Post by CUESA (5/14/2014)

Behind every item at the farmers market is a story, and social media brings that story to light. Farmers and food crafters are using Instagram to share photos that take eaters behind the scenes, making an art not only of putting food on the table, but also of showing us the beauty, magic, and hard work in getting it there.

“Our business has so many different interesting facets, even beyond what happens inside our coffee bar and roastery,” says Ashton Goggans of Sightglass Coffee. “We’re in the mountains of Latin America and East Africa, sourcing coffee from these incredibly hard-working producers, meeting their families, and walking their farms. Our Instagram feed gives us the opportunity to tell the story of all of those relationships, and to broaden people’s understanding of what a specialty coffee company does.”

We wanted to share some inspiring Instagram feeds from Ferry Plaza Farmers Market farmers and vendors.

1. Craftsman & Wolves | @craftsmanwolves

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From the folks who created the much-talked-about Rebel Within, this feed for the popular patisserie brings “food porn” to new heights, featuring delicious pastries in process.

2. Cremeux Ex Machina | @cremeuxXmachina

Situated on an organic dairy farm in Petaluma, Cremeux Ex Machina shares how their small-batch seasonal gelati and sorbetti are made, from pasture to spoon.

3. Della Fattoria | @dellafattoria

Della Fattoria offers a window into their Petaluma-based bakery, where bakers make hand-crafted, hearth-baked bread.

4. Devoto Gardens & Orchards | @devoto_orchards

The Devoto family in Sebastopol showcases their colorful flowers in bloom and heirloom apples ready for market (and for the cider press).

5. Frog Hollow Farm | @froghollowfarm

Frog Hollow Farm shares what it takes to grow their famed organic stone fruit (snakes and all!).

6. June Taylor Company | @jamwifey

Jam-maker and confectioner June Taylor provides a beautiful visual diary of her farmers market finds, food crafting process, and global travels.

7. Lonely Mountain Farm | @lonelymountainfarm

Young farmers in Watsonville chronicle their adventures in organic vegetable farming and raising Nigerian Dwarf goats.

8. Massa Organics | @massaorganics

With beautiful photos of almond orchards in bloom, rice paddies, and newborn pigs and lambs, Greg Massa and Raquel Krach’s feed was recently promoted as an Instagram account to follow. They now have more than 25,000 followers!

9. Sightglass Coffee | @sightglass

From Ethiopia to Ecuador, the globetrotting guys at the SF-based coffee roaster take us to the remote lands where they source their direct-trade coffees, and introduce us to the people who grow them.

10. Swanton Berry Farm | @swantonberryfarm

Organic strawberries fields forever—union grown at Swanton Berry Farm in Davenport.

There’s more where those came from! Here are some additional Instagram accounts to follow:

4505 Meats, Capay Organic, Cowgirl Creamery, Dirty Girl Produce, Donna’s Tamales, Eatwell Farm, Far West Fungi, Fatted Calf, H&H Fresh Fish Co., Happy Girl Kitchen Co., Happy Quail Farms, Hodo Soy Beanery, K & J Orchards, Marin Sun Farms, Namu, Nana Joes Granola, Sierra Cascade Blueberries, Tacolicious, Thomas Farm, Three Babes Bakeshop, Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen

And for photos from Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, be sure to follow us at @cuesa.

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