It’s that time of year again when the Farmer’s Markets start opening up–and fresh, local produce becomes more readily available. Even better, it’s a chance to get all of those tasty heirloom veggies that you won’t be able to find at your local grocery store. I love that you get to make your weekly menu on the fly as you stroll through mounds of possibilities– and all you really have to do is show up. If just showing up isn’t quite enough for you, here are a couple of tips for getting the most out of your farmer’s market:
- Get to know the farmers. Ask them how they grow their produce. When it was picked. The benefit of seeing the grower face to face is that you can get a full history of your food.
- Bring your own bags–and maybe even a cooler. As the days get warmer, being prepared with a cooler and bags for those eggs, cheeses, and specialty sausages that you weren’t planning to buy, but couldn’t resist is heaven sent. You can buy them, store them, and keep shopping.
- Bring your appetite. Most farmer’s markets offer samples or chances to eat the food they are selling in a way you would have never known to prepare them. Keep and open mind–you might find your new favorite dish.
- Bring cash in the form of small bills. Some vendors will take cards, but you keep costs low by giving the farmer cash in hand.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for bulk buy discounts. You can always split the cost with neighbors.
- If you want a great selection, be prepared to arrive as early as possible. {On the flip side, if you don’t care about selection and are looking for bargains, show up around closing time.}
- Shop around. Farmer’s markets sell what is actually in season, so chances are, the vendor down the street a bit will also have the same produce, but maybe better prices. See everything, then go back through and make your purchases.
- Ask about non-organic foods. A lot of times, food not labeled organic at farmer’s markets just have not been “certified organic.” When you ask about their growing practices, you may be pleasantly surprised. You’ll get grocery store conventional grown prices for produce with little to no pesticides, etc.
- Dress for comfort. I know that seems silly, but you may really put some miles under your belt walking through all of the vendors, so wear comfortable shoes, etc.
- ALWAYS wash your produce when you get home. Organic or not, most of the produce that comes from your farmer’s market is picked and then hauled straight to the market. It won’t have been washed at all.
Do you shop at farmer’s markets? Any tricks you’ve learned? What’s your favorite part about them?
~Mavis
If you live in Washington State, check out our Washington State Farmer’s Market Directory.
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Jenny says
one thing that has always puzzled me,
if the stuff at Farmer’s Markets is grown local,
how is it the stuff sold there is full grown and harvest ready
when the seeds a person has planted in their gardens
haven’t even sprouted yet?
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Jenny,
A lot of local farms use greenhouses and hoop houses to grow their winter/ early spring vegetables.
PattyB says
Ours opens in May and there are usually 3-5 farmers and the rest of the 70 booths are vendors and food booths. Can find some great stuff but wish that there were more farmers.
E says
25 some years ago, when lived in Bangor Maine, went to the farmers’ market every week. With 2 little boys, never got there early, which became an advantage. The farmers would come to me to ask if I was interested in a “good” deal on something. If I didn’t take it, most the produce would end up on their compost pile! Needless to say, I canned a lot back then. Segway to present, now living in NYS, and haven’t found a farmer who would “make a deal” for any produce. However, do farmers market demos on how to make kosher dill pickles and sauerkraut [yum to both] and for those, I get produce to use. at no-charge.
Geo D says
Our greatest trick at farmer’s markets is to arrive approx. 2hrs before they close on the last day. Then the real savings happen! We get many deals that are 1/2 price or better!
Mary Ann says
We can’t wait for our market to open! It’s still a pretty small market but we’ve gotten a nice variety of produce over the few months they’re open.
We go almost every week and have gotten to know the vendors that way. I have a few favorites.:-) Because they know I buy a lot usually–we eat lots of veggies–I’ve gotten some deals that way. So building a relationship with the vendors is a good thing!
