>> present arms. ♪ [bugles playing "taps"] ♪

♪ [bagpipes adnd drums] ♪

>> i was one of the founders of this market 30 years ago. i am very excited to be here today to welcome all of you and give recognition to our farmers.

the market began with a grant from governor brown. in the first administration, there were $10,000 grants to organize an urban farmers' markets. at the time, i was working on a project called the producer consumer project. we wanted to link farmers in california with urban consumers. the market street association is also interested in what is happening on market street and in improving the quality of life for san franciscans. we bonded together. bernie was my partner in getting this market launched. i used to be called the mother of the market. now i think i qualify more as the grandmother of the market. i want to introduce christine adams, the market manager and real mother of the market. >> thank you so much for coming.

30 years is a great accomplishment. it used to look like a war zone when we came. i do not know if you have looked at some of the pictures. now it is beautiful. people feel safe. we have lots of choices of food. we have very good people to work with. the commissioner in san francisco, dwo has been great. . dpw has been great. city hall has been great. we started with 15 farmers. it has grown into this beautiful oasis in the desert. i do not know how many of you knew one of our farmers who sold right here next to the honey. she passed away about a year ago. i wanted to remember her for those who remember her also. i want to thank the new manager,

john. he has just been named co- manager of the market. he has been here since he was 13. he has worked his way up from being garbageman, seller, and now being manager. i want to thank you for what is going on here. he makes the market work. another new person is kate crepps. kate put on his party. she deserves a hand. she is a wonderful person. she loves what she is doing. and she loves this market. that is what makes it so great. i would also like to talk about a gentleman who has been working here for a little over 10 years. his name is michael cartwright. i hope that he is close by. this gentleman was found on the

bricks somewhere. he needed a hand. the city did that for him. i want to introduce you to him now. >> hi, everybody. what she said was true. 10 years ago, she gave me -- i was out here on the streets homeless and smoking crack. i was shooting drugs and drinking anything to get high. i came down here and started working at this market and loading the trucks. something in her gave me a chance. other people looked over me, she looked to me. she gave me a chance. that chance has led me to a solid foundation. if it was not for the grace of god, i would not be standing here right now. if it were not for his grace, i would not be standing here right

now. she gave me a chance. she saw something in me. i had given up. she kept encouraging me. i went from unloading trucks to being on the staff. i found a place to live at the city ministry. as of the 25th of last month, i graduated from bible college. amen. i was homeless but i was not hopeless. i needed a hand up and not a handout. amen. >> we are located in the tenderloin because this was the neighborhood that needed fresh food, quality food. part of our neighborhood is bordering on chinatown. we have a lot of chinese people come to our market. we're very happy about all the different ethnic groups that come. i want to welcome someone who will give a welcome in cantonese

for our chinese visitors. >> [speaking cantonese]

>> another wonderful thing about san francisco is the language immersion programs. i have a granddaughter learning chinese. i wish she were here with me to translate. i want to welcome honorable mayor edwin lee. we are very lucky that he has come to join us here today. >> thank you. good afternoon, everyone! i have asked supervisor kim of this district joining me in congratulating the heart of the city farmers' market. 30 years. thank you very much for your leadership. do you know what the secret is of having a successful farmers

market? you have the farmers run it, for 30 years. look at what we have done. the hall plaza is activated -- the whole clause is activated. i want to thank the real estate division. you have done a wonderful job at keeping a good relationship with the organizers and the partnerships that we have. i see so many great members of our community from the market street business associations, from the tenderloin. randy shot and aw and our soma s are here as well. this farmers' market brings

fresh, a homegrown, sustainable farmers food to our communities in need. it keeps us healthy. we know that is at the center of a healthy city, to have a relationship with the farms around our bay area and throughout california, to make sure the fresh produce is made available in the freshest and most immediate way to our residents who do not want to have to drive to the market to get the groceries. they want to have it right here in the heart of the city. i understand that. i want to make sure that you know that the people in need, 75% of people who use food stamps use those right here at this part of the city farmers' market. thank you very much for having a trust. you have fresh food and clean food right here. this is part of a general effort we have for the city. supervisor kim and i are working

hard with our neighborhood associations to make sure that the mid market is alive, safe, full of the arts. we are making central market revived with arts, burning man, the great arts foundation, all of the performing arts. we will make sure the storefronts are alive with things to do and see. when we worked on the twitter deal to make sure the companies got here and to advantage of helping us revitalize markets street, that was just the beginning. you are already seeing some of the tech companies coming in. these are tech companies that have the heart of our city as their interest. they want to create the jobs. we want them to create jobs. we want them to do it right here for our youth. we want to make sure our residents have a chance to work in the wonderful buildings they

occupy, to work with the technology companies we want to bring in, and work with the arts to bring in a revised central market. we will continue making that i highest priority. i want to get chris and jen up here to present to them our part of the city farmers' market day in san francisco -- heart of the city farmers' market day in san francisco. come on up. come over this way. >> it is my pleasure to be here today. i was just speaking with ran dy. and get to represent one of the

