Farmers’ Market Coming to Mission Bay Campus
By Judi Baker
Contributing Writer
Get your fresh, seasonal and local fruit at the new Farmers’ Market at the UCSF Mission Bay campus.
With the success of Farmers’ Market at the Parnassus campus, Campus Life Services and Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association are once again partnering to bring the Mission Bay campus the best of local produce. The Farmers’ Market at Parnassus, launched in May 2008, has proven to be a popular destination for students, faculty, staff and neighbors of the campus.
Vendors will be selling their organic and non-organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, flowers and more on the Plaza at Mission Bay Housing on Gene Friend Way.
The weekly market at Mission Bay will be held every Wednesday, from April 22 to November 25, 2009, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
“We think the Mission Bay campus is the perfect venue for our Farmers’ Market,” said Tamara Villarina, Retail Services Assistant Manager. “We are excited to promote wellness and offer a great service to the campus community and surrounding neighborhoods.”
John Silveira, Director of Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association, agrees.
“After seeing the success of the Farmers’ Market at the 2008 Mission Bay Block Party last year, we are really looking forward to bringing the best farm fresh products to the 2009 Mission Bay Certified Farmers’ Market,” he said. “This season you’ll be seeing tree-ripened cherries, peaches and nectarines. We’ll do our best to provide comparative fruit tastings and some special events, like a summer recipe contest, with great prizes of course.”
“I attended the Farmers’ Market during the last Block Party, and the energy on the Gene Friend Way Plaza was a boost to community spirit,” said Jon Giacomi, Director, Resource Planning & Management with CPFM. “I bought my first ever orchid there, and several of our staff spent time there together for lunch. I’m looking forward to the Farmers’ Market as a regular event for our staff in the area.”
Doug Blumer and ‘Misisipi’ (sic) Mike Wolf, well-known veterans of the Bay Area Americana music scene, will be providing lunchtime entertainment on April 22, opening day. Blumer works for CPFM, in Genentech Hall. In the ‘90s, Blumer was a founding member of The Westerleys, a national touring folk-pop act that still receives national radio airplay. He went on to lead The Beerhunters, a popular country band enjoyed by many UCSF staff members. Americana music includes country, folk, rockabilly and bluegrass; Blumer and Wolf make good use of all these musical forms as they perform original songs.
Public parking is available at the 1360 3rd Street Public Parking Garage, located east of the Plaza. Purchase $5 or more at the market, and pay just $1.25 for the first two hours. Visit the market manager’s table to validate your parking ticket.
The market at Parnassus continues to be held every Wednesday as well, from 10 to 3 in the ACC Breezeway Atrium, between Millberry Union and the Ambulatory Care Center, 400- 500 Parnassus.