At 7:15 on a Saturday morning, the parking lot at 100 Alemany Boulevard fills with vendors unloading crates of citrus and leafy greens. By 7:30, the first shoppers arrive with canvas bags and rolling carts. By noon, the crowd thins and vendors start packing up. Come Sunday morning, the same lot sits empty—a fact that catches out-of-town visitors who assume farmers markets run weekend mornings. Alemany operates Saturdays only, year-round, rain or shine, a schedule it has kept since August 12, 1943, when it opened as California's first farmers market.
Open Karpo to check live opening status at Alemany Farmers Market and map a route through Bernal Heights that includes breakfast spots and weekend stops near the market. The app shows real-time hours and transit connections from Glen Park BART.
The Saturday-Only Schedule Nobody Expects
Alemany Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. No Sunday hours. No weekday pop-ups. The single-day schedule surprises first-timers who plan weekend market runs and arrive on Sunday to an empty lot. The market opened on August 12, 1943, and moved to its current location at 100 Alemany Boulevard on August 4, 1947, where it has operated every Saturday since, regardless of weather.
The seven-hour window accommodates different shopping styles. Early risers at 7:00 AM find full vendor stock and empty aisles. Mid-morning crowds peak between 9:00 and 11:00 AM. By 1:00 PM, vendors begin breaking down stalls, though the official close is 2:00 PM. The flat, paved surface spans enough space for up to 90 small family farms and food businesses, all walk-in vendors with no reservation system.
How the Payment System Actually Works
Alemany accepts CalFresh EBT and SNAP, but the process requires an extra step. Shoppers exchange EBT cards for market coins at the Foodwise Info Booth, then spend the coins at vendor stalls. The Market Match program doubles EBT benefits up to ten dollars per market day for fruits and vegetables, effectively giving shoppers twenty dollars of produce purchasing power. The market also accepts VeggieRx vouchers through Fresh Approach, Vouchers 4 Veggies through Eat SF, and WIC and FMNP vouchers.
Cash and card acceptance varies by vendor. The Info Booth staff can direct shoppers to vendors who take specific payment methods. The market earned its nickname, The People's Market, by prioritizing local food accessibility and affordable prices, though specific price points fluctuate with seasonal availability and individual farm pricing.
Getting In and Getting Around
Free on-site parking fills quickly after 8:00 AM on busy Saturdays, but additional parking across the street provides overflow space. Muni bus lines 9, 23, and 67 stop near the market. The closest BART station is Glen Park, requiring a Muni connection to reach Alemany Boulevard. Drivers approaching from the south enter directly from Alemany Boulevard; those coming from the north navigate residential streets in Bernal Heights.
Wheelchair users should enter through the pedestrian gates on Tompkins or Peralta, not the main entrance. These ADA-accessible gates lead directly to the flat, paved market surface. Designated accessible parking spaces sit near these entrances. The public ADA-accessible restroom is located at the back of the office building at 100 Alemany Boulevard. A customer seating area, added in February 2026 when Foodwise took over market operations, provides a rest spot between vendor rows.
What the Info Booth Does
The Foodwise Info Booth serves as the market's central service point. Staff exchange EBT cards for market coins, answer questions about vendor locations, and provide information on accepted payment programs. First-timers looking for a specific product—heirloom tomatoes, stone fruit, fresh-cut flowers—save time by asking booth staff which vendors carry what they need instead of walking the full vendor grid.
Foodwise, a local nonprofit, began operating Alemany Farmers Market on February 7, 2026, in partnership with the City and County of San Francisco Real Estate Division. The city provides property management, security, and custodial services. The nonprofit manages vendor relations, customer services, and market programming. The partnership structure keeps the market running as it has for eight decades while adding infrastructure like the seating area and improved booth services.
Practical notes
Alemany Farmers Market is at 100 Alemany Boulevard in Bernal Heights, open Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, year-round. Free parking on-site and across the street. Muni lines 9, 23, and 67 serve the market; Glen Park BART requires a bus connection. The market accepts cash, and many vendors take cards. CalFresh EBT, SNAP, Market Match, VeggieRx, Vouchers 4 Veggies, WIC, and FMNP vouchers are accepted—exchange EBT for market coins at the Foodwise Info Booth. Walk-in only, no reservations. Wheelchair-accessible entrances at Tompkins and Peralta pedestrian gates, with designated parking and an ADA-accessible restroom at the back of the office building. Customer seating area available.
- Address: 100 Alemany Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94110
- Hours: Saturdays 7:00 AM–2:00 PM, year-round
- Price: Varies by vendor; Market Match doubles EBT up to $10
- Booking: Walk-in only, no reservations
- Getting there: Muni 9, 23, 67; Glen Park BART + Muni; free parking on-site and across the street
Tags: #FarmersMarketNearMe #AlemanyFarmersMarket #BernalHeights #SanFranciscoMarkets #FreeThingsToDoSF #SaturdayMarket #CaliforniaFarmersMarkets #EBTAccepted #MarketMatch #LocalProduce #SanFranciscoFood #BernalHeightsEats #PeoplesMarket #SFNeighborhoods #WeekendSF
Sources consulted: foodwise.org · sf.gov · sfgov.org
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Ask Karpo first
Before heading to Alemany Farmers Market, ask Karpo to confirm the market is open Saturday morning and map a route from your location. The app shows real-time transit connections from Glen Park BART and suggests nearby Bernal Heights breakfast spots or weekend stops to pair with your market run. Karpo helps you plan around the 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM window so you arrive when vendor stock matches your shopping list.
