Five tips for your next Farmers Market visit
It’s Farmers Market time!
I am so excited!
It’s great to walk through the market and get the freshest in produce, great locally grown meats and locally produced products!
And to enhance your visit to the ‘Market, I have five tips for you and some bonus thoughts as well! Let’s get started!
Before you even go to the market….
Get your cash.
While many Farmers Markets and vendors accept credit and debit cards, cash is king at the market. Those credit card devices charge the vendor for each transaction which takes away from their overall profit. And when it comes to cash, bring smaller denominations like $1, $5, $10…the largest I go is a $20. Try to break down any $50 or $100 bills before you get to the market.
Bring a canvas bag.
The bag is, for one thing, an eco-friendly way of carrying your purchases, but it’s also easier to use. If you carry in groceries like me in plastic bags, you know how those things dig into your hands. And, here’s a biggie for me, look for a canvas bag with pockets in it! I purchased two ( one for Sis) two years ago and we both rave about our bags! Now our scone will not be crushed by the vegetables and jars of jams and jellies we also buy at the market. I purchased one from Etsy. Other online vendors have them as well.
And now, for your market trip:
Start with a walk through of the market.
Doing that stroll through the market first let’s you see everything that is offered at the market that day. You may be going to the market just for asparagus, for example. But the first vendor’s asparagus may be a bit thicker and bigger than you want, but a vendor on the other end has just what you are looking for!
Don’t barter
The vendors are covering their production costs when they list their price. Remember, you are getting fresh (picked either the night before or the day of market) and local produce and local meats. It’s not being shipped in from a thousand miles away.
Make connections with the growers.
Wonder how to prepare or store a vegetable? Have a question on how it’s grown or raised? Ask! Vendors also prepare their vegetables and meats and will have great tips for you. But be mindful of their time. If the vendor has a line of customers waiting to make a purchase, wait until they aren’t busy or, if they have a brochure or business card, grab it! You can always call or e-mail.
Sometimes those connections can lead to year-round produce. One vendor my sister and I made a connection with contacted us after the Farmers Market season and offered cherry tomatoes and green beans he grew under grow lights throughout the winter! Those fresh cherry tomatoes were such a great addition to salads and my balsamic glaze chicken breast recipe with tomatoes! Not the hard rock-like cherry tomatoes you get at the grocery store in mid-winter!
And some bonus tips!
-Remember to think seasonal. You aren’t going to get fresh asparagus in August or beefsteak tomatoes in May.
-And, if you are on a budget, just bring a certain amount of money to the market. When I go to the market, I am like a kid in a candy store. I want this…and that…and that…and this! My eyes widen and I want it all! But I know I have to tame down the desire otherwise I will be wasting veggies!
-Purchase more than you may need and freeze some! You can enjoy that fresh picked flavor year round. I plan on buying several bunches of asparagus with some frozen for winter meals.
And most of all, enjoy!
There is a sense of community surrounding the Farmers Market. Often the markets will have music and activities for kids. Most important is the meeting growers and the discussions.
As you walk through the market, think of meal ideas. Remember what is seasonal and consider meals and recipes.
Also, be mindful that growing seasons may challenge what is supposed to be in season. A few summers ago we were going through a very serious drought. The raspberries I love to get at the market were in short supply. The vendors were watering as much as they could. I cherished what I could purchase locally and realized that the conditions were indeed challenging.
Some of these tips you may be doing already, but if there is a thought or two that can enhance your market trip, that’s great!
And these are by no means all the tips. Let me know other tips and ideas for the Farmers Market trip!
And think local!
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