11 Asian Pacific American Food Businesses at the Farmers Market
Savannah Kuang, Foodwise Staff
May 22, 2025
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we have compiled a list of Asian Pacific American-owned food businesses that are part of Foodwise’s farmers market community. Enjoy locally made miso, dumplings, kimchi, momos, and other handcrafted specialties, while supporting talented Bay Area food crafters who are making our local food system more diverse, healthy, and delicious.
Following the 2011 earthquake in her home country of Japan, Mariko Grady started selling her homemade miso to friends to raise money for the victims. Through Aedan Fermented, she now brings the traditions of healthy and flavorful Japanese cuisine to the table with fermented foods such as miso, koji, and amazake.
Must-try: While their country miso is widely popular among market goers and chefs, their shio koji (a living fungus that is used to ferment soybeans and potatoes for sake, among other things) imparts a rich savory flavor to every dish. It can be used in place of salt in dishes or sauces, giving you an umami-rich way to lower the sodium content. Also try their Good Food Award-winning “Sauce of Nostalgia,” which can be used as a dip, spread, or dressing.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays.
An immigrant from Kathmandu and a participant in La Cocina’s food business incubator program, Bini Pradhan prides herself in being the only Nepalese caterer in San Francisco. Through her momos (Nepalese dumplings), Bini recalls not only the foods of her upbringing, but also the feeling of community and celebration during countless gatherings with her parents, siblings, and friends.
Must-try: The momos, of course! Available filled with turkey or vegetables, and served with a spicy tomato cilantro sauce.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
As a child in Vietnam, Minh Tsai took morning strolls with his grandpa to the neighborhood tofu shack. The freshness and artisan-quality of the soymilk, tofu, and yuba of his childhood eluded Minh for many years and ultimately led him to leave a finance career to found Hodo in 2004. Hodo now supplies tofu to Chipotle nationwide, sweetgreen, and notable Bay Area restaurants including The Slanted Door, State Bird Provisions, The Progress, and Mister Jiu’s.
Must-try: One of Hodo’s most popular products is their Sesame Yuba Noodles, which are made from the protein-packed skin that forms on the surface of soy milk when making tofu. They’re delicious hot added to a stir-fry, and equally good cold right out of the box for a quick meal.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays
Since 1995, yoga enthusiast Yeyen Gunawan has been crafting probiotic juices, wellness beverages, and superfood snacks as La Vie. Yeyen researched the benefits of raw food, juicing, and probiotics and began making food and lifestyle changes to bring herself back to health. Since 2005, she has been sharing what she discovered through her line of La Vie Wellness drinks and juice cleanses. A long-time believer in the importance of access to local and fresh foods, she sells her products at farmers markets and local grocery stores throughout the Bay Area.
Must-try: For a healthy morning pick-me-up, stop by her Ferry Plaza Farmers Market stand for kvass, kefirs, pure coconut water, green smoothies, or sprouted almond milks.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays
After working in food tech startups and nonprofits, Annie returned to her lifelong love of cooking and grew her love of baking when she started Little Moon Bakehouse (formerly Annie’s T Cakes) in 2021. As a Chinese-American, she is driven to diversify the food scene and make environmentalism irresistible in the form of her classic Asian delicacies.
Must-try: Sweeten your day with one of Annie’s signature vegan mooncakes, pineapple cakes or almond cookies, which were featured in the hit movie Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on the first Saturday of every month
Driven by a mission to introduce Indonesian cuisine to the Bay Area, Jennifer Huang dedicated herself to learning how to make the cakes, pastries, and snacks that she grew fond of while growing up in South Sumatra. Nusa’s small-batch desserts and treats, which Jennifer now sells at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, pay homage to her cultural heritage.
Must-try: Although Nusa’s signature 1000 Layer Cake is typically eaten on special occasions, you can (and should) treat yourself to it on any Saturday. For a taste of an Indonesian staple ingredient, pandan, try the brightly colored Pandan Coconut Mochi, or seek out their savory dishes for lunch on Thursdays.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Thursdays and Saturdays
Based in Livermore, Jojo Zhu prides herself in making authentic handmade dumplings, potstickers, and buns in the Northern Chinese tradition and reflecting the seasons. Papa’s offers vegetarian and vegan options, too. Papa’s Dumpling makes everything fresh each week, so they only sell their food at farmers markets.
Must-try: Jojo’s freshly made dumplings are cooked to order, including the pan-fried potstickers in varieties like pork, shrimp, and chives; chicken, mushroom, and corn; and tofu, mushroom, and basil, filled with large flavorful chunks. You can also order them frozen to fry up at home.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Mission Community Market on Thursdays
The newest venture from the Lee brothers—Dennis, Daniel, and David, Pixlcat Coffee is focused on delicious sweet lattes and mochi muffins made with locally sourced and organic ingredients whenever possible. Originally from Boston, the Lee brothers have 20 years of experience owning and operating popular local restaurants. At Pixlcat, sweeten your day with handmade, small-batch treats and unique lattes.
Must-try: Their signature Dopo Panna Latte is made with a special in-house syrup . They use these same syrups to flavor their mochi muffins (in flavors like ube, matcha, and black sesame), along with delicious ingredients mixed in, like their s’more muffin, which contains marshmallow meringue and chocolate chunk.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays
The Malik brothers worked with Sukhi’s Gourmet Indian Foods in the farmers market for more than 10 years, doing almost 25 farmers markets per week for Sukhi’s. During their market days, the brothers had realized that customers are familiar with Indian food, but not with Pakistani cuisine. The Malik brothers founded Roti in 2017 to introduce Pakistani food in farmer markets. Directly from Punjab Pakistan, Roti offers authentic Pakistani vegan cuisine using generations-old family recipes, regional spices, and local ingredients.
Must-try: If you had naan before, try their stuffed paratha, which is essentially stuffed flatbread with spinach. Their chutney sauces are also great with the parathas!
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays and Mission Community Market on Thursdays
Aruna was born in South Korea and grew up in a Buddhist monastery where homegrown vegetables were at the heart of every meal. She launched Volcano Kimchi in San Francisco in 2014 with the aim of creating a high-quality, organic, vegan kimchi reminiscent of her youth.
Must-try: Volcano’s signature product is Napa Cabbage and Jicama Kimchi, but be sure to ask about any seasonal offerings, which have included items like Super Spicy Habanero Persimmon Kimchi, Oyster Kimchi, and Jicama Kimchi Salsa, all using ingredients from the farmers market.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays
After years slinging produce for Heirloom Gardens farm, Mary Risavi moved on to pursue her master’s in Traditional Chinese Medicine, but she now brings her passion for local produce and nutrition back to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market with Wise Goat Organics, a one-woman fermented foods business based in San Juan Bautista, offering krauts, tonics, tinctures, and more.
Must-try: Wise Goat’s hyper-local krauts, kimchis, and kvasses rotate with the seasons and range from classic to experimental. For a supercharged health boost, try their Supergreen Kraut (with spirulina, chlorella, and stinging nettles) or Golden Kraut (with turmeric and other spices) which have both won Good Food Awards, along with her Spicy Garlic Kraut.
Where to find them: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays
This article has been updated from a previously published version.
Topics: Equity, Farmers market, Local, Prepared foods, Small business