most exciting and dynamic parts of san francisco. that is the heart of san francisco. it is important to note the gaps we have in the existing neighborhoods. we still do not have a grocery store in the tenderloin. this market has been a central part of being able to serve our residence in the neighborhood. we're so grateful this happens here every wednesday. our office is always out here getting food and buying groceries as well. since my time on the board of education, food equity has been a very important issue. we know it is one of the reasons why not all kids succeed in classes. we talk about improving performance in school buildings, a lot of it is also the opportunities that young people come into the classrooms with. food is one of them. when i was at the school district, we worked to find spaces in our grants to sponsored school gardens so that

our kids can learn about nutrition and fresh foods. it is amazing to visit the schools. the kids know more than i do about identifying seeds, leaves, and all of those things. i am really proud to be year today. 30 more years for the market. the board of supervisors also has a proclamation honoring the 30th anniversary festival. in recognition of the 30th anniversary and the important role of the market in providing a much-needed fresh food, we recognize the non-profit mission to support farmers, run the farmers' market, to keep the fees low so that farmers can afford to offer affordable produce for our city. we want to commend the marketing manager for revision, passion, and dedication in founding the farmers' market almost 30 years ago. thank you very much, christine. [applause]

>> congratulations. >> thank you, mayor lee and supervisor kim. i want to introduce the other association that has been working these 30 years to make markets to a more pleasant place for us. keeping the market here is just one piece of that. carolyn?

>> 30 years ago when this market opened, its purpose was to serve low-income, inner-city people with inexpensive and quality produce. over these 30 years, the market has not only fulfilled its promise. it has gone far beyond that. it has become an institution in the mid-market area. health education boostths have provided information, funds have been donated to local causes. students come here as a destination for field trips. local musicians entertaining consumers. children parade through here in their halloween costumes. besides being a source of farmers' livelihood, the market has become a family. it is a resources committee cannot match. the market sits on this historic site, a united nations plaza.

it has become what the united nations was intended for, a cooperative entity integrating workers, residents, and visitors of many nations. it is a dynamic gathering place where food, ideas, philosophies, and french ships. -- friendships are exchanged and grown. all of the workers and families know about the market and shop here with regularity. i hear people say, meet me at the market, and i know where they're going. the success proves that mid- market can support economic revitalization. today when many revitalization projects are being formed in this neighborhood, the market serves as an inspiration the business and economic growth is not only possible, but it can thrive. in the beginning, the market

share of this space with a homeless encampment. the market was not afraid of being here, sharing the space, or a failure. it is a tribute to many who have the early vision that a farmer'' market was a necessity in this neighborhood. we honor the market and those special people who had the vision and tenacity to carry it fourtrth, the founders and manager. we also honor those dedicated to this market who are no longer with us. carl landin helped to manage it for over 20 years. berni was alsoe one of the founders. in the early days, we did not know what bok choy was and had never seen fresh fish being sold by the pound.

fresh foods sustainability and not even been invented yet. the market was here for all of us. it is truly the heart of the city. >> hello again, everybody. i would like to introduce someone who has given over 500 hours of volunteer time, who has embraced the market. she has been great.

this is the first person who has been on our board of directors who became the president voted in by the farmers. she was a community member. she helped the market so much that we knew she would be great for the market. i want to introduce you to laura rodriguez. come on. go ahead. >> for her outstanding service, we would like to reward her with the heart of gold award. you, too. one on each side.

>> greetings, everyone. i want to begin by thanking the incredibly dedicated farmers who get up at an average of 2:30 in the morning to bring us this wonderful food. i like you to offer a warm hand to the farmers here today. of course, our great food producers. nutrition services is part of the sentences the department of health. it includes ic and the feeling good project. we want to thank the farmers' market for bringing this wonderful food that is the foundation of good health to san francisco and to a community that really appreciate it. this place is buzzing from the moment the farmers arrive. at 7:00 p.m., people are already shopping. the farmers' market has been committed to feeding this community and has accepted food stamps from the very first day they opened.

they have also supported the wic and senior voucher programs to make fruits and vegetables available to people to help them stay healthy. during the 11 years, we have really enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to share information about healthy eating and how to make that possible through cooking and referral to services available through the department of health. i also want to highlight that this year, we took our collaboration to the next level with the campaign, a healthy heart of the city farmers' market. we collaborated in doing workshops for after-school programs and supported housing to provide a welcome to the market as well as give people nutrition information so that

they can learn how to cook the healthy foods they are able to get here. it has been a wonderful opportunity to highlight how this market brings people together in a way that makes it possible for them to remain healthy and live better lives. we also offer tours of the farmers' market so that people can meet the farmers and learn about the things we have available. we look forward to future collaboration. i want to thank the farmers' market and staff for all their hard work. [applause] >> that concludes our formal program. please go shopping. get all the wonderful food that is here. enjoy the music and activities planned. the day is not over. just this part of the program is over. thank you very much.

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