Random person named Melissa says
My local farmer’s market is open year round…. and they sell by the crate or giant plastic net bag, not little baskets like in your photos. Maybe the name is a regional thing? Your photos look more like the produce section of the flea market here. It might have something to do with Florida farms producing year round. All I know there are no people walking around in that place. Our farmers market is like a drive through because of everything being in banana boxes and such. Last year I got 10 watermellons and canalopes for $0.50 each (it was for the family reunion) and I’m not talking about those puny little ones you get in the store I mean the watermellons that are bigger then a three year old. The guy knocked the price down from a dollar if I bought ten. I think he was selling them so cheap because they were in season and there was no way he was going to sell a semi worth of them.
Kristi S says
Here in northern IL, our ground has just thawed so I don’t know what the farmers at our local farmer’s market will have early on this year. Last year, there was one farmer from Indiana that briought in tomatoes from AR so that he was the first to have them. That’s kind of defeating the purpose of trying to buy local, but they looked and smelled so good that I bought one anyway. :-). Be leery of produce that seems out of season. It’s probably not local.
My “tip” is that some vendors let you order online and pick up at the farmer’s market. This is mainly for farmers that sell eggs, meat, etc. I used to have to get there at 7:00 am to be sure I got eggs, but now I can order (and pay for) them online and arrive whenever I want.
Also, I bring a big shopping bag and several pint/quart size plastic containers for fragile times like berries or greens.
Carol says
Mavis, I just might have to visit Washington state….You have me sold on the weather/climate. Wonder if I could get my HH to move there…? We won’t see a farmers market for months yet here in NW Indiana.
Julie says
Can’t wait! I always love trying new ones. I do really love ours in Puyallup though!
Ariel says
Hi Mavis! I saw this and couldn’t resist suggesting you take a trip to Burlington, VT. You would lovelovelove the incredible food there as well as the focus on organic/local products. A huge draw is the Saturday morning farmer’s market. I have been to many and none compare. i was lucky enough to go to undergrad there and I visited the farmer’s market almost every week. It’s amazing!! Hopefully you will have a chance to check it out one day 😉
Stacey says
We are from the Rutland area in Vermont, but have lived in Arizona for the past 13 years. No farmer’s market at all here, and my attempts at growing my own have not gone well. We’re moving to the Burlington, Vermont area at the end of May, and I am so excited!! I was thinking there should be a farmer’s market, and I’ll be able to grow some of my own food again, too!
gc says
Number 7. I quickly walk to the far end, brielfly checking out prices and such for specific items on my list. Then I shop and browse on the walk back towards my car. When I’m done shopping I’m close to my car, and my purchases do not have to be hauled as far, which is especially important with little helpers and heavy veggies.
TB says
We have fantastic farmer’s markets here in Minneapolis (although for only about 6 months of the year…) one tip I have is not being afraid to ask a farmer to help with big events like a wedding or large charity event. For my sister’s wedding, she was able to order and buy flowers directly from the farmer and saved a ton of money on her centerpieces and bouquets. Not only that but the flowers were super fresh and looked great! She did have to meet the farmer outside of the regular market to pick up the flowers but they were very accommodating in finding a local meeting place!
Gardenpat says
We have a large Amish population here in Ohio and I finally drove about an hour from my home to an Amish produce auction which is held three days/week! I got amazing prices by buying in quantity! This was all brought in on wagons just as I was arriving! So fresh, so local, so good!!!! Came home with 4-1/2 bushels of tomatoes (although my tomatoes are producing quite nicely), 4-1/2 bushels of bell peppers, 1 bushel of hot banana peppers, 15 dozen ears of sweet corn, 250 pounds of potatoes and 41 seedless watermelon (45 cents each)!! I spent just over $125. but at home, I sold some of my excess watermelons for $1 each and some of my corn and tomatoes and peppers as well and ended up with dozens of jars of canned produced, a bushel of dried tomatoes (also canned Rotel and diced tomatoes) froze corn, onion/bell pepper mix (think “Recipe Ready” in Kroger freezer!) and froze potatoes o’Brien and chopped bell peppers too! For all my produce that I added to our storage, my net spend was under $50!!!!
Carol says
Gardenpat, you did great! Good for you!