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Everyone loves a good farmers’ market. Who wouldn’t enjoy the chance to get their hands on fresh fruits, vegetables, and honey while also supporting local businesses?

But believe it or not, there is a knack to shopping at farmers’ markets. A big part of it involves learning what produce is in season at a particular time of the year. That alone will help you know whether the produce is fresh and local.

If you see a vendor selling peaches in January, chances are, they didn’t grow them themselves. Of course, there’s always the chance they have a greenhouse, so be sure to ask questions before making a judgment call!

In general, here’s the rundown for produce by season: in spring, buy avocados, rhubarb, strawberries, asparagus, carrots, collard greens, and mushrooms — assuming you know they’re the safe kind.

In the summer, it’s time to stock up on berries of all kinds, as well as peaches, plums, tomatoes, zucchini, beans, and watermelon. Fall is the perfect time for apples, grapes, squash, potatoes, and cranberries. In winter, it’s time for root vegetables and greens!

Of course, there’s more to it than that. Here are 40 tips for shopping at a farmers’ market.

1. Check your honey.

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Pinterest Source: Pinterest

Fresh honey from local beekeepers is delicious and a great way to support workers and bee colonies within your community. But make sure it’s really local. Some vendors try to pass off supermarket honey as their own.

2. Skip the meat and seafood.

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10 Awesome Source: 10 Awesome

While you’ll see meat and seafood occasionally among the produce, it’s better to skip it. The price is likely marked up, meaning you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere. Also, there’s no guarantee that it’s been safely stored.

3. Don’t buy the first thing you see.

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Blacksburg Farmers' Market Source: Blacksburg Farmers' Market

Because it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the sights and smells of the market, you might feel tempted to buy everything you see. But don’t lose your head. Take some time to browse before you make a choice.

4. Make a lap before you choose.

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Visit Prince William County, VA Source: Visit Prince William County, VA

Sometimes, the best method is to take a lap around the entire market before deciding where to stop. Take it all in to get a sense of what you’re going to find.

5. Be wary of baked goods.

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Empire Bakery Equipment Source: Empire Bakery Equipment

You might find some great baked goods at a farmers’ market, but beware: they may be marked up in price. Often, you can find the same items at lower prices by visiting a local bakery, which also deserves your patronage!

6. Bring small change.

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Creature Comforts Brewing Source: Creature Comforts Brewing

While some farmers’ market vendors accept credit and debit cards, many of them don’t. Your best bet is to bring cash — preferably small bills. That’ll keep you from spending more than you want to.

7. Bring lots of bags.

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Wild Minimalist Source: Wild Minimalist

Don’t expect vendors to supply bags or boxes for you to carry your items. You’ll need to bring those yourself. Always take more than you think you’ll need!

8. Get there early.

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Washingtonian Source: Washingtonian

If you want the best produce and the biggest selection, you’ll need to get up early. Yes, that might mean at 8 or 9 a.m.

9. Don’t look for pretty produce.

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The Economist Source: The Economist

You might find some wonky-looking fruits and veggies at a farmers’ market. That’s because they’re not selected for their beauty like at the supermarket. They’re still perfectly good, so don’t pass them up!

10. Shop in season.

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A Healthier Michigan Source: A Healthier Michigan

What’s one way to know that you’re supporting local farmers? Learn what fruits and vegetables are in season. That ensures you’re not getting produced that’s been shipped from far away, but rather grown in your community.

11. Make plans for carrying and storing your food.

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Jennifer Rizzo Source: Jennifer Rizzo

You’ll probably spend several hours at a farmers’ market. That means you’ll need to have a way not just to carry your food, but also store it. You might want to bring a cooler of ice to keep in your trunk in the interest of food safety.

12. Don’t buy chocolate.

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Awl of the Above Source: Awl of the Above

You’ll find mostly produce at a farmers’ market, but you’ll also find candy and non-food items. Do yourself a favor and skip the chocolate, which you can probably buy cheaper at a local bakery or confectionery store.

13. Look to see how it’s stored.

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Food Storage Moms Source: Food Storage Moms

You have the right to make sure you’re not getting spoiled food! Produce sits out for long hours at the market, so double and triple-check that perishables are stored safely.

14. Don’t get overwhelmed.

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Crains Detroit Business Source: Crains Detroit Business

There’s a lot of hustle and bustle at a farmers’ market. Everything looks beautiful, but don’t let the sights and sounds overwhelm you. Enjoy it all, but still shop smart!

