From Rain Can Sprout New Discoveries:Brooks and Daughters Sprout Farm

There is something epic and endearing about tackling a farmer’s market in the rain. Ever tried it? You would think that shopping for your local food in the rain might be..well..challenging. And while it is a tricky thing to navigate your local farmer’s market while it is raining, getting out there, despite San Francisco’s ever changing weather conditions, can lead you to some awesome finds. The epic downpour over the weekend,  led me to Brooks and Daughters, a family owned 5 acre sprout farm in Forestsville.

At the farm stand in Downtown Berkeley, I met Geneva Brooks, daughter of Corie and Jim Brooks. She explained how the start up of her parent’s farm was her mom’s idea back in 1996, and the idea for the name of the farm came from her father’s longing to have the farm named after his daughters. Since then the sprout farm has continued to be successful, with 95% of the sprouts being serviced to people. While the farm may not be certified organic, Jim and Corie still incorporate some organic practices into the management of their farm, like their use of  organic seeds and compost.

Speaking of seeds, at the farm a variety of sprouts and other products are grown and sold including, Wheatgrass, African Violets, Eggs, Alfalfa Clover, Brocoli Salad Mix, and Fenugreek Salad Mix.

Brooks and Daughters is a great example of how people can use farms in order to grow unique and fresh crops, like sprouts. While the rain might have made it a bit tricky to tackle farmer’s markets, I am thankful that I was lead to Brooks and Daughters. So I challenge you to get out there, despite weather conditions and explore your local farmers market. Rain or shine, you are always bound to make a unique discovery!

For more information on Brooks and Daughters and the delicious sprouts, click here.

A Good Quality Bread Begins Behind the Scenes: Panorama Bakery

When I approached Panorama Bakery, located on Florida street in the mission this past tuesday the first thought that crossed my mind was, “where is the door into this massive place”. I knew we were obviously at the right bakery, but I was a bit concerned as to where the entrance was. However, over the course of the tour that we took inside of the bakery, I came to appreciate and accept the vast size of the bakery. After seeing the intricate process that goes into making bread, my frustration had melted away and I was left with a feeling of awe and excitement when touring around.

What caught my attention most about the bakery is how passionate all of the people who work behind the scenes are. Panorama Bakery is extremely popular and present in the food industry, with over 400 accounts with restaurants and a weekly sale of 2200 loaves of bread, the bakery is extremely successful. Even though this kind of success is extremely impressive, what impressed me the most was the dedication and persistency, that still lies behind the products. It is so easy for a restaurant or a bakery for this matter, to get caught up in sales, status, presentation, etc. However Panorama Bakery had the feeling of an old fashion bakery, and the dedication workers applied to the process of making the bread, demonstrated how there really is no price to this kind of dedication.

Two things caught my attention while touring inside the bakery; the diverse selection of breads, and the machinery responsible for the production of the bread.

Inside the bakery as I rounded corners and walked through doors, I not only picked up on the delicious smell of fresh made bread; my eyes continuously captured the endless racks where the bread was stored. Bread types included, wheat, sourdough, rusticana, and focaccia bread. In addition to the breads I saw, I learned that the bakery produces hotdog buns, hamburger buns, and pizza dough.

Many helping hands go into the production of the various types of bread, both by hand and machine. One of the machines which is referred to as simply, “the bread molding machine”, was a impressive machine made up of many different parts and steps that were all responsible for shaping the bread. To go along with the bread molding machine were the multitude of ovens which all had to be constantly watched by one worker. This crucial task can be considered a heavy responsibility on the one worker who must remember which bread is in which oven, as to make sure the different types of bread don’t burn.

Although Panorama Bakery is known for its delicious breads and well known clientel, the bakery can aslo be commended on the detailed process that goes on  behind the scenes. That process serves as the function, organization, and passion of  making the bread.

Visit http://www.panoramabaking.com.

Food and Jazz, Fillmore Farmer’s Market is Bringing Soul Back

It was a clear and sunny morning when I arrived at the the Fillmore Farmer’s Market, located in the Fillmore District, famous for its deep roots in Jazz music and culture. The market was small but vendors were packed in. No need to worry about finding the market, just listen for the soulful jazz band that always comes out to give market goers a bit of jazz, to go along with their shopping and mingling.

As I walked through the Market, I became aware of how much life there was bustling around me. Life radiated from not only the vendors, but the many familes as well, that had come out to enjoy the market. I watched as a young toddler held on to a strawberry. She stared at it almost as if trying to figure out where it came from. The beauty in that happening is that children old and young can use the market as a learning experience.

I came across one vendor where a young boy was handing out free orange samples.

He had a cheery look on his face and a polite tone to his voice. I thought how significant it was that at a young age he was already exposed and working with local and sustainable food. I thought about how this is how it all begins, when it comes to children and exposure of food. I smiled and took a sample from him, as he educated me on what it was that I was eating.

What I believe is extremely important and significant when it comes to the Fillmore Farmer’s Market is the powerful sense of community engagement and bonds. Everyone seemed to know someone else at the market, names were shouted across vendors, jokes and laughter were shared, and of course I can’t forget that soulful jazz constantly played. This sense of community and spirit is what markets should always be surrounded with. It makes for a more powerful and engaging experience when purchasing your local produce. At this particular Market you will find just that, and perhaps you will walk away at the end of your visit here with your own story, and maybe even a new tune or groove heard from the band.

Fillmore Farmer’s Market takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m-1 p.m, located at 1475 Fillmore Street.

A Picture Really Does Tell it All

Greetings! When thinking about all of the pictures that I have taken thus far along this journey of documenting food and the awesome people behind it, the photos that are taken really do matter. Sometimes with people’s busy lives, people feel that they don’t have time to do any extra reading, even if it is, for instance, a blog. So in this day and age, pictures really do matter. Pictures are many times chosen over written text, which means that it better be a great picture that can represent the facts, story, and passion of the subject matter.  Hope you enjoy them! Remember, a picture really is worth a thousand words. You just decide what those words are.

 Photo 1. Oranges, Melon, Tangerines, Ferry Farms

Ferry Farms stand at the Fillmore Farmer’s Market.

Photo 2. Lettuce, Radishes, Carrots, Beets, Firme Farm

Firme Farm’s colorful and vibrant stand at the Fillmore Farmer’s Market

Photo 3. Inzana Ranch 

Inzana Ranch stand at the Fillmore Farmer’s Market