Heirlooms are here!! From green and red zebras to brandywines, sliced heirlooms drizzled with olive oil and dusted with salt and pepper are one of my favorite things!

But there’s more. Golden yellow squash. Sweet corn. Snap peas. Peaches, plums and nectarines.

Summer is a great time to enjoy fresh farmers’ fare and my favorite place in the city to get them is at the Farmers’ Market at the Ferry Plaza along the Embarcadero.  Open year-round and twice a week, the Farmers’ Market showcases fresh, organic and in-season produce from local organic farms throughout the Bay Area.  It is a great place in the city to shop for sustainable food and to support local farms and small businesses.

I love going to the Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings.  I think it is one of the absolutely coolest things to do in the city.  After a caffeine boost at Peet’s or a quick breakfast bite at one of the specialty street food stalls, I snake my way through the crowds to sample and pick the freshest produce on my shopping list.  Aside from fruits and vegetables, the Farmers’ Market also features fresh flowers, artisan breads, pastries, cheese and yogurt as well as organic eggs and meats from local poultry farms and ranchers.

A trip to the market would not be complete without a treat.   Last weekend, Dennis and I enjoyed an amazing cherry chocolate rugelach from the Noe Valley Bakery & Bread Company.  It was so good that it was gone before I can take a quick photo of it.

For a list of farmers’ markets throughout the Bay Area follow this link.  And for more photos of the freshest farmers’ fare check out my Flickr photostream.