People
Jeff Roller and Tim Hall, with 1 full- and 4 part-time employees
Farmland
0.75 acres of greenhouses in Half Moon Bay, 30 miles to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
About
In 2011, Jeff and Tim, two former electricians, started Half Moon Bay Wasabi, determined to bring authentic wasabi to the U.S. They use custom-designed greenhouses and sustainable practices such as biological pest control to produce wasabi plants for local chefs and restaurants. Now, at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, shoppers can pick up fresh wasabi to grate and enjoy with their favorite foods.
People
Manuel and Cheryl Ramirez, with 4 full- and 4 part-time employees
Where
San Francisco
About
Spouses Manuel and Cheryl Ramirez have 20 years of experience running brick-and-mortar restaurants that have been well-loved by communities across the Bay Area. Their newest venture is both a culmination of their experience and an opportunity to try something new, offering Filipino American fusion smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and more.
Manuel and Cheryl then opened a franchise of the Bonchon Korean fried chicken restaurant chain inside the Metreon. Though the location became popular, Manuel and Cheryl wanted to return to focusing on Filipino cuisine. “That’s how we express our love for food,” Manuel says, “combining our culture with dishes we love.” In 2024, they launched Izzy & Wooks, named after their daughter Isabel (pictured above, center) and their bulldog, Wookie.
This September, Izzy and Wooks will join the food court on the second floor at IKEA Saluhall in addition to their presence at local San Francisco farmers markets.
Sourcing
Izzy & Wooks purchases local and organic ingredients whenever possible. Their burger and sandwich buns are made at Alta Mira Bakery in Berkeley. The majority of their produce is purchased from vendors at the Stonestown Farmers Market.
People
Loren and Lisa Poncia, with 15 full- and 5 part-time employees
Farmland
1,000 acres in Marin, about 55 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, plus additional land
leased in Mendocino and Humboldt counties.
About
Loren Poncia’s great-grandfather, Angelo, immigrated to California from Italy in 1897 and began
raising dairy cows, pigs, and chickens in Marin, home of Stemple Creek Ranch. The Poncias
farmed dairy cattle until 1989, when they transitioned to beef. Loren and his wife, Lisa, now raise
Angus cattle and Dorset and Shropshire lambs in Marin, Mendocino, and Humboldt counties.
Stemple Creek’s livestock are born in the fields and raised in open pasture throughout their lives,
without artificial hormones, growth promotants, or antibiotics. All animals are grass-fed and grass
finished, with no supplemental corn, soy, or grain. Hay is harvested from their certified organic
pastures in the spring to save for times when green grass is scarce. The Poncias strive to steward
their land in harmony with nature by practicing sound rotational grazing, feeding the soil, and
restoring riparian habitat.
Certification
Pasture is certified by Marin Organic Certified Organic Agriculture. Animal welfare is certified by
Global Animal Partnership.
People
Claudia Campos and Daniel Ortiz, with 1 full-time employee
Where
Oakland
About
Cousins Claudia Campos and Daniel Ortiz founded Painted Leopard after they were both gifted coffee grown in their family’s hometown, near Monte Cacahuatique in El Salvador. There, coffee grows at 1400 meters above sea level in volcanic soil, which lends itself to more aromatic, acidic, and flavorful coffee beans, coupled with fruit-filled notes of tamarind and passion fruit that naturally grow in the soil.
After two years of development, Painted Leopard launched their business at the San Francisco Coffee Festival in 2023. Currently, their medium and light roast, single-origin coffees are only available online and at pop-ups, including the Saturday Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.
Sourcing
Painted Leopard sources coffee through direct trade with the San Carlos Dos Cooperative, which works with local, small farms near Monte Cacahuatique, El Salvador. Their coffee is roasted weekly in Oakland.
People
Tom Turner, his partner, Diana Rodgers, and his sons Jake and Jim Turner, along with 6 employees
Farmland
4 acres in Penngrove, 46 miles to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
About
In 2008, after 40 years of farming and selling wholesale cut flowers in San Diego, Tom Turner decided to move his operation to Sonoma County. On their certified organic farm, the Turner family uses a variety of methods, such as using greenhouses and shadehouses, to ensure the best possible results for the flowers they plant. They never use pesticides, and they also implement other sustainable practices, such as using well water and organic composting.
People
William Henpenn, with 7 full-time employees
Farmland
15 acres in Petaluma, 36 miles to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
About
William Henpenn gained decades of experience as a Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur, and sommelier in Oregon and New York City before settling down in Sonoma County. In his first farming operation, Kicking Bull Farm, William only sold to chefs at local restaurants, which led business to come to a halt during the pandemic when many restaurants were forced to shut down. After closing Kicking Bull Farm, William expanded his product range to include unique, chef-driven crops such as turmeric, edible flowers, and young ginger. He also broadened his customer base by joining local farmers markets across the Bay Area and continuing his long-standing relationships with local restaurants such as Atelier Crenn, Lazy Bear, and Saison.
Umbel Roots Farm is certified organic and soon to be certified biodynamic by the Demeter Association. They use no-till farming methods and conserve water by using low-emitting sprinkler heads and growing multiple crops in one row. Following biodynamic standards, Umbel Roots makes teas with compost, which are fed to plants instead of fertilizers, along with other sustainability practices, such as setting aside 10% of their acreage for biodiversity.
Certifications
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), Demeter Biodynamic Certification
People
Nikki Garcia
Where
Oakland
About
San Francisco native Nikki Garcia was raised by Palestinian parents. After meeting her husband, who was from Cuba, she discovered that she wasn’t accustomed to making the dishes that were familiar to him. As her cooking skills developed, she came to understand how Palestinian and Cuban flavors mesh well together and launched a food business concept with support from Oakland Bloom’s Open Test Kitchen. At the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, Asúkar offers empanadas, traditional Palestinian teas, and other quick and easy Palestinian-Cuban foods.
Sourcing
Asúkar sources ingredients from small, local farmers. Their oils and spices are sourced from Palestine.
People
Brendan Doherty and Rebecca Brown, with 3 full- and 30 part-time employees
Where
Alameda, Oakland, and Berkeley, 12, 10, and 13 miles to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
About
Signal Coffee started a way for Brendan and Rebecca to roast coffee for friends and family. During the pandemic, they made door-drop coffee deliveries to other families in their neighborhood. As the co-owners of Signal Coffee, Rebecca uses her previous experiences as a portrait photographer and her knowledge of marketing and design, and Brendan uses his in-depth knowledge and interest in coffee.
Signal Coffee has its headquarters in Alameda, where they opened their first cafe in 2021. Along with their flagship cafe, Alameda is also home to their second location and commissary kitchen, where all pastries are baked daily. Their pastries are offered on a menu with rotating monthly and seasonal options Their coffee is roasted in Oakland on gas-fired Probat and Loring roasting machines.
At their four locations across Alameda and Berkeley, as well as at Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, they offer specialty lattes, coffee, and a variety of savory and sweet pastries and baked goods.
Sourcing
Signal Coffee sources from Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
