In an area where we have one of the world's renowned farmers' markets, it is easy to overlook neighborhood markets. But the truth is that often we don't have the time or the will to elbow through the crowds at the Ferry Building. On the weeks when you'd like to avoid the weekend farmers' market crush, or you'd simply like some drama-free shopping at markets that will provide you with many of your necessities, consider one of the Bay Area's neighborhood markets.

The Heart of the City Farmers' Market, located in San Francisco's civic center, is a market like no other. With a vividly urban feel, this market is a street performer to the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market ballet. The market celebrated it's 25th anniversary of existence this year, and is one of the oldest farmers' markets in the area.

Where fruits and vegetables at the Ferry Plaza Market are of the utmost quality and are so impeccable they sometimes feel like museum exhibits, the Heart of the City Market's fruits and vegetables are piled high and seem to be combined with seconds and slightly bruised fruit.

The price difference reflects the difference in quality, and bargains at this market abound. The customers who shop the Heart of the City market are the most ethnically diverse that I have seen at any market in San Francisco, and everyone was represented -- from homeless looking for a bargain, to Indian and Asian families, to football fans picking up some peanuts before Sunday's 49ers game.

"Markets breathe, they rest, they laugh, they yell. They absorb all the life around them and multiply it." This is a quote I came across recently in Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet by Jeffrey Alford, and it applies exactly to the feel of the Heart of the City Farmers' Market.

The market takes place on Wednesdays and Sundays, beginning at 7 am and closing at 5.30 pm on Wednesdays and 5.00 pm on Sundays. That's over 20 hours of market time in two days. I would highly recommend a trip to this market.

Because most of the farmers at the Heart of the City market don't display signs, I didn't get many vendor names. When I attended this market on November 19, I counted more than ten vegetable vendors, more than five fruit vendors, three flowers and plant vendors, and egg vendor, a fish vendor, a pistachio vendor, and one prepared food vendor. I did not note any hot, prepared food vendors, though I have been told that there is a tamale vendor on Wednesdays. I also didn't see any cheeses or meats other than fish.

Heart of the City Farmers Market
Market Street
(between Seventh and Eighth streets)
(415) 558-9455
Wednesdays, 7:00 am - 5:30 pm
Sundays, 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Vendors in attendance that I noted included:

MacDonald's Organic Farm (Sebastopol). Apples.
Phan Farm (Elk Grove). Asian vegetables.
Schletewitz Family Farms (Sanger). Grapes, stone fruit.
Sukhi's. Prepared Indian foods.
Yerena Farms (Watsonville). Berries.

To read about the anniversary of the Heart of the City Market, go to the San Francisco Chronicle article. More photos of this market posted on Life Begins at 30.

This post is one in a series covering Bay Area neighborhood farmers' markets.
Berkeley Farmers' Market (Thursday)
Fairfax Farmers' Market (Wednesday)
Fillmore Farmers' Market (Saturday)
Marina Farmers' Market (Saturday)
Mountain View Farmers' Market (Sunday)
Pt. Reyes Station Farmers' Market (Saturday)
Temescal Farmers' Market (Sunday)