Asparagus In Season
I rarely set foot in grocery stores anymore: I find them to be cold, irritating, and fake.
Unnatural.
A vast majority of my home-cooked meals are made with produce from farmers' markets. Spring has sprung, and as I peruse the aisles lined with vendors, I become giddy with excitement spotting asparagus in season, strawberries adding vibrant red hues to the lineup, and gladly welcoming the first peaches and blueberries popping in to say hello.
During any given week, there are between 25 and 30 markets from which I can purchase local, seasonal, organic goods from farmers who bring their crops to my city. Not to mention that as I shop, I am able to physically shake the hand of the man or woman who, just days or hours prior, plucked my carrots from the ground and cut my kale straight from the plant. I can listen to live music, watch cooking demonstrations, enjoy my choice of hot food and buy flowers just because I can.
Unnatural.
A vast majority of my home-cooked meals are made with produce from farmers' markets. Spring has sprung, and as I peruse the aisles lined with vendors, I become giddy with excitement spotting asparagus in season, strawberries adding vibrant red hues to the lineup, and gladly welcoming the first peaches and blueberries popping in to say hello.
During any given week, there are between 25 and 30 markets from which I can purchase local, seasonal, organic goods from farmers who bring their crops to my city. Not to mention that as I shop, I am able to physically shake the hand of the man or woman who, just days or hours prior, plucked my carrots from the ground and cut my kale straight from the plant. I can listen to live music, watch cooking demonstrations, enjoy my choice of hot food and buy flowers just because I can.
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From Mission Mercado to the Upper Haight, and the Castro to Fort Mason, every neighborhood has a home for those who appreciate the importance of such high quality ingredients and who care about supporting their local communities. But if it weren't for one market in particular, none of this would be possible. An integral reason we are able to enjoy such luxuries due is thanks in no small part to, "The Grandaddy of them All," the pioneer market in San Francisco: The Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market.
Until recently, I failed to grasp just how fortunate I am to have this tremendous bounty at my fingertips each and every day. I simply assumed that markets had always been a standard part of San Franciscan life: never really thinking twice. Yet as it turns out, when the market debuted in September of 1992, it was only billed as a temporary offering after the freeway running across the Ferry Building was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. However, thanks to the outpouring of chefs who now had easier access to some of the finest, freshest ingredients around, the market's popularity grew exponentially, people clamored for more, and simply everyone demanded that it become a staple each and every week, thus providing the impetus for what we expect, and often times take for granted, today.
Until recently, I failed to grasp just how fortunate I am to have this tremendous bounty at my fingertips each and every day. I simply assumed that markets had always been a standard part of San Franciscan life: never really thinking twice. Yet as it turns out, when the market debuted in September of 1992, it was only billed as a temporary offering after the freeway running across the Ferry Building was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. However, thanks to the outpouring of chefs who now had easier access to some of the finest, freshest ingredients around, the market's popularity grew exponentially, people clamored for more, and simply everyone demanded that it become a staple each and every week, thus providing the impetus for what we expect, and often times take for granted, today.
In two weeks, Cuesa is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with two birthday bashes: Wednesday, May 15th with Spring Cocktails and Saturday, May 18th with four types of strawberry shortcake, including this one from Francis Ang of The Fifth Floor:
Ginger Scone, Carbonated Strawberries, Almanac Beer Honey Saison Foam, Candied Kumquats
Cuesa is much more than a market organizer. They are committed to sustainability in both the vendors they choose and they phenomenal programs they run. Their "Schoolyard to Market" initiative is a youth development, entrepreneurship, and gardening program that allows students to grow vegetables at their own schools and sell at the market. "Foodwise Kids" targets a younger demographic, children grades 1-5, and introduces them to the items available and facilitates a cooking class with the ingredients they had just purchased. Lectures, farm tours and "Discovery Stations," are also available adults year round.
So swing by and wish Cuesa a Happy Birthday, thank a volunteer for keeping the markets friendly and clean, and take a moment to wonder what life would be like without that first market down at Ferry Plaza 20 years ago.
Nosh on,
Josh
So swing by and wish Cuesa a Happy Birthday, thank a volunteer for keeping the markets friendly and clean, and take a moment to wonder what life would be like without that first market down at Ferry Plaza 20 years ago.
Nosh on,
Josh
