Meet Our Team: Jameil Minor
June 19, 2020
Jameil came to Foodwise as part of his internship with the New Door Ventures Ally Program and joined the market operations team shortly after completing that internship in 2017. Jameil assists the market managers at Ferry Plaza and Mission Community Market with traffic management, customer services, and compliance checks. He also supports our education team with the Foodwise Kids program and cooking demonstrations.
Tell us a bit about you, your background, and your role at Foodwise.
I grew up in Richmond in the East Bay. After I finished high school, I moved to San Francisco. I found an internship through this program called New Door Ventures. During the interview, we had a bunch of questions about what we wanted to do and what we liked. For me, it was all about cooking and being outside, so the case manager connected me with Foodwise. I was hired after the internship ended. That was about seven years ago.
When I was younger, I didn’t really have an interest in cooking, but then I started liking it. My mom would tell me to go to sleep and I couldn’t, so I just watched the Food Network. I got home one day from school, and I was by myself and I was hungry, so I started cooking. It just kept going from there. One day I’d like to have a booth in the farmers market doing burgers and BBQ, so I can show off some of my skills.
What’s does your role at Foodwise look like in action?
My role is on the operations team, and I’ve worked at all of the markets. I try to do and learn a little bit of everything, so that I can be of help even when my team members or a manager are not around. I help set up the market on Thursdays at the Mission and on Saturdays at the Ferry Building. I’ve also helped with the education programs, such as Foodwise Kids and setting up the Foodwise Classroom for the cooking demos.
What’s something that you wish people understood better about the farmers market?
I wish people could be a little bit more considerate at the Info Booth when they have feedback, instead of just complaining. At the Mission market, it’s only three of us working there, so it can be hard for us to be at every place at once, and we’re doing our best. It would be nice if everyone at the market could work together and do their part.
What inspires or motivates you about your work?
I enjoy talking to all the farmers and chefs and getting to know people. Also, I enjoy seeing and interacting with my co-workers, being outside, learning new stuff, and being hands-on. I also enjoy the education programs, helping kids learn how to cook, prep food, and shop the market. And I love going on farm tours and seeing the farms.
What do you do to recharge outside of work?
Listen to music, sleep, and play video games. But I really like to cook and bake, so I’m doing that most of the time.
Do you have any favorite farmers market tips you can share?
One is the apple juice at Dave Hale’s Apple Farm. Ever since I went on a farm tour there and tried it, I couldn’t stop buying it. It’s one of my favorite things. And Tory Farms’ stone fruit.
I say try new things that you haven’t tried before. You might end up liking them. I remember trying parsnips, which are like a cross between a carrot and a potato. I wasn’t sure about them at first, but I ended up liking them. It’s good to ask questions, too. Farmers markets are important because people and chefs can connect with the farmers, and learn about what the farmers go through and their process of getting everything to the market. And they’re good for children, too, so they can ask questions and learn about cooking.
Topics: Meet Our Team