Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is a passionate blogger on the topic of education and free college scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Some of my earliest and best childhood memories are of visiting the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market in San Francisco, California.  Every Saturday, my parents and I would peruse the vast array of fresh produce, herbs, spices, and gourmet selections created by master chiefs.  Street performers entertained the crowds piano playing, singing, acrobatics, and other creative performances.

A Whole New Experience

San Francisco hosts seven distinct farmer’s markets during California’s growing season.  Open daily with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market stands apart from San Francisco’s other markets thanks to the quality of its attending vendors and street performers.  Even as ice cold rain pours off of the Pacific Ocean, die-hard organic and gourmet food lovers can be found searching the stalls and indoor shops for their next culinary find.

What’s On the Menu?

The market is divided into two separate parts.  On the street, over 100 farmers, chiefs, beekeepers, and others set up tents to showcase their wares.  Inside the Ferry Building Marketplace, permanent shops offer pastries, cookware, fresh fish, gourmet cheeses, bread, wine, and many other selections.  Most of the shops will ship wine and other selections to the homes of out-of-town patrons.  Many will even ship internationally.

Local Flavor

All of the food found at the market is grown locally.  Fishing crews pull directly up to the nearby dock and sell that morning’s catch directly off of their boats.  Local wineries from both the far northern and southern ends of California are represented as well.

Without a doubt, the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s market is a staple of San Francisco food culture.  Within its five square blocks, the market encapsulates the essence of California’s diverse culinary traditions.  For this reason alone, a visitor to California would be well advised to stop at least once during their visit.