6 Reasons to Give Back to Your Community with Foodwise

January 23, 2026

Volunteering with Foodwise offers a wide variety of opportunities to connect with your local food community, from helping elementary school students explore the farmers market to cooking with award-winning chefs. At our Volunteer Orientation on January 28, you’ll have a chance to learn more about how you can get involved and meet both new and longtime volunteers.

Last year, 271 volunteers and interns generously contributed more than 4,405 hours of their time to Foodwise. Read on for six reasons why these volunteers keep coming back, and why supporting your local food community can be rewarding for you, too.

Pick Up New Cooking Skills at the Farmers Market

Each Foodwise volunteer opportunity presents you with a unique chance to pick up useful skills you can carry with you into your everyday life. Depending on which adventure you choose, you’ll get to practice culinary skills with experienced chefs and cookbook authors, improve your social skills by talking with farmers market shoppers,  and much more.

Stephanie Tan has been volunteering since February 2025. She spends most of her time supporting cooking demos on Saturdays, where she has learned a variety of culinary skills. 

“Working alongside a team in the kitchen on a tight timeline for cooking demos has really pushed my ability to prioritize and move quickly and efficiently through the kitchen,” Stephanie says. “At home, I have less external pressure when I cook, but it’s a wonderful challenge in the cooking demo kitchen. I’m more confident with my knife skills, have an easier time estimating the timeline for prep tasks, and I can trust my taste buds when testing and adjusting before the final dish goes out.”

Empower the Next Generation of Food Leaders

Do you enjoy working with young people? Would you like to get more experience as an educator? Foodwise offers free food education for San Francisco youth at the farmers markets through our Foodwise Kids and Foodwise Teens programs. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can guide elementary school children as they explore the farmers market, meet local farmers, and taste seasonal fruits and vegetables. 

Roger Hintson has been volunteering with Foodwise since 2013. After a brief pause, he recently returned to the farmers market to support our free public cooking demos and our Foodwise Kids program. 

“I enjoy working with Foodwise Kids because I like to teach kids about the farmers market and seasonal fruits and veggies. I enjoy taking them to meet the farmers. I hope it will help influence the kids to eat healthier and visit a local farmers market,” Roger says. 

Our Foodwise Teens program also has volunteering opportunities. Erin Davis offers her time in the garden at John O’Connell High School, one of two SFUSD schools where the program is available. She shows students how to grow and cook their food, while also connecting them with the larger food community in San Francisco. 

Erin says that the most rewarding part of volunteering is seeing teens get enthusiastic about gardening. “I didn’t know what to expect at first. Would they really want to dig around in the dirt and pull weeds? But they have all really jumped in and are eager to take on every project we do together.”

Mingle with Famed Cookbook Authors, Local Chefs, and Food Makers

At the farmers market on Saturdays, there are many chances to meet touring cookbook authors, Bay Area chefs, and food makers at Foodwise cooking demos. Go shopping for fresh ingredients in the market, learn how to cook and prepare a delicious meal alongside the chef, and take some mouthwatering leftovers home.

“I really enjoy chatting with the chef and cookbook authors who come through, and watching them in action as they roll up their sleeves and masterfully chop and prep alongside the volunteers. I helped Rick Martinez prepare a Mixed Berry Salsa from his cookbook, Salsa Daddy. His mind is a plethora of food knowledge, and it was nice to ask questions and listen to him wax poetically about chiles and how to pair them,” Stephanie says.

Make New Friends Who Are as Passionate About Food as You Are

Public awareness is growing about the vital importance of social connections to our personal health and wellbeing. Volunteering at the farmers market means seeing friendly faces each week, and provides a safe, welcoming space for flexing your “social fitness” skills.  It also offers a chance to form lasting bonds and make new friends who care about their local food community as much as you do.

“The most rewarding part of volunteering is honestly the people,” says Stephanie. “The entire Foodwise team has been absolutely lovely, as I’ve met and befriended team members. The vendors I see week-to-week and offer up samples to are wonderful. I’ve also made friends with a few fellow volunteers along the way, so it’s great to see familiar faces and exchange stories as we see each other. I get to surround myself with people who are passionate and want to talk about food all the time.”

Go Behind-the-Scenes at Delicious Food Events

Are you a party planner at heart, or someone who loves engaging with the public? Foodwise often hosts vibrant, delicious events at the farmers market and at the Ferry Building, from free Pop-Ups on the Plaza events for all ages, to parties that raise vital funds for Foodwise’s education programs. At each event, there are many opportunities to help out both behind the scenes and during showtime, from event prep and decorating to assisting with live auctions and running fun activities to engage eventgoers.

Angie Lipschuetz has supported fundraising events like Foodwise Sunday Supper and Love Bites, a Valentine’s Day-themed walkaround tasting at the Ferry Building, where she has done everything from crafting floral decor to chatting with guests at the registration table. 

Angie shares, “Volunteering with Foodwise has been some of the most enjoyable volunteer experiences I’ve ever had. The staff are welcoming and supportive, and the volunteers and guests are always engaging and enthusiastic—it makes the time fly by. And of course I love to try all the delicious food at the farmers markets and events!”

Get Connected with Your Local Food Community

The more time you spend at the farmers market, the more you’ll get to know local farmers who each have their own unique food knowledge to share. Satish Awatramani volunteers at the Info Booth and Veggie Valet, where he enjoys meeting many of the people who make the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market happen every Saturday.

“For me, there’s no better way to learn about the incredible local produce in my city than directly from the farmers themselves. Volunteering with Foodwise has given me the chance to deepen that knowledge while also connecting with new people and building friendships. Most of all, it’s a meaningful way to give back and support the community that makes the farmers market so special,” Satish says.

Crystal Cao also enjoys being a part of the Operations team on Saturdays at the Info Booth and Veggie Valet. She shares, “Volunteering with Foodwise is a really great way to be outside, connect with the makers and farmers who work incredibly hard to provide us quality food, and support your local community across the entire income range. If you’re new to volunteering, try different opportunities! The Foodwise team is great about asking for help for the most varied of jobs, and you can also raise your hand if you’re interested in something specific.”

Want to learn more about volunteering for Foodwise?

Don’t miss our Volunteer Orientation on Wednesday, January 28, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Ferry Building. Stay until the end to meet and mingle with staff and fellow volunteers, and enjoy delicious food from the farmers market. 

Topics: Volunteers and Interns