Six Tips For Shopping Your Local Farmers’ Market
I developed a love for fresh foods early in life. Our family always had a kitchen garden and I fondly remember stopping there after school to pick and eat handfuls of raw peas. These days I live in town where there’s no room for anything but container gardening. Luckily, I live less than a mile from a fabulous farmers’ market. It’s a great solution for those of us who don’t have time or space for growing our own food. Here are a few quick tips to get you started:
• Find the market!
If you don’t already know of a farmers’ market near you, www.localharvest.org is a great resource. Their emphasis is on organic foods, but they also have an extensive database of farmers’ markets searchable by location.
• Go with a purpose.
There are many great reasons to shop the market: locally grown food is often more nutritious, in season and organic food may be more affordable than in a grocery store, and buying local means fewer emissions from transporting goods long distances and that’s good for the planet. Know which of these is important for you and ask questions. Not all food at the market is organic. Using only in season foods may require you to be creative with your menus. Vendors are often happy to share ideas and recipes for foods that aren’t already part of your family’s menu.
• Pick your time wisely.
If you want the best selection of produce, go early and be prepared for crowds. Regular market shoppers will be there waiting when the gates open. If you’re looking for bargains, consider going later in the morning when the selection is narrower, but small farmers are eager to make a sale. This is when they are most likely to give you a bargain and most ready to answer questions and offer tasting samples.
• Walk the market.
Prices vary widely at the market. You may overpay if you’re not careful. I like to walk the entire market then go back to the beginning with a plan for purchasing the best quality goods at the most affordable prices.
• Bring a bag.
Goods at the market are sold loose. They are often displayed in an open basket or bin. Many vendors will have a limited supply of bags but they appreciate the shopper who has their own bag at the ready and later in the day the bags may be gone.
• Shop with a friend.
When you shop the market with a friend you can split up and share foods sold by the basket. Farmers will probably be willing to let you purchase smaller portions, but if you’re shopping at peak morning hours, teaming up with a friend to share portions will save time and make everyone happy. Plus, it’s fun to shop with a friend.
The best part of shopping the market is coming home with fresh, nutrient rich foods. Hope you’ll give it a try!
Cheryl Alldredge is the author of Ladybugs and Fireflies, a contemporary romance set in small town Florida. You can find out more about Cheryl and sign up for her newsletter at www.cherylalldredge.com. 
20 comments:
Mike Keyton said...
We have them in Monmouth, and you're right. Funnily enough there was an item on them on the BBC this morning - a critical slant. This farmer bred Berkshire pigs - a rare breed but with so little meat on them sausages become the only viable option. He applied for a sausage stall at his local market. He was turned down because they had 4 sausage stalls already. He accepted that - until he found out that these other sausage makers came from over 60 miles away!
Raelyn Barclay said...
Here I thought the early birds were just trying to beat the heat, LOL. Fabulous tips and thanks for that link! Found a market closer than the one I'd been going to...plan to check it out this weekend :)
Maria Zannini said...
Mike: I've been to farmers' markets that seemed to have produce that looked remarkably like a commercial grower, ie, uniform appearance, no blemishes, etc.
It makes me suspect they used chemicals and that's what I'm trying to avoid.
Ref: Berkshire
Interesting. Why breed a pig with so little meat?
My favorite hog to raise has always been the Landsrace. Best pork ever!
I've actually read the agreement to my closest farmers' market and while they expect produce and meats to be organic, there's nothing in place to enforce it.
Maria Zannini said...
Raelyn: I've never liked to go late. Veggies start to look wilty and picked over. Our farmers' market is very small so they sell out pretty quick anyway. If you don't get it early, you don't get it at all.
Maria Zannini said...
Cheryl: Bringing your own bag is an excellent idea! I always forget this and then I grumble if things start to roll around. I should really just leave a few plastic bags in the car.
Thank you so much for appearing here today. Great tips!
Cheryl said...
Hi Mike,
Markets and their rules do vary widely. We have three in our community and each has a slightly different focus. It's a shame that your market wouldn't give priority to a local farmer, but even 60 miles is a big improvement over what is available at the chain supermarkets.
cheryl said...
Hi Raelyn,
Glad you are encouraged to check out the local market. Have a great time!
Cheryl said...
Maria,
Unless a farmer displays an organic sign shoppers will need to ask questions. Some farmers do use commercial methods, but others will use sustainable methods but not adhere closely enough to the organic regs to qualify. They may still meet your needs for less toxins on your food.
Cheryl said...
My pleasure. Thanks for having me!
Jackie Burris said...
Cheryl great tips. It is fun to live in Texas because backyard gardeners have "produce stands" in the back of their pickups and in front of their homes where you can buy small amounts of what they have out. So far that seems to mostly be cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons, corn on cob and onions but when in cooler months also have potatoes.
Luckily for us we also have farmers markets in a 30 mile radius located in 5 towns so lots of choices, at least before we started our own backyard garden. (Now we are able to enjoy organic veggies that we have grown and it has been wonderful for the past 4 months just to step outside and pick what we have ready to eat fresh every other day!)
Cheryl said...
Jackie - we have a lot of roadside stands too. Really nice when you learn their patterns and figure out where they are going to be and when.
I saw some of your garden menu delights over on your blog. Good for you!
Cheryl said...
Oh Mike - just realized I read your comment wrong and that it wasn't your local market with the problem. I hope your market is better. LOL
Angela Brown said...
I recently went to a farmer's market while visiting out of town. It was so much more than what I expected. Even had an Amish family there selling what turned out to be some of the best dried kiwi I've ever eaten.
But I really need to make it more of a habit. Organic is better and buying local helps the local economy.
Cheryl said...
Hi Angela!
I've never had dried kiwi, bet that is awesome, sweet and tart!
I live in a college town with many associated international communities. As a result, one of our markets (evening and downtown) actually sells a lot of prepared hot foods that are specialties from those communities. We've actually done 'dinner' at that market before. A really fun way to try new things.
Maria Zannini said...
Jackie: I seem to see more produce stands on small country roads. I wonder if the cops shoo them off the main roads. I used to get the best watermelon from truck stands.
***
Angela: Driving through Illinois, I would hurry Greg so we could make it to one of the Amish communities along our route.
Ref: kiwi
You've got me curious about dried kiwi. I wonder if anyone has them on sale. I'd like to dry some to see how they taste. Thanks for the idea!
Sarah Ahiers said...
We have a local little famer's market, but it's really crappy. If i want to actually get anything, i've got to hit the big city ones, minneapolis or St. Paul. Both are excellent, but both require a bit of a drive, so we only get out there 2-3 times a summer.
Maria Zannini said...
Sarah: Sometimes the big ones have more variety too and that kind of makes up for the longer drive. For some reason I thought you lived in Minneapolis. I didn't realize you were outside.
LD Masterson said...
We do have a Farmer's Market in town but I haven't been there in ages. Maybe I'll head that way this weekend. I do frequent the roadside produce stands that pop up everywhere this time of year. Especially for fresh sweet corm. Yum!
Maria Zannini said...
Linda: We used to live near a little mom and pop stand. What it lacked in variety it more than makes up in value.
I've always thought it would be nice to set one out at my place, but then I'd be stuck out there in the heat. LOL.
Cheryl said...
Sarah, have you tried going to your local market really early. That can make all the difference. Also try different times of the year. Selection also varies widely in small markets by the season and weather.
LD, be sure to tell us how your visit goes. Have fun!