Going to the Berkeley Farmer's Market, it is difficult not to make constant comparisons to the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. And it's not just me - others do the same thing. One farmer told me that the business he does at the Berkeley FM is comparable to the Ferry Plaza FM - a remarkable feat considering that the number of people going to the Ferry Plaza FM probably trumps the Berkeley FM by thousands.
The people at the Berkeley FM walk the walk. The same farmer said that he feels that the Berkeley FM customers are more middle class, and that buying food at the Berkeley FM is probably a larger hit to their paycheck than some of the customers at the Ferry Plaza FM, but that the customers see and understand the value of buying from the farmer's market. They do it as a way of life, and not necessarily in order to buy from the newest, hottest farmer.
This is a great market. I could easily shop here and find everything that I need every week. It's a great balance of veggies, prepared foods, meats, fruit, and cheese. The only additions that would make it perfect would be a yogurt seller (a la Saint Benoit Yogurt) and maybe Rancho Gordo for beans and tortillas and tortilla chips.
There are some real gems of farms at this market. It's not the polished, well-marketed look that you are used to with the San Francisco markets. The farmers who come to the Berkeley market seem to be more of the in-the-fields, hard-working, marketing-as-an-afterthought farmers.
Don't get me wrong - there are some "superstars" here ... Frog Hollow Farms is the main one that comes to mind. But the attention that these booths receive is comparable to the attention that all the other booths seem to receive.
If you go to this market, be sure to check out the wares at Ludwig Avenue Farm. The farmer sells eggs of all sorts, potatoes, and fantastic looking pecan and sweet potato pies that his wife makes. The other day, I purchased a soup base from him with okra and large white beans in it that I have yet to try.
Another great booth at this market is the Fatted Calf booth that sells sausages and other types of meats. This small-production business only sells at the Berkelely farmer's market and a few select places. Once you try their sausages you will understand the magic of this company. (For LOTS more info about Fatted Calf, check out Meathenge's site - he talks about Fatted Calf all the time)
The veggie booths at this market are remarkable. So many of them are polycultural farms with tons of different offerings. A couple of note are Riverdog Farms, and Happy Boy which is quickly becoming one of my favorite farms.
Parking is easy at this market if you are willing to pay $1.50 or so in an enclosed lot. Below please find a list of the farmer's that I recorded on my trip there (apologies for omissions or misspellings).
For more information on this market, visit the Ecology Center website.
Berkeley Farmer's Market
10.00 am - 3.00 pm
Center Street @ M. L. King, Jr. Way
Avalos Organic, Salinas Valley - veggies
B & B Organic Farm, Laytonville
Bariani Olive Oil, Sacramento - olive oil
Bennett Valley Bread, Santa Rosa - baked goods
Big Paw, Napa - olive oil
Billy Bob Orchards
Blossom Bluff, Reedley - fruit
Blue Bottle Coffee, Berkeley - coffee
Blue Heron Farms, Watsonville
Brokaw Nursery, Ventura County - avocados, citrus
Covelo Organic, Covelo - veggies
Fandango Jams - jams, jellies, preserves
Fatted Calf, East Bay - meats, sausages
Firme Farm, Gustine - veggies
Flying Disc Ranch, Thermal - dates
Four Sisters, Aromas - greens
Frog Hollow , Brentwood - fruit
Gabriel Farm, Sebastopol - apples
Gladstone Botanicals, Sonoma County - lavender products
Guru Ram Das Orchards, Esparto
Happy Boy Farm, Santa Cruz - veggies
Happy Quail, East Palo Alto - Peppers
Happy Wraps - prepared foods
Highland Hills Farm, Vacaville - Grassfed beef, lamb
Juniper Ridge - soaps, incense, teas
Kathryn's Kookie
Kennedy Farm
Lou lou's Garden, San Francisco - jams, jellies, pickles
Ludwig Ave Farm, Santa Rosa - eggs, pies, potatoes
Morell's Bread - baked goods
Octoberfeast Bavarian Breads - baked goods
Phoenix Pastificio, Berkeley - pasta
Pomo Tierra Apples, Menodcino County - apples
Primavera Tortillas, Sonoma - Mexican goods
Quetzal Farm, Santa Rosa
Redwood Hills Cheese, Sonoma County - cheese
Riverdog Farm, Guinda
Schmidt Farm
Smit Ranch, Linden - fruit
Solano Mushroom, Vacaville - mushrooms
Star Valley Farm
Swanton Farms, Davenport - veggies, berries
Terra Firma, Winters
Vital Vittles, Berkeley - baked goods
Willow Ha Ranch
Woodleaf Farm, Oroville - fruit
(this farm list was recorded on 12.04.04 - please note that the booths probably change throughout the year.)
All shots for this post taken with a Nikon 5700 digital camera.
