Farmer's Markets

I love how farmer's markets transform lifeless spaces, like parking lots, into lush, vibrant, community centers.  Each farmer's market I have been to has it's own unique vibe and brings up joyful memories for me.  As a child, I looked forward to the farmer's market in my town outside of Boston, that happened every Thursday.  My sister and I would sample pieces of Gouda cheese from the blond curly haired lady and her mother, and buy honey sticks from the sweet old man a few stands down.  We weaved in and out of the crowds of other mothers carrying bags of basil, carrots, and fresh flowers.  

The Civic Center farmer's market here in San Francisco has a diverse range of vendors selling Japanese eggplants, bok choy, and lychee nuts to organic chard, apples and strawberries.   It is definitely the best priced farmer's market in the city. When I used to work in that part of town, I remember buying baskets of blueberries during my lunch breaks and eating half before I even brought them home.  

The Alemany Farmer's market takes over a huge parking lot with a plethora of organic/non organic vendors selling everything from tangerines to duck eggs to kale.  It's one of the oldest markets in the city with a strong sense of community.  My friend Jesse and I had a relaxing time there one summer day, sitting in the sunshine eating tacos and talking about life.  

The east bay has some great farmer's markets too, like the Grand Lake farmer's market in Oakland that is the perfect place to hang out on sunny day, drinking fresh watermelon juice and Thai curries from the prepared foods vendors.  The Temescal farmer's market in Oakland is also special- I have such good memories with my east bay friends there, strolling through on a Sunday morning, sampling the first persimmons of the season and buying some Donna's damn good tamales.

The new Mission market in San Francisco is small, but reasonably priced and has great live music- like the local band Santos Perdidos which plays latin and afro-latino songs.  I bought the most beautiful figs there once.  I love this market because I always run into friends, or friends of friends there!

I also adore the Castro farmer's market that happens on one of the prettiest corners in the city-Noe and 16th.  A corner I have lived near and walked by for years, but never knew there was a farmer's market there until last summer!  I love discovering new markets- they are certainly popping up more places nowadays.  Hopefully, someday farmer's markets will reach all communities in this country.