Symbols of Summer

August 26, 2005

Summer has peaked, and all of our favorite warm-weather, long-day fruits and vegetables can be found at the farmers market. Tomatoes, eggplants, corn, stone fruits, early apples, and grapes are ripe and plentiful. But nothing symbolizes the height of the summer season as well as watermelons.

Farming with Fathers

June 16, 2005

As fewer and fewer children of farming families continue the farming tradition, the average age of farmers in the United States climbs. The 2002 Census showed that only 5.8 percent of operators were younger than 35. But many children of the farmers in the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market have made crop cultivation (or other aspects of the farming business) their profession and are still working with their parents, oftentimes on the land where they were raised. In honor of Father’s Day, we are sharing brief profiles of farmers who work with their farmer-fathers.

Springtime in Siskiyou County

May 26, 2005

A letter from Farmer Kirsten Olson

This week’s feature is a personal letter from farmer Kirsten Olson of Hunter Orchards to our Market Manager, Dexter Carmichael. Kirsten’s response to Dexter’s casual question of how things were on the farm is such a beautiful and eloquent account of springtime in the northern-most county of California, we felt compelled to share it with you.

Hello Dexter,

The Unique Lifecycle of Salmon

April 28, 2005

Salmon have a  unique lifecycle. After mature salmon have lived a full long life (up to five years old, depending on the subspecies), they return to the stream or river where they were born in order to spawn. Spawning is how salmon reproduce. Male and female mates swim up their native streambed in search of a good nesting sight. The female creates a nest in the gravel on the bottom of the stream by swishing her tail back and forth to create a safe little area up to 18 inches deep.

Viva Cesar Chavez!

March 31, 2005

On March 31st, many individuals, several counties, and seven states across the U.S. honor the life and work of Cesar Chavez. Chavez contributed to enormous improvements in the working conditions of agricultural laborers in this country – today, he would have turned 78.

Terms, Labels, and Certifications – What Do They All Mean?

March 10, 2005

For the Love of Land

February 24, 2005

Foods for the Lunar New Year

February 10, 2005

Happy Lunar New Year! Enjoy these foods to direct one’s fortune in the coming year.

Reviving Local Food Systems

January 20, 2005

Carrot-ography

January 13, 2005

Carrots come in a staggering array of colors and flavors. We have the Dutch to thank for the ubiquitous orange variety.

Wintertime on the Farm: Ranch (Part 3 of 3)

December 23, 2004

Out on the range, nature may appear dormant in winter, but on the ranch, the season can yield new life.

Wintertime on the Farm: Fields (Part 2 of 3)

December 16, 2004

For Brandon and Michelle Ross of Ella Bella farm, winter is no time for repose. The harvest may be lean, but the work load is not.