Dock, walk & shop: The San Francisco Ferry Building Market Place

July 5, 5:43 PMBay Area Getaways ExaminerHeather Barnes

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Locals and tourists alike fill the wide isle of the indoor Ferry Building strolling from shop to shop sampling fine artisan cheeses, dipping cubed French bread into rich, reflective pools of olive oil and sipping refreshing peppermint water out of little cups. It’s Saturday morning at the foot of Market Street in San Francisco, and it would seem that The Market Place is the place to be. Festivity lingers as seductively in the air as the sweet aroma of assorted freshly cut flowers. Stepping outside the building, shoppers soon discover a vast rainbow of colors -- mounds of fresh greens, plump peaches, juicy red tomatoes, whole leafy carrots, tempting plums and sweet apricots.

Whether you drift across the bay on a pleasant ferry from Larkspur or Sausalito or drive over the scenic Golden Gate Bridge, the Farmer’s Market will reward you with many pleasing finds. Take for instance, Sue Conley and Peggy Smith, owners of Cowgirl Creamery & Tomales Bay Foods. These gregarious merchants greet shoppers with warm smiles and delicious varieties of farmstead cheeses. Their popular products are sold

all over the Bay Area including Oasis, Good Earth and Woodland Market of Marin County.

Marshall’s Farm boasts a sweet beginning. Twenty thriving beehives once sat atop a roof at 1648 Sir Frances Drake Boulevard in Fairfax. Spencer and Helene Marshall now produce their natural gourmet honeys in American Canyon which collects honey from 650 hives in 30 Bay Area locations including Olema. Marshall’s Honey has been featured in such publications as Gourmet Magazine. They can faithfully be found outside the Ferry Building every Saturday and Sunday year-round, "rain or shine."

Within the northern end of the Farmer’s Market building is Mill Valley Candleworks. In 1985, owners, Michael and Marni Salit’s son, Alex, came into their world and only months later was diagnosed with epilepsy and autism. Alex brought a special light into the Salit family which a non-profit organization that would provide help to children with special needs. Each specialty product they sell, from their seasonal line of hand-crafted candles, provides funds to several non-profit organizations. When visiting Michael and Marni’s kiosk, you will be touched by the warmth that emanates from, not only their heavenly scent-filled candles, but their generous hearts.

Whether it’s diverse foods and gifts from Marin County you happen upon or fresh peaches from the Sacramento River Delta, there is an immense satisfaction in shaking hands with the one that harvests your meal or making small talk with the creator of a hand-crafted one-of-a-kind gift.

The Ferry Building Marketplace

One Ferry Building

Foot of Market Street along the Embarcadero in San Francisco

Extended Farmer’s Market hours are from 10-2pm Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.