Foodwise Teens Learn, Grow, and Lead Through Summer Jobs at the Farmers Market

August 20, 2026

From deepening their food knowledge to hitting their stride in a fast-paced work environment, 18 high school students grew in many ways working at the farmers market as part of our Foodwise Teens Summer Fellowship program.

You may have met some of them at the farmers market this summer. Foodwise Teens supported farmers and food makers at their stands, assisted shoppers at our Info Booth, and guided children on our Foodwise Kids field trips. For many teens, this was their first paid job! They also broadened their understanding of local food systems, visited farms, and cooked together, all while gaining valuable job experience and creating community. 

Thank you to Acme Bread Company, Far West Fungi, Flora Gelateria, Green Thumb Farms, Lucero Organic Farms, Mangosay, McGinnis Ranch, Oya Organics, Tierra Vegetables, and Tomales Farmstead Creamery for providing job opportunities this summer, as well as our program partner Opportunities for All. We also want to thank our generous community members who help us offer Foodwise Teens for free at select SFUSD high schools. You can make these life-changing experiences available to more students by donating here.

We asked our Foodwise Teens to reflect on their summer at the farmers market and what experience and wisdom they’ll take with them. Here are just a few of their stories. 

Giana Pasero: Gaining Confidence Speaking to Adults

I feel most proud of being able to work in a fast-paced environment. I was really nervous at first because it does get crowded and busy in the morning, but after a few weeks I got the hang of it and got the chance to work in a bigger position: cashier. There’s a lot to manage to make sure you provide the right customer service and meet all expectations.

Time management is also a big skill needed, making sure I wake up on time and plan out my routes. I feel this is all good practice for the future. Customer service is probably one I learned more about. I’ve only had one previous job before this and it was working with kids. So getting to speak to people my age and even older than me was challenging but also not as scary as I thought. I feel like out of all the skills I’ve gained, confidence was definitely the biggest one!

Jeffery Huynh: Picking Up New Skills (Like Milking Goats!)

My position was in Seasonal Spotlight. I feel the most proud of the progress I’ve made in interacting with strangers. Before, I don’t think I would’ve been able to do the things I had to in the program. I picked up many cooking and customer service skills. I learned how to dice herbs, thinly slice vegetables, and talk positively around customers. I never visited the farmers markets of San Francisco. Working at one really showed me how amazing of a place it is! There are so many kind people and a large variety of vendors.

My favorite part of the program was the field trips on Wednesdays. I especially enjoyed the Slide Ranch field trip. I milked a goat and held chickens for the first time in my life! I also really enjoyed working for the vendor Mangosay on Saturdays.

Lindsey Young: Finding Community at the Farmers Market

I feel the most proud of the skills I’ve gained, specifically in communication. This program taught me different ways to interact with people of all ages. In the past, I’ve been anxious to talk to people I don’t know, but working with a new group of kids in the Foodwise Kids program every Tuesday and Thursday and talking to new customers every Saturday at Mangosay really encouraged me to push myself and be able to talk to people without feeling overwhelmed or pressured to do so. Now I realize that I enjoy talking to people, and I feel as if I’m not as awkward of a speaker anymore, and can hold more conversations.

Participating in this internship did encourage me to be more active in my communities. There was one day where we had a group of students, and we had such a fun time, and they were still learning and retaining the information we told them. At the end of the day, they all ran up to give me a hug, and that really settled it for me. I want to continue doing some sort of community [work], even if it’s outside of the farmers market, because it’ll always be fulfilling. I really love the community at the farmers market, we’re all comfortable with each other. The work is rewarding and it’s never exactly the same, and nothing is perfect, but I think this is probably one of the best jobs I’ll ever have in my lifetime.

Katherine Ildefonso: Practicing English and Discovering Fruits and Veggies

I feel very proud of having completed this program because I served people and spoke English with all of them, many of whom were tourists, and I wasn’t afraid to practice my English with them. So, I feel really proud of that.

Something I learned there was how to identify the best fruits and vegetables for the customers. I also learned that organic produce is the best, safest, and healthiest option for customers, since it’s important for their families and homes to have safe and healthy food.

Sarah Lynn Amoyan: Stepping Up as a Leader 

My favorite part of the program was preparing the dish for Seasonal Spotlight. I am really proud that I was able to come out of my shell by engaging with a lot of customers and children. I am quite an introvert so being able to have small conversations with everybody around me feels like an accomplishment.

Some skills that I picked up are customer service and leadership. During my days with Foodwise Kids, I had to step up as a leader because they expect a lot from me. I had to make sure that everyone’s in a group while going through a huge crowd at the Ferry Building. Also making sure that they learn important information about the farmers market. I feel empowered to participate in my community because I know that I could help the people around me by showing up for them.

Benjamin Sandoval: Learning Communications Skills, and All About Cheese

I got to work with Green Thumb Farms and Tomales Farmstead Creamery helping customers with whatever questions they had or assistance they needed. I got to learn different facts about the products. For example, I learned some different varieties of fruits and vegetables and the process of making certain cheeses. Overall, I gained good communication with coworkers and customers and learned professionalism. I feel most proud of not getting fired and being respected by my coworkers because it shows I know how to act in a work environment. As for the customers, I learned to not stutter so much when I’m assisting them.

My favorite part of the program was when all the interns got to cook food together to make pozole and cupcakes with agua fresca de sandia.

Sophia Kwong: Improvisation and Connecting with Kids

I worked with the Foodwise Kids program on weekdays and a vendor on Saturday. My favorite part of the summer was working with children and introducing them to fruits and veggies. I feel the most proud of getting children to be comfortable around me and in trying new fruits and veggies. Picky eating is pretty detrimental to nutrition and social contexts, and it was nice to help even those kids to try new foods. It was also sweet when I got a hug after class!

I learned valuable customer service skills during my time with vendors. I am much more comfortable making small talk and answering unexpected questions naturally. Also, improvisation and flexibility, especially when working with children. I got ample experience both in customer service and working with children, which are two skills that I consider extremely valuable for career paths I’ve set for myself. Also, it was fun!

This fall, help us offer paid job opportunities and educational experiences for Foodwise Teens in the farmers market and beyond. Donate to our Fund Youth Education campaign by August 31.

Student responses have been edited slightly for brevity and clarity.

Topics: Foodwise Teens, Programs, Youth