Who doesn’t enjoy going to a farmers market? You’re buying fruits, vegetables and other foods directly from the source. You’re in the fresh air rather than within the confines of a supermarket. You can nibble and nosh on the spot.

You also can meet friends and turn the outing into a relaxed social occasion rather than the “Oh no, I’m out of milk, which means I have to stop at the store on the way home from work even though I don’t have time” urgency of yet another grocery run. In fact I can’t think of anything not to like.

That’s why I like to check out farmers markets when I travel. Unless you’re cooking in your hotel room—or even if you’re staying with friends—you don’t have any reason to pick up several heads of broccoli or a sack of potatoes, but you can purchase a pint of ruby-red strawberries or a couple of crisp, locally grown apples and a freshly baked cranberry muffin and stash them in your backpack.

Everyone needs to eat, and eating guides many of my on-the-road decisions, which is why I always hit the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market whenever I’m in San Francisco.

Saturday morning is the big market day (there are smaller versions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings). Vendors set up in front of and behind Ferry Building Marketplace. The Embarcadero location is awesome—it has the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a backdrop and there are ferry boats coming and going, seagulls wheeling and squealing, a salty tang in the air and a constant parade of entertaining humanity.

Organic fruits and vegetables from regional farmers are the big draw—everything from purple grapes, plump red cherries and green-topped bunches of carrots to heirloom tomatoes and fat bulbs of garlic. There’s also lots of exotic and unusual produce like Buddha’s hand, a member of the citrus family that resembles a bunch of miniature bananas; its zest is used in cooking, and the individual fingers can be sliced, peeled, pith and all, into salads.

The stands selling homemade jams and jellies (boysenberry jam is fantastic!) hand out free samples. Since the market is open all year, this agricultural bounty varies by the season.

I love the big bunches of cut flowers—daisies, marigolds, sunflowers, snapdragons, sweet peas. Did you know that a vase of sunflowers will stay fresh and beautiful for at least two weeks? Just change the water regularly.

Baked goods—high-quality baked goods—tend to make me weak in the knees. The array of muffins, croissants, scones and pastries at this market is tempting to say the least. And I haven’t even gotten into the cheeses, mushrooms and specialty foods. There’s just a cornucopia of goodies to explore here.

Another definite plus, at least for me, is that everything is just outside the Ferry Building. Inside there are ATMs and, most importantly, restrooms. And Ferry Building Marketplace itself has lots of interesting stores and vendors—most of them, appropriately enough, food-based.

I cannot wander around a farmers market without first getting a large to-go coffee to carry with me, so my first stop is always Peet’s Coffee & Tea (I’m a big fan of this West Coast-based franchise). But there’s also Blue Bottle Coffee if you’d rather have an individually prepared, freshly roasted organic brew and are willing to stand in a long line for it.

Berkeley-based Acme Bread Company is another of my favorites. All of their breads look absolutely scrumptious. I often get a loaf of ciabatta (for a consumer-friendly $2.50), but the pan epi, an equally consumer-friendly $2.25 and shaped like a rose stem complete with thorns, is my  current favorite.

Next door, Cowgirl Creamery has all kinds of artisan cheeses, including Mt. Tam, named for nearby Mount Tamalpais in Marin County. I try not to look at the nutrition information on the package, but a little bit of this mellow cheese made from organic milk is a yummy combination with a piece of pan epi.

Hands down, the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market is the place to be in San Francisco on Saturday morning.

Note: The Ferry Building is on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street. Don’t even bother trying to find a parking space nearby; just get on Muni heading downtown, get off at the Embarcadero station, walk two blocks down Market and you’re there.

Other blog posts about San Francisco attractions:
• San Francisco's Top Photo Spots
• A Walk Across the Golden Gate Bridge