In Search of a Righteous Porkchop ~ October 29

The reality behind industrially produced meat — cramped confinement, routine use of antibiotics and growth hormones, food safety violations and E. coli epidemics, pollution of air and water, enormous carbon footprint, and so on — has made some eaters into staunch vegans. For others, however, all-or-nothing is a false choice. This free panel will explore the middle ground: moderate consumption of meat from animals raised humanely and sustainably on family farms. Panelists will include Nicolette Hahn Niman, attorney, rancher, and author of Righteous Porkchop: Finding a Life and Good Food Beyond Factory Farms;David Evans, fourth generation rancher and owner of Marin Sun Farms; and Aaron French, chef at the Sunny Side Café, ecologist, and author of the forthcoming The Bay Area Homegrown Cookbook. Moderated by Elanor Starmer, researcher and policy analyst for the national consumer advocacy organization Food and Water Watch. A short reception with farmers’ market snacks will follow. Ferry Building's Port Commission Hearing Room, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

CCOF organic beer, wine and spirit tasting ~ October 23

Sample a wide range of organic beers and wines and chat directly with the winemakers and brewers as CCOF certified organic members come together to showcase and share unique beverages. Those attending will also have the chance to bid on amazing prizes, including a brewery tour for six donated by Uncommon Brewers, a tour and tasting for six at a Healdsburg ranch provided by Medlock Ames winery, and a keg of beer from Thirsty Bear Brewing Company. Proceeds from the event will help fund CCOF’s nonprofit education, advocacy and outreach programs. The tasting takes place in the Ferry Building from 4-8 pm. 

Happy Quail pepper special ~ tomorrow

It's peak pepper season and for the next two weeks, Happy Quail will be running a special on red New Mexico chiles. Farmer David Winsberg will be selling 5-pound boxes of chiles (with roasting instructions) for $9. If you're feeling really ambitious, 10-pound boxes will be going for $15. Never roasted chiles before? David Winsberg recommends watching this instructional video.

Meals for Change event ~ October 14

Celebrate Eat Local Month with a panel of experts supporting Meals For Change’s mission of providing farm-to-table nutrition and culinary job training to the most vulnerable in our society. The event is part of the Commonwealth Club Bay Gourmet series and also includes a tasting of vegetarian delights prepared by Meals for Change chefs and a chance to see a new documentary short about the program. The event takes place in the Port Commission Hearing Room on the second floor of the Ferry Building. The tasting begins at 6 pm; screening & panel discussion start at 7. Learn more >

Soul Food Farm recovery

In the wake of a devastating fire on September 3, Alexis and Eric Koefoed have been working to rebuild Soul Food Farm, where they raise chickens on pasture for eggs and meat. Thankfully, you now have multiple ways to help them. You can buy a raffle ticket or you can attend an upcoming fundraising event. There's a party at Pizzaiolo on October 11 from 1-5 pm and a dinner at Cane Rosso on October 11. Read more on the new Soul Food blog here and watch a short film about the farm fire and recovery.

Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust's 5th Annual Fall Harvest Celebration ~ October 18

Join the Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust (BALT) for its Fifth Annual Harvest Celebration of local food, wine and farming at Heather Farm. BALT will serve Brentwood produce (all grown within 30 miles of the celebration) prepared by chefs from restaurants such as Peasant and the Pear, Piatti, and Sunrise Bistro. All proceeds will benefit BALT, a nonprofit that preserves farmland and promotes local food. Tickets are $90 per person. Learn more or buy tickets here >

350.org's International Day of Climate Action ~ October 24

Stop by Justin Herman Plaza after the market to take part in one of thousands of climate events happening simultaneously around the world. According to 350.org, 350 parts per million is what scientists agree is the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.  We have exceeded that limit, yet with global leaders meeting in Copenhagen this December to discuss a global response to climate change, there has never been a better time to make your voice heard. Climate Action events will be happening throughout the day around the Bay Area, with a convergence at Justin Herman Plaza at 3pm. The afternoon will include music, poets, authors and local environmental heroes sharing their thoughts and encouraging the crowd to act in solidarity around climate change awareness and climate justice. More information >

Saturday, October 2 ~ Market to Table

11:00 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration
Jennifer Knapp, Tante Marie's Cooking School

Sunday, October 3 ~ The 7th annual Sunday Supper

5:30 pm - Hors d'œuvre and cocktail reception (tickets still available here)
7:00 pm - Five-course dinner in the Ferry Building's Grand Hall (sold out)

Tuesday, October 6 ~ Food Wise Booth

12:00 - 1:00 pm - CUESA's market chef Sarah Henkin will be giving out recipe cards and samples of a simple meal made with market ingredients.

Saturday, October 10 ~ Market to Table

11:00 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration and book signing
Liz Ozanich, McCormick & Kuleto's Seafood Restaurant

Gavin Newsom makes a number of announcements, so you may have missed the one he made last July at City Slicker Farm in Oakland. That day, to the excitement of many in the food world, Newsom announced an Executive Directive for healthy and sustainable food in San Francisco.

