The Saturday CUESA Ferry Building Farmer's Market is ground zero for the Bay Area food world. The hugely popular produce extravaganza is the best (and most crowded) spot in town to stock up on weekly supplies of produce and delicious snacks.
This winter, the organizers are welcoming seven new pop-ups to offer their culinary creations to market shoppers. The pop-ups will fill the spaces left empty by seasonal produce purveyors such as Green Gulch Farm.
Crumble & Whisk, Heena’s Chaat Corner, Kantine, Salt Pt. Butchery and Provisions, Volcano Kimchi, Fifth Crow Farm, and Jamnation will begin selling their jams, kimchi, Scandinavian-style sandwiches, and holiday turkey sausage this month.
"It means a great deal to me to be able to take part in the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market," Kantine's Nichole Accettola, a former chef at Nopa, told Time Out San Francisco. "Before becoming a vendor, I spent most of my Saturdays shopping at the market, not only because I want to support the farmers and vendors, but also because it’s where I can find amazing ingredients at the peak of their season. As a business owner, being a food vendor at the market means I have an opportunity to hone my menu before going brick and mortar (next year), as well as come in contact with other food enthusiasts. I love the vibe of that market!"
Accettola's Instagram-worthy open-faced Scandinavian-style smørrebrød sandwiches are already garnering buzz. Accettola takes three days to make her trademark organic sprouted rye bread, which is used in all of Kantine's sandwiches. "Mine is full of seeds and sprouted rye berries, and its texture is moist and chewy—it’s like nothing most people have tasted before," Accettola explained.
Gillian Reynolds describes bringing her sustainable, seasonal jams to the Ferry Building as "a dream come true."
"The Ferry Building Farmers’ Market is where I first found and continue to find the most exquisite fruit that has inspired my company and each of my jams," the proud owner of Jamnation explained to Time Out San Francisco. "Selling alongside the farmers is such an honor—our jams are 'true to the fruit' since we don’t add pectin and use less sugar so I like to think we’ve captured the essence of their hard work in each of our recipes."
Jamnation's "Midnight in Pearis" pear butter with vanilla and nutmeg is especially popular, and Reynolds plans to offer jam gift packs as ideal foodie stocking stuffers. "When I started this company just a short while ago we weren’t sure how many people would respond to jams promoting local fruit with fair trade sugar and spices," Reynolds told us. "But it’s really exciting to see the positive response.
While Jamnation doesn't kick-off their shop until November 19, all of the other will pop-ups will be open for business this coming weekend.
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