The Tuesday market is closed on Christmas and New Year's Day

Please note that the Tuesday market is closed for the next two Tuesdays. The Saturday market will be open throughout the holidays.

Get your gifts (and get them wrapped for free!) at the market

This Saturday, volunteers will be on hand to wrap your farmers' market purchases of $30 or more in baskets, bags or boxes. Our gift-wrapping station will be located in the driveway on the south side of the building, across from Eatwell Farm, from 9 am to noon. Ferry Plaza Farmers Market tote bags and gift certificate coins will be available for purchase, and we will have holiday-themed trimmings and ribbon. Check out the Holiday Gifts section of our website for more information and farm fresh present ideas >

Panel discussion: Is it Safe to Eat? ~ January 7, 2008

Join CUESA on Monday, January 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Port Commission Hearing Room of the Ferry Building for a panel discussion about food safety solutions. Click here for more information >

Eco-Farm Conference ~ January 23 to 26, 2008

The 28th annual Eco-Farm Conference, presented by the Ecological Farming Association, begins on January 23. This annual four-day winter forum features prominent keynote speakers and more than 50 workshops for farmers, activists and others on topics related to ecological agriculture. The theme of this year's conference is "Root Values: Connecting Ecology, Community, and the Land." To find out more about the conference, go to www.eco-farm.org.

During this season of giving, please consider a gift to CUESA! As a nonprofit educational institution, we work to promote a sustainable food system by operating the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and its educational programs. Fulfilling our mission requires considerable resources, and while we are fortunate to have the income provided by our farmers’ markets, fundraising events, sponsorships and a few other sources, we can do more with additional support.

Some of you already contribute directly to CUESA by sponsoring or attending fundraising events such as our Sunday Supper, working as a volunteer, or serving on a committee. CUESA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, so your cash or in-kind donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Our education programs, farmers’ market operations, and administrative staff need additional or upgraded equipment and supplies. Here is our list of some current activities and examples of specific needs:

Education programs

CUESA provides many formal and informal learning opportunities through our farmers’ market education programs, off-site and evening events, website, and weekly e-letter. Our Saturday Market to Table programs present producer interviews and seasonal cooking demonstrations from distinguished chefs. We continue to hold special in-market celebrations where shoppers learn about seasonal foods and regional farming. This electronic newsletter is sent to over 6,000 recipients weekly. Under development are additional fact sheets, informative vendor signage, and new website features. Items that will help us enhance or expand our growing educational programs include:

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Digital video camera
• Digital projector and portable slide screen
• New mirrors for teaching kitchen
• Hand-held microphone

Farmers’ market operations

Our Tuesday and Saturday markets are an important source of income for sellers and provide fresh local food for the Bay Area’s residents. We strive to continue to improve the farmers’ market experience for both sellers and shoppers, and will soon be introducing a new Waste Wise Market program. To this end, our needs include:

• Fire-resistant propane storage cabinet
• Industrial hand trucks
• Additional folding tables and folding chairs
• New tent covers
• Stacking flatbed tilt carts for transporting supplies
• Industrial shop vacuum
• Replacement (and additional) A-frame signs for conveying market information

Administration

As our staff and volunteer base grow, so do our administrative support needs. To help accommodate this growth, we need:

• Updated computer work station
• Laptop computer
• Paper cutter for 17" paper

If you are interested in making an in-kind contribution of any of the items described above or would like to see our more extensive wish list, contact Executive Director Dave Stockdale at 415.291.3276 x107, or dave@cuesa.org.

You may make cash contributions online, or mail them directly to CUESA, One Ferry Building, Suite 50, San Francisco, CA, 94111.

Thank you for considering a gift to CUESA!

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, December 22

Out: Short Night Farm, Bernard Ranches, Capay Canyon Ranch, McGinnis Ranch
Last week for: Bodega & Yerba Santa Goat Cheese, Shogun Fish Company

Tuesday, December 25

CLOSED!