Holiday Gift Ideas

CUESA is happy to announce that you might not need to go to the mall this gift-giving season. Just in time for the biggest shopping time of the year come enough farmers’ market present ideas to satisfy almost any friend or relative. Instead of sitting around on shelves for ages or getting one wear before they head to thrift store, these presents are sure to be loved, used and eaten! This year, on December 6, 13, and 20, we'll also be offering complimentary gift wrapping for items purchased at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market! At our gift wrapping station in the South Driveway, near Eatwell Farm, volunteers will be available to put your farmers' market purchases of $30 or more into either crates or bags for you.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market gift coins – Packages of 25 $1 wooden gift coins are available! All Ferry Plaza Farmers Market farmers and vendors will accept them in lieu of cash, so they work just like a gift certificate. These make a great gift for both die-hard shoppers and those who have never visited the market before. To purchase gift coins, call 415.291.3276 x103 or email christine@cuesa.org.

Nuts and beans – Shelled and unshelled nuts are a tradition at the holiday table. At the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, you'll also find lots of flavored nuts and nut butters. Also consider giving bags of beautiful heirloom beans—they make a great gift that can be enjoyed after the holidays are over and winter settles in.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market aprons and totes – Merchandise adorned with our colorful market logo is available at Bay Crossings inside the Ferry Building. Fill a tote with goodies from the market, or wrap an apron around a bottle of olive oil.

Oils and vinegars – Many varieties of olive oil and several types of vinegar are available at the market and make practical gifts that can easily be shipped.

Oranges – Revive the tradition of stuffing oranges in stockings! Clementine and Satsuma mandarins and navel oranges make sweet, sustainable stocking stuffers. So do fruits like persimmons and pomegranates.

A CSA membership – A season of fresh food from one of the farms in our market is truly a gift that will keep giving! Visit these websites to learn more:
www.eatwell.com
www.farmfreshtoyou.com
www.tierravegetables.com
www.froghollow.com

Cakes and cookies – At the market you’ll find lots of baked sweets to bring to parties, stuff in baskets, or serve at your holiday gathering.

Sachets, hydrosols, and essential oils – Winter is the time of year when we spend the most hours indoors. Earthy scents like lavender, sage, douglas fir, bay, and rose are great gifts for the home.

Knife sharpening – A knife sharpening gift certificate is a wonderful present for the home cook. Visit Critical Edge at the Tuesday or Saturday market.

Charcuterie – Salamis, terrines, sausages, pates, jerky and confits are great presents for party hosts and will undoubtedly be devoured at any holiday gathering.

Smoked salmon – Smoked salmon makes a delicious, traditional, and shippable gift! Visit Cap'n Mike's Holy Smoke on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Preserves – Dried fruit, jams, fruit butters, marmalades, syrups, sauces, and pickles all make wonderful additions to gift baskets. Make your own preserves from what's available at the market right now, or buy from the many farmers and artisans who preserve fruits and vegetables at the height of their seasons.

Cheeses – Aged and fresh cheeses are abundant at the farmers’ market. Choose a combination of cow’s and goat’s milk cheeses made in the French, Peruvian and American traditions.

Bee products – At the market you'll find Peninsula, San Francisco, East Bay, Marin and other wildflower honeys as well as bee pollen and sweetly scented beeswax candles.

Cook for Your Friends and Family - A nourishing meal is a wonderful present! Everyone loves to eat a home-cooked meal and linger around the table. Prepare a seasonal feast with food from the farmers' market and feed the people you love. For recipe ideas, visit our recipe archives >

Donate in someone’s name – For the person who has it all, click here to donate to CUESA in their name! CUESA will send an acknowledgement card to the person in whose name you've donated, and since CUESA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Many of our sellers also take orders online and ship, so be sure to visit our farmer and vendor pages for links to their sites.

Happy shopping!