Sam Spade's San Francisco

It is the largest celebration of food in the United States and it will take place in San Francisco over the Labor Day Weekend, August 29th through September 1st, 2008.

Slow Food Nation announced the California farmers and producers who will be featured at the Slow Food Nation Market, a unique farmers’ market in San Francisco’s Civic Center being held at the Marketplace at Slow Food Nation’s Labor Day Weekend event (August 29 – September 1).

A learning market, vendors will showcase their signature products which share the philosophy of each farm. With products such as M&M Peach Ranch’s desert peaches and Koda Farms’ Kokuho Rose Japanese-style variety rice, each booth at the Market tells the story of land, place and people.

The vendors at the Market were chosen for their commitment to using good (delicious), clean (environmentally friendly) and fair (socially just) production practices. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the next generation of farmers, water conservation and biological and cultural diversity in California’s food system.

The Marketplace also features Slow on the Go, where vendors demonstrate how fast slow food can be with sustainable and affordable “street food” for sale; the Slow Food Nation Victory Garden, the first vegetable garden in Civic Center Plaza since 1943; and a Soap Box, an occasion for farmers and others to share their stories in a small outdoor amphitheater situated in the Victory Garden. The Marketplace will be open Friday, August 29 – Sunday, August 31 from 9am – 4pm in Civic Center Plaza outside City Hall; it is free and open to the public with items for purchase.

To minimize the Marketplace’s waste and carbon footprint, participants are encouraged to bring their own reusable tote bags, used paper or plastic bags to hold fruit and vegetables. Market vendors are discouraged from using plastic packaging or bags and will compost all food waste.

An unprecedented event, Slow Food Nation will bring together tens of thousands to experience an extraordinary range of activities highlighting the connection between plate and planet. It will feature extraordinary tastings in the Taste Pavilions, chef demonstrations, a major conference on food values, social justice and the environment, an urban farm, a music festival and workshops, forums, films and interactive exhibits. For more information, please visit: www.slowfoodnation.org

More than 60 California farmers and producers from 30 counties in the state were selected to participate.

Alameda

Blue Bottle Coffee Company, Coffee,

Charlie Frank’s Pies, Sweet Potato-Peach Pie

Oaktown Herbals, Herbs

Calaveras

Loulou’s Garden, Blueberry and Cherry Jam

Chico

Massa Organics, Medium-Grain Brown Rice

Contra Costa

Frog Hollow Farm, Peaches

G & S Farms, Corn

Fresno

Blossom Bluff Orchards, Elephant Heart Plums

Marian Farms, Biodynamic Raisins

Organic Pastures Dairy, Raw Milk and Butter

Kern

Weiser Family Farms, Potatoes

Lake

Bodega & Yerba Santa, Goat’s Milk Caramel

Los Angeles

M & M Peach Ranch, Desert Peaches

Marin

Ancient Organics, Ghee,

Point Reyes Preserves, Raspberry Jam

Straus Family Creamery, Cream on the Top Milk

Three Twins, Ice Cream

Cowgirl Creamery, Red Hawk Cheese

Mendocino

The Apple Farm, Fruit Chutneys

Merced

Koda Farms, Heirloom Variety Rice

Vista Almonds, Almonds

Monterey

Far West Fungi, Specialty Mushrooms

J & P Organics, Strawberries

Catalan Family Farm, Squash

Napa

Elixir Olive Oil, Italian Varietal Olive Oil

Katz and Co (Katz Farm), Orleans Method Vinegar

Marshall’s Farm Honey, Honey

Placer

Beauty Ranch, Asian Pears

San Benito

Four Sisters Farm, Greens

Pinnacle Organics, Melons

Coke Farm, Meyer Lemons

Happy Girl Kitchen, Vinegar Cucumber Pickles

Hain Ranch, Walnuts

San Francisco

We Love Jam, Apricot & Plum Jam

Pan-o-Rama, Bread

San Joaquin

Lagier Farms, Paw Paws or Bronx Grapes

San Luis Obispo

Windrose Farm, Heirloom Apples

San Mateo

Blue House Farm, Dry-Farmed Early Girl Tomatoes

Iacopi Farms, English and Sugar Snap Peas

Harley Farms, Goat Cheese

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Pistachio Co., Pistachios

Fairview Gardens, Tomatoes

Santa Clara

Van Dyke Ranch, Dried Blenheim Apricots

Santa Cruz

A Nagamine Nursery, English Cucumbers

Route 1 Farms, Peppers

Live Earth Farm, Berries

Yerena Farms, Strawberries

New Natives, Microgreens

Solano

California Vegetable Specialties, Endive

Sonoma

Beekind, Herb-Infused Honey

Dry Creek Peach & Produce, Peaches

Gravenstein Apple Presidium, Gravenstein Apples

Nana Mae’s Organics, Gravenstein Applesauce and Juice

Valley End Farm, Rare Melons

Vella Cheese Company, Dry Jack Cheese

Grindstone Bakery, Spelt, Rye and Barley Bread

Gabriel Farm, Pears

Stanislaus

Fiscalini Cheese Company, San Joaquin Gold Cheese

Traver

Bravo Farms Handmade Cheese, Silver Mountain Cheddar

Tuolumne

Farmhouse Culture, “Holy Smokes” Sauerkraut

Ventura

McGrath Family Farms, Beans

Yolo

Capay Organic and Farm Fresh to You, Heirloom Tomatoes

Full Belly Farm, Heirloom Melons

Yuba

Apollo Olive Oil, Mission Olive Oil

Resources:

Slow Food's Victory Garden at San Francisco City Hall

San Francisco's Plastic Bag Ban

California Water Crisis PBS Video

California Adopts First Green Building Code

California Tomatoes in San Francisco - Everything you need to know

Presidio of San Francisco: Resources and Restaurants

Grilling and Barbecue in San Francisco

San Francisco Bay Area Local Food Guide - RECOMMENDED READING

Restaurants in San Francisco - Inside Local Tips - The Ultimate Local Guide

San Francisco's Fabulous Lesbian Chefs

Coffee in the Castro

Garden Court at the Palace Hotel - SF's Most Elegant Sunday Brunch!

Taxicab Crooks and Scam Cabs in San Francisco

San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace - A Complete Guide

Dessert Plant May be Key to World Food Survival Under Climate Change
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