10 Apr A Foodie’s Guide to San Francisco’s Farmers Markets

Written By: Ieva Dekaminaviciute

If you are a food lover like me, you probably enjoy exploring different cuisines and cultures through their local produce. Farmers’ markets are the perfect places to do that. They are where the community gathers, where you can chat with your neighbors, listen to some relaxing music, try some delicious specialties, discover new foods or trends, and connect with people who are passionate about their food and their products. You get the best quality, freshest, and most diverse ingredients that you can’t find in supermarkets. The rainbow of vegetables, fruits, herbs, cheeses, breads, and more is a feast for the eyes and the palate.

I absolutely visit farmers markets whenever I travel to a new place. I think it’s a great way to experience the culture and the climate of the region. As a true foodie, I appreciate not only the  dishes that are made with local produce but also the raw ingredients themselves. So this week,  I decided to check out one of the many farmers markets in San Francisco, a city that is known  for its food scene and its diversity. San Francisco has a lot of farmers markets to choose from  and most of them are open during Saturday or Sunday. I went to the Divisadero Farmers Market.

Here are some tips to make the most of your shopping:

Bargain. Your money will go further if you try to negotiate with the vendors. They are usually  willing to give you a better deal, especially if you pay with cash. Credit card fees are high, and  farmers appreciate it when you save them the hassle and tax. It also gives you bargaining power  as a customer.

Sample. Don’t be shy to ask for samples of the products. Of course, I’m not suggesting you ask for a whole carrot, but if you are buying pre-made products, such as hummus, kimchi, or  jam, the vendors are usually happy to let you taste them. It’s a good way to find out what you  like and what you don’t or just get some free food!

Go veggie. If you are a vegan or vegetarian, you will find plenty of options at the Californian farmers markets. Even though there are some fish and meat stalls, most of the markets are  dominated by fresh produce, vegetables, and vegan substitutes. 

Splurge. Be prepared to spend more than you would at a grocery store. The farmers markets  here are not cheap, even compared to Whole Foods. For example, I bought a jar of vegan kimchi  for $14, and a pint of freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice for $13. The good thing is that you  can also buy everything in single quantities, so if you just want to make a salad for yourself,  you can grab one carrot, one onion, and so on. That’s how you can reduce the costs, but overall,  if you are on a student budget, you might enjoy browsing the farmers market, but not  necessarily buying a lot.

Adapt. If you are coming from Europe or Asia, you might find the environment in these  markets are very loud and extroverted. The vendors are very keen on interacting with the  customers, and surely that is a part of their selling strategy. Personally, when I first got exposed  to the American culture, I found it a bit disturbing, because everyone was so nice and so chatty

and it did not feel genuine. You know how people ask how you are, but they don’t really care  about the answer. There is a certain level of superficiality, but you just get used to it after a  while…

Lastly, in terms of what to buy, if you choose to spend your money at the farmers market, one  thing that I recommend is to buy something that you can’t find anywhere else, or that is unique or very well made in that specific region. For San Francisco and California in general be sure  to get a loaf of sourdough bread, some local citrus and wine.