Foodwise > Programs > Teaching Resources

Teaching Resources

Schools and Youth Groups

Foodwise welcomes schools and youth groups to visit the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. The market is open Tuesday (10 am to 2 pm), Thursday (10 am to 2 pm), and Saturday (8 am to 2 pm, year round). We offer these programs, resources, and tips to support classes and youth groups in visiting the farmers market.

Foodwise Kids Program

Foodwise Kids is a free program for SFUSD elementary school classes (grades 1-5) that uses the farmers market as a classroom for teaching students to love vegetables and fruits through comparative tastings, exploring the market, and a hands-on cooking lesson. Teachers can learn more and apply to bring your class here.

Planning Your Visit

Schools and youth groups are welcome to visit the farmers market independently from our Foodwise Kids program. The best way to enjoy the market is in small groups, so aim to bring at least one adult chaperone for every six children.

The farmers market is a wonderful place to learn about where food comes from, and it is also a place of business for small family farms and food makers. Please review the following guidelines with the youth and the chaperones before your visit:

  • Please do not let children walk around the market unsupervised.
  • Please do not block customer access or crowd a stand. For groups of more than a few people, line up and approach each stand in pairs.
  • Please don’t interrupt a seller’s conversation with a customer. Wait until they are done and then ask your question. 
  • Ask permission at each stand before touching or sampling produce. Please do not take more than one sample per person.
  • Please do not lean on or set objects (like clipboards) on produce.
  • Explore, learn, and have fun!

Additional tips for making the most of your visit:

  • Tour the whole market. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is on the front side of the Ferry Building only; on Saturdays, it also wraps around the south driveway and fills the back plaza.
  • Restrooms and drinking fountains are located inside the Ferry Building on the ground floor, at either end of the building.
  • Some groups buy food together to create a communal meal or snack. Hot lunch options are available at all three markets. For small groups, there are tables in the market (first come, first served); larger groups sometimes have lunch across the street in Embarcadero Plaza or Sue Bierman Park.
  • Got questions? Visit the Foodwise Info Booth (green tent in front of the Ferry Building). Directions and visitor info can be found here.
  • We encourage you to visit at different times of the year to gain an understanding of California’s harvest seasons. To learn what produce is in season, consult our seasonality charts.

If you have questions, please contact info@foodwise.org or 415.291.3276.

Foodwise Activity Sheets

We’ve developed these activity sheets to facilitate exploration of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. 

Additional Education Resources

  • Kids Cook Farm Fresh Food, developed in 2002 by CUESA’s founder, Sibella Kraus, highlights California crops, offers simple recipes, and includes profiles of some farms that sell at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Download it for free (PDF).
  • San Francisco Unified School District’s Nutrition Education Project is a resource for teachers on nutrition education and physical activity promotion. It contains facts, links, curriculum, and other resources, including farmers market lesson plans.
  • The California School Garden Network has a page of links to free curricula and activities about gardening, eating, and nutrition.
  • Free lesson plans are available for download from the National Farmers Union for a variety of age ranges.
  • Discovering the Food System is a comprehensive learning program for middle school and high school students.