Complimentary gift wrapping at the market tomorrow!

Every gift-giving season, we encourage our customers to do their holiday shopping at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Starting tomorrow, we're providing an extra motivation―we'll wrap farmers' market gifts for you at no cost! Our gift-wrapping station will be set up at the information booth on December 6, 13 and 20 from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. Volunteers will wrap your gifts in reusable brown paper bags or craft paper, and we'll provide gift tags as well as colorful ribbon to complete the festive look.

The perfect gift

The picky shopper, the market regular, the timid newbie: our farmers market gift coins are just the thing for everyone on your list. For $25, you get 25 one-dollar tokens good at any seller's stand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. They come pre-wrapped with a surprise treat from the market iniside. Coins are available on Saturdays and Tuesdays all month at the information booth.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market tote bags, aprons and cookbooks are also for sale at Bay Crossings, inside the Ferry Building, if you'd like to complete the package. Check out the Holiday Gifts section of our website for more farm fresh present ideas.

We're open Christmas week

This year, since none of the major holidays fall on Tuesdays or Saturdays, The Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market will remain open through the month. You're invited to enjoy uninterrupted shopping on Dec 23rd, 27th, and 30th.

Waste Wise volunteers are needed every Tuesday and Saturday at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. E-mail ashleigh@cuesa.org for details.

Saturday, December 6 ~ Market to Table

10:30 am - Meet the farmer
Marty or Janet from Allstar Organics

11:00 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration
Paul Piscopo, XYZ

Saturday, December 13 ~ Market to Table

10:30 am - Meet the producer

11:00 am - Seasonal cooking demonstration
Staffan Terje, Perbacco

All programs take place in CUESA's Dacor teaching kitchen, in front of the Ferry Building on the north side, except as noted.

Mary Risley, one of CUESA's biggest proponents, has an invitation for you.

Dear Farmers' Market Friend,

As the founder of Tante Marie's Cooking School, I have been passionate about teaching my students the best ways to prepare and savor local, sustainable, and seasonal ingredients for 30 years. Ever since I started Food Runners, a volunteer organization that helps alleviate hunger in San Francisco, I have also been dedicated to making use of every resource possible. In other words, I am committed to supporting a sustainable food system. That’s why I’m writing to ask you to join me in supporting CUESA (the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture), the educational organization that runs the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. 

In addition to operating the year-round farmers' market, CUESA provides a wide range of on-site and in-the-field educational programs. The organization also works in less obvious ways to promote sustainability, such as the recently enacted Waste Wise Farmers Market initiative, which will divert an estimated 31 tons of waste from the landfill every year. This year, CUESA adopted a Sustainable Agriculture Framework, describing a set of guidelines for farmers and food artisans that will help the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market become more humane, just and environmentally sound in the years to come.

The teachers from Tante Marie's and I shop at CUESA'S markets regularly and enjoy their rich educational events; Food Runners recipients benefit from the generosity of their farmers, who donate food at the end of every market. I am glad to volunteer my time and resources to support CUESA’s efforts because I value local and organic food production, and see the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market as vital to the Bay Area sustainable food landscape. CUESA’s ability to operate the market, lead farm tours, produce a robust website and this weekly newsletter, and offer free seasonal cooking demonstrations depends in large part on the generosity of a committed and caring community. Your donation, no matter the size, will make a tangible difference.

It's easy to give online today. If you'd prefer to send a check, use the address listed here >

Sincerely,

Mary Risley
Founder, Tante Marie’s Cooking School
Founder, Food Runners

P.S.  Remember, your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Consider giving the following:

• $25 to defray the cost of printing informational farm signage to educate shoppers
• $100 to pay for a new educational display
• $500 to send a farmer to learning and community-building opportunities such as the annual Ecological Farming Conference and the Small Farm Conference. 
• CUESA’s in-kind needs include: an external hard drive, a laptop computer, a digital video camera, and an industrial shop vacuum. If you would like to donate equipment or supplies, please contact CUESA’s executive director Dave Stockdale via email or at 415.291.3276 x107.
  

Market update

Seasonality synopsis for December