Foodwise | July 4, 2025 | View as Webpage

From Brandywine to Green Zebra: A Farmers Market Guide to Tomatoes

With tomato season in full swing, there’s a lot to love about the rainbow of variety you can find only at farmers markets. Solid, striped, or speckled and in red, yellow, green, purple, and every shade in between, tomatoes present an overwhelming choice, while the names of the varieties are as intriguing as they are colorful: Black Prince, Early Girl, Mortgage Lifter, Green Zebra, Ivory Pear, and Pineapple.

Amid all the variety, which tomatoes do you pick and what do you do with them? Here are some tips to help you navigate this juicy dilemma and make the most of peak tomato season. This month, stop by the orange Seasonal Spotlight tent at Foodwise farmers markets for recipes, cooking tips, and free samples to discover a variety of ways to use your tomatoes. Celebrate these delicious fruits with us at our Tomato Festival on July 26.

This Week's Picks

Donut peaches |Musk melons| Sungold cherry tomatoes | Yellow Wax beans| Lemon cucumbers|Japanese eggplant | Dahlias | Patty Pan squash| Grass-fed beef |Blueberries | Shimeji mushrooms

Celebrate 15 Years of the Mission Community Market on July 24

Celebrate 15 years of the Mission Community Market on Thursday, July 24! Along with seeing the vendors you love and listening to great music, we'll also have free totes and a raffle where you can enter to win market coins.

Fernay's Sauteed Collard Greens

Fernay McPherson, founder of Minnie Bell's Soul Movement, demonstrated this warm and comforting side dish, best paired with sweet cornbread.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: Featured Vendors

Little Moon Bakehouse has decided to wind down their presence at the Ferry Plaza to focus on new projects. Stock up on their delicious vegan mooncakes and wish Annie Wang and the team the best tomorrow, July 5.Stay in touch.

The early bird gets the tomato! Pick up the season's first dry-farmed Early Girls at Dirty Girl Produce at the Ferry Plaza on Saturdays. These drought-friendly fruits are dense with flavor and perfect for salads, sandwiches, and sauces.

Mission Community Market: Featured Vendors

In addition to organic veggies, leafy greens, tomatoes, and dried beans, enjoy Blue House's beautiful summer bouquets, all grown in San Gregorio and Pescadero. Visit Blue House Farm in the Mission on Thursdays.

Since the 1920s, the Carter family has farmed and sold fruits in Northern California. Over several generations, their business has grown to include jams, nuts, and pasture-raised eggs. Visit them on Thursdays in the Mission.

Community Happenings

GoFundMe: Donate to Repair Eatwell Farm's Van | Online

Foodwise Demo: Christine Law, Flora Gelateria | July 12 | SF

The Ferry Building & Noise Pop Present: Ferry Fest! | July 13 | SF

15th Anniversary of Mission Community Market | July 24 | SF

Tomato Festival | July 26 | SF

Foodwise Demo: Yennifer Prada, Le Savoir Faire | July 26 | SF

Foodwise Demo: Polly Sang, Kids Cooking for Life | July 26 | SF

Market Updates

This is the most up-to-date info about this week's seller attendance at the time of publication. Please check in at the Foodwise Info Booth for any last-minute changes.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: Saturday, 8am-2pm | July 5 (yes, we are open!)

La Cocina Pop-Up: De La Creamery

Mandela Partners Pop-Up: Tutuli Mexican Bakery

New! Izzy & Wooks (back plaza)

Returning: Bariani Olive Oil, Batter Bakery Gumbo Social, Little Moon Bakehouse (last day!), Old Dog Ranch

Out: Brooks & Daughters, The Farmer's Wife, Very Mulberry (out for the season)

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: Tuesday, 10am-2pm | July 8

En2Action/Ujamaa Kitchen: Remy Creations

Returning: Nusa, Remy Creations

Out: Very Mulberry (out for the season)

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market: Thursday, 10am-2pm | July 10

En2Action/Ujamaa Kitchen: Remy Creations

Returning: Nusa

Mission Community Market: Thursday, 3pm to 7pm| July 10

La Cocina Pop-Up: Camucha's Kitchen

Community Tent: Mission Loteria

New! RHJ Farms

Returning: Nucha Empanadas

Visit foodwise.org for seasonality charts, recipes, and more!

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Ferry Plaza Farmers Market | Sat 8am-2pm | Tue & Thu 10am-2pm

Mission Community Market | Thu 3pm-7pm

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