On March 10, we visited the Kaiser Permanente San Jose Farmers’ Market. Hosting only about ten booths, the quaint market was directly off of a Kaiser Medical Center entrance, positioned to cater to healthcare workers, hospital patients, and their visitors. Next to the booths, a small seating area in the sun was the perfect place to rest while enjoying food. However, its small scale made the market a bit difficult to find for those not coming from the hospital.

Information booth

Upon entering the market, we met Douglas, the market’s information booth manager. We were curious to learn more about hospital farmers’ markets, and he answered our questions regarding their operations. He informed us that “all the farmers’ markets that we run at hospitals are open to the public, but [they’re] not like typical farmers’ markets. They’re mainly for the staff.” Healthcare workers are provided an accessible space where they can quickly grab a refreshment or bite to eat between shifts, and patients and their visitors are welcome too. He added that “in the past, [Kaiser San Jose] was a lot more restrictive as to what foods [they] could bring out.” For example, vendors wouldn’t have been allowed to sell products containing a significant amount of carbohydrates, and deep-fried foods wouldn’t have been permitted either. These regulations were in place to ensure patient nutrition and health standards. But as a result of COVID-19, people were no longer coming out to support local markets. That’s why Kaiser San Jose decided to lift these restrictions—enabling them to keep the farmers’ market up and running while simultaneously facilitating community bonding. Kaiser San Jose’s ultimate goal for its farmers’ market is to maintain vendor participation while keeping its customers’ interests in mind.

Delicia’s Falafel 

On the outskirts of the small line of vendors, a line was forming outside of Delicia’s Falafel as we entered the market. Positioned directly behind the market seating area and immediately outside of a hospital entrance, the little stand filled the market with the comforting smell of a fresh breakfast.

Fish and chips (8/10)

Leaning into her British heritage, Skye tried the fish and chips from Delicia’s Falafel. The dish was served with four fish sticks atop a jumbo-sized fry pile; ketchup, tartar sauce, and lemon came on the side as condiments. The fish was perfectly cooked, coated in a crunchy, golden brown batter. The sauces complemented what would’ve been a plain white fish as a standalone meal. Underneath, the paprika-flavored fries were a nice starting point while waiting for the fish to cool; however, they became mushier toward the bottom of the pile. Overall, this classic breakfast earns an 8/10.

Vegan burger (7.5/10)

As soon as we saw the words “vegan” and “burger” paired together, Mollie instantly leapt at the chance to indulge in this unique plant-based dish! As someone who’s allergic to both dairy and red meat, accommodating burgers are often hard to come by and she was pleasantly surprised by the culinary experience. This visually appealing burger consisted of spinach, lettuce, a spicy falafel patty, vegan cheese, peppers, pickles, raw purple onions, and a soft brioche bun. The falafel patty brought a Mediterranean twist to an American classic, which was a unique yet delightful fusion of flavors. The peppers were a bit too spicy for her liking, but they did bring a heated edge to the otherwise mild flavors. The presentation was so incredible that her mom expressed concern for her allergies, thinking that the vegan burger was a typical American gourmet burger. That being said, Mollie ultimately found that the burger’s presentation was greater than its taste—earning it a solid 7.5/10.

Caffeine Depot 

Near the entrance of the market was a small yet inviting Vietnamese coffee booth playing music. Douglas has told us that this stand was a newer addition to the market, yet it was very popular with the Kaiser healthcare workers. The coffee chain was founded by two Vietnamese San Jose State alumni who source their ingredients from small farms in Vietnam and Shizuoka, Japan. 

Strawberry matcha with oat milk (8.5/10)

Despite not being the biggest matcha fan, Mollie tried the highly recommended strawberry matcha drink with oat milk. The pairing of the sweet strawberry and bitter matcha flavors made for a well balanced and refreshing beverage. The drink’s mild, earthy taste made it a favorite for Mollie. While somewhat bitter, the beverage didn’t contain the astringent flavors that she had expected, which heightened the experience. The drink earns an 8.5/10.

Little Sky Bakery

Next up, we visited Little Sky Bakery, which boasted a delicious array of savory and sweet breakfast pastries. We spoke with Clem, who has worked at the bakery for a year and a half. According to Clem, the shop was brought to life by a local entrepreneur: “She [the owner] started the business herself and just started going to farmers’ markets independently before saving up for her own storefront and now, she’s made it to over forty farmers’ markets throughout the year, all the way from SF to the South Bay.” While Little Sky Bakery has only been at Kaiser San Jose since last year, it’s not new to in-hospital markets: “We have a few markets outside of hospitals, it’s mostly nurses, medical staff, patients, doctors.” Clem added that all of the bakery’s goods are made in-house.

Double chocolate chip cookie (9/10)

First, we tried a chocolate chip cookie about the size of our heads. The huge milk chocolate dessert was perfectly baked; brownie bites and dried cherry chunks were sprinkled into the batter, making each bite a combination of tart cherries and rich chocolate. Overall, this cookie earns a 9/10.

Chocolate hazelnut scone (7.5/10)

This scone was chocolatey, well-baked, and had a drizzle of lemon icing on the top. However, the ratio of lemon and chocolate left more to be desired and the scone itself was a dense desert, earning it a 7.5/10.

Produce

Finally, the Kaiser San Jose market had a variety of produce options for customers to choose from. We spoke to a vendor at the Green Mix Ranch stand who informed us that the company’s produce is grown organically in Whatsonville. He added that serving healthcare workers made the job especially fulfilling. Unfortunately, we didn’t end up sampling Green Mix Ranch’s produce; however, they had a variety of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables on display!

Other produce options at the market included Lujan Farms, based in Hughson, and Celia Farms Organic Berries.

Overall, it was a gratifying experience to see all the comfort and homeliness of a farmers’ market brought directly to those who keep us healthy; visiting this market certainly made us extra appreciative of our healthcare workers.