stop making the tiring trip and reclaim her Saturdays.

Ruth and Bud Hoffman and their son, Joe, began raising game birds (pheasants and partridges) for the State of California Department of Fish and Game in 1979. Since it is only legal to hunt male birds, the Hoffmans soon began looking for a market for their female birds. Their first (and for nine years their only) restaurant account was with Chez Panisse; that relationship led the Hoffmans to diversify their offerings and eventually pursue other wholesale accounts.

Bud Hoffman passed away in 1999, but Ruth, Joe, and her grandson, Jeremy, still carry on the business. Ruth's granddaughters also helped their grandmother by selling at the farmers’ market.

Ruth says she has "enjoyed working with everyone--staff, vendors, and customers," at the market, and is sincerely thankful to the market community. Hoffman Game Birds is not going out of business, simply scaling back their marketing operation. You'll still be able to find their birds on the menus of many local restaurants and at Magnani’s Poultry in Berkeley.

Thank you, Hoffmans, for your wonderful poultry and over 10 years of participation in the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. We will miss you!

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, January 6

Returning this week: G.L. Alfieri Farms, Allstar Organics, Bernard Ranches, Happy Quail Farm, Roli Roti, Rose Pistola
Out this week: Downtown Bakery, Hare Hollow, Happy Girl, Juniper Ridge, Knoll Farms (until January 27)

Tuesday, January 9

Returning this week: Spring Hill Cheese, Bella Viva Orchards, Donna's Tamales, Chue's Farm, Twin Girls Farm, K & J Orchards, G.L. Alfieri Farms
Out this week: McGinnis Ranch, Fatted Calf (back next week), Devoto Gardens (for the season)