The Farmers' Market opened on August 12, 1943, during World War II as a wartime measure, an outlet for surplus and distressed crops from neighboring counties. Its first location was at Market Street and Dubose Avenue, and it was operated by the farmers and the Victory Garden Council, with the City and County of San Francisco assuming management on August 1, 1944. In order to determine the future of the market, voters of San Francisco were asked in November 1945 if they desired a permanent market. The response was the biggest YES vote on a matter of policy in the history of the City. The Alemany Farmers' Market opened at its present location, 100 Alemany Boulevard, on August 4, 1947 under a City Ordinance which authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to establish a Farmers' Market to be administered by him or by any department under his jurisdiction. It is now under the supervision of the County Agriculture Commissioner who reports to the Chief Administrator. In spite of the overwhelming mandate of the people and the Ordinance establishing the market, it remained for six Supervisors to defy the will of the people and to oppose the necessary appropriation for a new site. Acting upon the principle that the people did not know what they were voting for and after bitter clashing at City Hall, it was decided that the people should vote again. The sum of $100,000 was asked for the voter's approval.
After a long and bitter campaign in which the opponents, masquerading under the apron strings of the officials at the Retail Grocers Association, spent huge amounts of money, the voters once again prevailed in a most emphatic manner. The fight was not over and was carried to the State Capitol in Sacramento where the opponents again attempted to defeat the will of the people by blocking legislation to permit the City to obtain, by right of eminent domain, the land for the new market. Again, the Advisory Board was victorious and the present site at Alemany Boulevard near Bayshore Boulevard was purchased by the City for the purposes of a Farmers' Market.
The Alemany Farmers' Market has been wonderful to the small farmers of California, most of whom operate from several to 50 acres, and who were often by-passed by the regular food outlets on the pretense of insufficient production of any one commodity. These are the farmers who are the backbone of American agriculture and to a great extent, the Alemany Farmers' Market has been their salvation, saving their crops, which for lack of a market, would have rotted on the ground. The Alemany Farmers' Market is generally recognized as the greatest single contribution to the betterment of the relationship between the City of San Francisco and rural areas.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has created a special division to promote and establish "Direct to Consumer' Farmer's Markets throughout the state. Most of these markets are seasonal and local. The San Francisco Alemany Farmers' Market is recognized as the "Grand Daddy" of them all. In 1982 there were 60 Certified Farmers' Markets in California; today there are over 200 Certified Farmers' Markets statewide, and the number is increasing every month.
The Market has always been self-supporting from fees collected from the farmers. Strict quality regulations are adhered to under the constant inspection of the Department of Agriculture. Freshness of produce has been and will always remain an outstanding factor.
The Alemany Farmers' Market has also become a tourist attraction. Visitors are thrilled by the colorful displays, the country atmosphere, the make-up of the patrons and farmers and the great feeling of friendliness. Many foreign countries have sent representatives to study the operation of the market.
The San Francisco Alemany Farmers' Market has been the most successful operated market in the United States, and is a model for other markets nationwide. As we have reached the age of large scale, mechanized, corporate farming, the small family owned and operated farms (the backbone of American agriculture) will not disappear as the Farmers' Markets nationwide continue to prosper and supply an essential outlet of high quality, low priced agricultural products.
