In addition to providing access to fresh, local fruits and veggies to Bay Area residents, CUESA has also been incubating and supporting small artisan food businesses for 20 years through the operation of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. This month we are celebrating small food crafters from our market and beyond as we host two events focused on artisanal food producers.

For the fourth year in a row, we are pleased to partner with the Good Food Awardsto host the Good Foods Marketplace on Saturday, January 18. The marketplace is an annual celebration of the year's Good Food Awards winners, who will be officially announced at a gala reception on Thursday, January 16. The marketplace is a chance for Ferry Plaza Farmers Market shoppers to taste and purchase the best products from artisans across the country who are redefining what good food means.

General admission is $5 and tickets are available at the door from 9 am to 2 pm. Early access tickets ($15) are available online and give ticketholders entrance during the "VIP" hour from 8 to 9 am, when you can browse, sample, and purchase winning products and chat directly with winners before the crowds hit the marketplace. Early access tickets also come with a gift bag full of Good Food Merchants Guild treats.

CUESA is also teaming up with the Good Food Awards and Kitchen Table Talks to present “Scaling Up Artisanal Food: How Big Is Too Big?” on Monday, January 20, a panel discussion focused on the explosion of the food craft scene. Join us for a lively discussion with three successful artisanal food producers who have found their way in the expanding market, including the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market’s very own Sue Conley of Cowgirl Creamery and June Taylor, founder of the June Taylor Company. The speakers will discuss the growing demand for handcrafted gourmet products and how small-scale food producers wrestle with the challenges of growth while maintaining the quality of their products.

The talk will take place from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Port Commission Hearing Room on the second floor of the Ferry Building. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 (though no one will be turned away for lack of funds). The discussion will be followed by a reception with refreshments generously provided by Bi-Rite Market.

For market updates and seasonal tips follow Lulu Meyer @farmersmarketlu or check out @CUESA on Twitter.