Another successful supper

The four winners of the Sunday Supper raffle are: Sybil Gordon of San Francisco, Leslie Gibin of Oakland, Ignazio Moresco of San Francisco, and Toby Garrone (of Far West Fungi!) of San Bruno. Missed the supper this year? The folks over at 7x7 Magazine got some fun behind the scenes footage of several of the generous Bay Area chefs who donated their time. Watch it here >

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: 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 writer. 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.

Hands-on Cheese Making Class ~ October 15th

Back by popular demand, Urban Kitchen SF and CUESA will host their second cheese-making workshop on October 15th. Travis Flood, chef at Piccolo Teatro, will lead our class in making mozzarella and ricotta using milk and locally sourced curd. The lass takes place in the CUESA kitchen from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Register here >

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. 

Native New Mexico farmer talk ~ October 15

Traditional farmers from a pueblo in New Mexico will discuss how farming projects in their communities create self-sufficiency. Native farming methods and indigenous science will be presented in a slide show and discussion, along with music and healthy native foods. This is a benefit to support the Indigenous Permaculture Project and the work of native farmers. Talk takes place at the Ecology Center in Berkeley, at 6:30pm and costs $5-$50 sliding scale.

Annual Nicasio Valley Farms Pumpkin Patch

All month visitors can take in the pumpkin patch at the Lafranchi Ranch in Nicasio. Meet the farm animals and enjoy daily family activities like hay rides and mazes. Or come on the weekend to catch performances by children's musician Tim Cain. Time it right and you can join Marin's 4-H members on October 11 when they show the animals they have raised. On October 18, 10% of all pumpkin sales go to the Marin Agriculture Land Trust (MALT). More info here >

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 >

Saturday, October 10 ~ Market to Table

11:00 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration
Liz Ozanich, McCormick and Kuleto's

Tuesday, October 13 ~ 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.

Thursday October 15 ~ Special Guest

12:00 pm - Cooking demonstration and book signing

John Besh, author of My New Orleans: The Cookbook and executive chef at Restaurant August

Saturday, October 16 ~ Market to Table

11:00 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration and book signing
Leslie Christensen, 3Spoons: Organic Gourmet for Everyday

Flowers, heritage pigs, strawberries and haricots verts, broom corn, subsoiling — our recent visit to Thomas Farm and Dirty Girl Produce offered no shortage of engaging things to see. We also heard from both farmers about their approach to farming sustainably (hint: both rely heavily on biodiversity). Learn about how food is grown on these Santa Cruz County organic farms in our latest slideshow.

Click on one the images below to start your tour:

Photos by Barry Jan and Becky Tsang

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 10

In: Critical Edge Knife Sharpening, Ridgecut Gristmills
Out: Bernard Ranches, Hare Hollow
Out for the season: G&S Corn, Shogun Seafood, Short Night Farm, Woodleaf Farm

Tuesday, October 13

Out for the season: La Tercera

Thursday, October 15

In: County Line Harvest (new on Thursdays)

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)