According to Paula Jones, Director of Food Systems at the Department of Public Health, the work behind the directive has been long in the making. At Tuesday’s Kitchen Table Talk, which was devoted to updating the food community about the directive nearly three months after it was issued, Jones was cautiously optimistic. “There have been a number of related resolutions and recommendations made in the City in the past,” she said, “but this directive is different; it has dates and times and responsible parties attached to it.”

Also key is the fact that the directive takes a whole system approach, rather than seeing food through a single lens, such as hunger or environmental impact or health. The detailed directive is based in part on recommendations made at last year’s Urban-Rural Roundtable; the Roundtable brought together food and agriculture leaders from around the Bay Area, including CUESA’s own executive director Dave Stockdale.

So what exactly does the directive say? We've summarized some of its key components here:

Urban Farming
This is the area of the directive that has received the most attention in the media, and for good reason: Americans everywhere are fired up about producing their own food. All departments with jurisdiction over public property are being asked to take stock, through an audit, of all land that might be suitable for growing food. In some cases, said Alemany Farm’s Antonio Roman-Alcalá, departments might already have land they know could be farmed. Roman-Alcalá described being approached by the San Francisco Airport about a tract of land they are interested in leasing at a nominal rate to a local farmer, for example. The directive also asks that the Department of Recreation and Parks support more urban ag projects by facilitating access to gardening materials and tools, organizing community events and connecting volunteers to opportunities to get their hands in the dirt.

Buying Power
City funding for food purchases or food programs shall meet nutritional guidelines. In the case of events and meetings, it will have to be “locally produced and/or sustainably certified foods to the maximum extent possible.”

Access
Since food access is a growing issue in San Francisco (there are currently 193 food pantries in the city), the directive also has a heavy focus on eliminating hunger. Efforts to give residents access to food stamps will be beefed up in several ways, and the Redevelopment Agency will be asked to “identify strategies, such as enterprise zones, permit expediting, tax incentives, etc. to recruit and incubate new food businesses,” e.g. grocery stores, in areas where the only nearby sources of food are often convenience stores or liquor stores.

Nutrition
Not only will the City put healthier food in its vending machines, it will also get involved in work to increase funding to the School Meals Program (although the City does not have any actual jurisdiction over San Francisco Unified School District).

The encouraging news, says Jones, is that 46 city departments have already turned in draft proposals examining ways they can prioritize healthy and sustainable food. The challenge, she acknowledged on Tuesday, is that the directive comes with no new funding, meaning city departments must find creative ways to comply at a time when many are already strapped for basic funds.

Alemany Farm’s Antonio Roman-Alcalá also pointed out the limited window on executing the directive, which will expire when Mayor Newsom leaves office. “I’m really interested in what we can do to institutionalize the values behind this directive," he said, "so that the people involved really care and it’s not just about following orders.” Discussion participant Bu Nygrens, of Veritable Vegetable, a SF-based produce distribution company that has been focused on organic and sustainable food since 1974, agreed. She discussed the barriers of doing business with the City and said, “I want this [directive] to turn into more than a photo op.”  

That’s where San Francisco residents come in. As Jones and others in the room agreed, when it comes to city politics, constituents have a surprising amount of power. “If you care about senior meals or school lunch or urban gardening,” Jones concluded, “give your supervisor a call. Better yet, pay them a visit and let them know what your priorities are.”

Don’t know who your district supervisor is? Here’s a handy map that includes contact information.

This is the most up-to-date information about which sellers will be attending the market as of Friday. If there are no changes to a seller's status, they will not be listed. You'll find a list of which farmers regularly attend each market here. Please understand that there are often last-minute changes—it's the nature of farming!

Saturday, October 3

In: Chan's Nursery
Out: Critical Edge, Woodleaf Farm

Tuesday, October 6

No changes

Thursday, October 8

In: Roli Roti

Returning and Plentiful this month (weather willing):
Jujubes, pears, dates, apples, squash, artichokes, carrots, frisee, lemongrass, walnuts, Valencia oranges, radishes, muscat grapes, strawberries, pumpkins, broccoli,  mushrooms, almonds, persimmons, pomegranates, raspberries, Brussels sprouts, romanesco, cucumbers, peppers, wheat, onions, lettuces, pastured pork, tomatoes, marigolds, potatoes, Violetta beans, radicchio, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, root vegetables, celery, kale, sunchokes, cabbage, kohlrabi

Winding down/limited supply:
Cucumbers, peas, nectarines, peaches, pluots, plums, figs, quince, okra, eggplant, blackberries, melons, basil

Vendor and Value added items not to be missed:
Sorbet from Scream Sorbet at the Thursday market, fruit cheese from June Taylor, chicken stock from Mountain Ranch, olive oil soap from Bariani

Featured Recipes for September

Pear and Spinach Salad from Trish Tracey, Ramblas Tapas Bar

"Drowned" Broccoli Rabe with Tomatoes & Pancetta from cookbook author Joyce Goldstein

Sausages & Plums Braised in Red Wine from cookbook author Molly Stevens

Apple Baby Galette from Kathleen Stewart, Downtown Bakery & Creamery (September 27, 2008)

Cocktail ~ Apples to Oranges from Lou Bustamante, Hangar One Vodka (September 30, 2007)