Foodwise > Programs > Teaching Resources: Bringing Youth to the Farmers Market

Teaching Resources: Bringing Youth to the Farmers Market

Here are some teaching resources and tips to support classes and youth groups in visiting the farmers market. Foodwise welcomes groups to visit our farmers markets in San Francisco, including the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market year-round on Tuesdays (10 am to 2 pm), Thursdays (10 am to 2 pm), and Saturdays (8 am to 2 pm), and Mission Community Market on Thursday (3-7 pm), mid March through mid November.

Foodwise Kids Program

Foodwise Kids is a free program for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) elementary school classes (grades 1-5) that uses the farmers market as a classroom for teaching students to love vegetables and fruits through comparative tastings, exploring the market, and a hands-on cooking lesson. If you are a teacher, you can learn more and fill out an interest form to bring your class here.

Planning Your Field Trip or Visit

Schools and youth groups are welcome to visit the farmers market independently from our Foodwise Kids program. The best way to enjoy the market is in small groups, so please aim to bring at least one adult chaperone for every six children.

The farmers market is a wonderful place to learn about where food comes from, and it is also a place of business for small family farms and food makers. Please review the following guidelines with the youth and the chaperones before your visit:

Guidelines for Bringing Youth to the Farmers Market

  • Please do not let children walk around the market unsupervised.
  • Please do not block customer access or crowd a stand. For groups of more than a few people, line up and approach each stand in pairs.
  • Please don’t interrupt a seller’s conversation with a customer. Wait until they are done and then ask your question. 
  • Ask permission at each stand before touching or sampling produce. Please do not take more than one sample per person.
  • Please do not lean on or set objects (like clipboards) on produce.
  • Explore, learn, and have fun!

Tips for Making the Most of Your Farmers Market Visit

  • Tour the whole market. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is on the front side of the Ferry Building only; on Saturdays, it also wraps around the south driveway and fills the back plaza.
  • Some groups buy food together to create a communal meal or snack. Hot lunch options are available at all three markets. For small groups, there are tables in the market (first come, first served); larger groups sometimes have lunch across the street in Embarcadero Plaza or Sue Bierman Park.
  • We encourage you to visit at different times of the year to gain an understanding of California’s harvest seasons. To learn what produce is in season, consult our seasonality charts.
  • At the Ferry Plaza Farmers market, restrooms and drinking fountains are located inside the Ferry Building on the ground floor, at either end of the building.
  • Got questions? Visit the Foodwise Info Booth (green tent in front of the Ferry Building). Directions and visitor info can be found here.

If you have questions or would like to connect with us about bringing your group, contact .

Activity Sheets for Kids

We’ve developed these activity sheets to facilitate young people’s exploration of the farmers market: 

Additional Education Resources