Resources for Teachers
Planning a trip to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
CUESA encourages classes to visit the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. At this time we do not offer tours, but teachers can plan an excellent field trip using the resources on this page. We are sometimes able to accommodate requests for a brief introduction to the market by a CUESA staff member. For these requests or for other questions, please contact julie@cuesa.org.When to visit
When is the best time to visit the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market? We believe that any time is the best time, and we encourage classes to visit at different times of the year to gain an understanding of California’s harvest seasons. Most groups attend our Tuesday market. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market operates rain or shine, but please keep in mind that it is located outdoors in an uncovered area. For an idea of what produce might be available each month, consult our seasonality charts >
Our field trip guidelines
If you are planning to bring a group of young people, please review and follow our guidelines for visiting the market >
How to get here
The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is easily accessible by public transit. Visit our transportation page to find out how you can get here >
Other things to do while you're here:
A-Z of Sustainable Agriculture: CUESA's photomural exhibit brightens the front of the Ferry Building. Walk from A to Z with your class and read each panel as you go along. See the online version of the sustainability alphabet here >
Ferry Building: The Ferry Building is a piece of San Francisco's history. Inside the main entrance are photos that illustrate the building's history and renovation. The shops inside the building are not part of the farmers' market, but many of the shops highlight local and sustainable food. Click here for Ferry Building information >
Ferries: Ride the ferry! Ferry schedules are available here: www.goldengateferry.org; www.blueandgoldfleet.com; www.baylinkferry.com. There is also a nice view of the Bay from the plaza behind the Ferry Building.
San Francisco Railway Museum and Gift Shop: Visit the small museum and gift shop, housed in the same room across the Embarcadero from the Ferry Building. Manager John Hogan will lead educational activities for your class if you contact him in advance: 415.974.1948 or jhogan@streetcar.org. Go to www.streetcar.org to learn more.
Curriculum
CUESA has developed two activity sheets to facilitate exploration of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. The activities are designed so that each child has his/her own paper on a clip board (or cardboard), but the activities should be done in groups, facilitated by chaperones. Please do not let children walk around the market unsupervised.
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Bingo (Grades 2-3) Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt (Grades 4 and up)
Other curriculum and resources
- The Center for Environmental Education Online has a very comprehensive list of links to free curricula, organized by category. Check out the following categories: Food, Agriculture, Food Choices, Nutrition, and Schoolyard Gardens. www.ceeonline.org/curriculum/
- San Francisco Unified School District's Nutrition Education Project is a resource for teachers on nutrition education and physical activity promotion. It contains facts, links, curriculum, and other resources. You will find farmers' market lesson plans here: http://www.healthiersf.org/nutrition/Action/support/32classroom.html
- The California School Garden Network has a page of links to free curricula and activities about gardening, eating, and nutrition. www.csgn.org/curriculum.php
- Farm-related lesson plans are available from Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. The organization does not focus on sustainability, but there are some good lessons about agriculture in general. cfaitc.org/LessonPlans/LessonPlans.php
- Kids Cook Farm Fresh Food: Seasonal Recipes, Activities, and Farm Profiles that Teach Ecological Responsibility, by Sibella Kraus, highlights 18 different California crops and includes profiles of some farms that sell at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. It is available for $15 through the California Department of Education. www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/rc/
Guidelines for classes and youth groups visiting the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Planning your visit
- Please call or email to schedule your field trip, so we can avoid having too many groups at one time. Our staff may be available to give a 10 minute introduction to your group. (Contact info is below.)
- Resources, including links to relevant curricula and farmers’ market activities, are available on this website.
- Please bring at least one adult for every 6 children. The best way to enjoy the market is in small groups.
- Bathrooms are located inside the Ferry Building on the ground floor, at either end of the building.
- Many groups have lunch across the Embarcadero in Justin Herman Plaza. There are steps to sit on and a grassy area. There are some picnic tables in the farmers’ market, but they are first-come-first-served and cannot be reserved.
- To make the experience more meaningful, some groups ask the children to bring a dollar or two each to spend on food for themselves. Other groups buy food together to create a communal meal or snack.
- Please review the rules below with the youth and the chaperones before your visit.
During your visit
- The Ferry Plaza Farmers market is a wonderful place to learn about where food comes from, and it is also a place of business. Farmers and their employees have worked hard to produce the food here and have traveled a long way to sell it. Please keep that in mind during your visit and avoid getting in the way of sales.
- Don’t block customer access to a stand. Line up and approach each stand in pairs.
- Don't interrupt a seller’s conversation with a customer. Wait until they are done and then ask your question. Keep in mind that some farm booths are staffed by farmers; others are staffed by employees who may not have as much information about the farm.
- Ask permission at each stand before touching or sampling produce. Please do not take more than one sample per person at each stand unless the seller offers.
- Do not lean on produce (be especially careful with clipboards).
- If you have questions, visit the green information table under the arches on the south side of the market.
Julie Cummins, Director of Education at julie@cuesa.org or (415) 291-3276 x106.