15. Don’t be fooled by words like “organic” or “all-natural.”

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Tom's Foodie Blog Source: Tom's Foodie Blog

Some vendors use hype words like these to draw in customers, but that doesn’t guarantee that the produce is better quality or grown differently. Most farmers, organic and otherwise, use the same chemicals and procedures to grow their food so don’t bother spending the extra money!

16. Know that not all vendors are verified.

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Los Angeles Times Source: Los Angeles Times

Yes, you can trust most of the vendors at a farmers’ market. But then again, some of them you can’t. The best way to determine if a vendor is trustworthy is to ask questions. A bona fide vendor can talk knowledgeably about their product.

17. Get an expert’s opinion.

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Monterey Bay Farmers Markets Source: Monterey Bay Farmers Markets

If your farmers’ market is popular, find out what local chefs think of it. Check on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to see if they’ve made any posts about items to look for at the market.

18. Chat with the farmers.

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MPLS Farmers Market Source: MPLS Farmers Market

When vendors know what they’re talking about, they’re basically experts. Don’t be afraid to ask farmers questions about their produce, including how they grew it and the proper way to store it.

19. Be wary of dairy.

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WikiHow Source: WikiHow

You’re probably not going to find dairy at a farmers’ market, but you might. Depending on where you live, it may or may not be legal to sell unpasteurized dairy products. Regardless, never buy unpasteurized dairy as it can cause severe food poisoning.

20. Shop late if you’re looking for a discount.

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Boulder Weekly Source: Boulder Weekly

While early in the day brings the best selection, you might score lower prices if you hit the market at the end of the day. In the last hour or two, vendors are hoping to get rid of their so they can pack up and go home.

21. Try something new.

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American Food Roots Source: American Food Roots

Don’t be scared off by weird or unfamiliar fruits and veggies. You might discover a new favorite by chance that’ll never be in short supply. After all, who else is going to buy the pawpaws, cherimoya, or Romanesco broccoli?

22. Ask questions.

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The Know Denver Post Source: The Know Denver Post

While haggling isn’t considered good manners at a farmers’ market, it’s okay to probe a little bit to determine the quality of the produce. Just do so politely and remember that farmers work hard for their crops.

23. Don’t be afraid to shop in bulk.

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Trash is for Tossers Source: Trash is for Tossers

It’s not unusual to be scared off by farmers trying to unload bulk quantities of berries, rhubarb, or other items. However, you can save a bundle of money on delicious fruits and veggies by purchasing large quantities and then storing, drying, canning, or freezing them.

24. Take your time.

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Rockland County Business Journal Source: Rockland County Business Journal

Don’t rush to make a purchase. Doing so could mean spending money on something that’s not as good a deal as you thought. Consider all your options before deciding how to spend your money.

25. Grab items with short growing seasons.

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Walk About NY Source: Walk About NY

There’s nothing better than fresh fruits and vegetables, but you need to learn to recognize the best deals. For instance, you should buy foods with a short growing season, such as like asparagus, while they’re available!

26. …or with a short shelf life.

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Everett Farmers Market Source: Everett Farmers Market

Items with a short shelf life might not seem like the best deal. But, there’s a good chance you can buy in bulk for a lower price. These often include items like berries that you can make into jams and jellies.

27. …or ones that produce large crops.

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Monroe Farmers Market Source: Monroe Farmers Market

A bumper crop means that vendors are trying to get rid of the excess. Items like squash and zucchini often produce greater yields than they can handle, so they go for a lower price.

28. Don’t skip products just because they’re common.

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Killer Bunnies, Inc. Source: Killer Bunnies, Inc.

Sure, you might not think there’s anything special about grapes at a farmers’ market since you can also buy them at any supermarket. But you might find a variety that blows you away. For example, Concord grapes are often sweeter and juicier than the red grapes sold at a grocery store.

29. Ask about safety measures.

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Minnesota Grown Source: Minnesota Grown

If you’re worried about the safety of a food item, asked questions about how it’s produced and stored. This goes for everything, including produce, meat, and dairy. Good vendors will be happy to answer your questions!

30. Don’t forget spices.

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Pinterest Source: Pinterest

You might be interested in going to a farmers’ market to look for fresh produce, and you absolutely should! But don’t pass up other items that may be just as good. Spices are one item that you should keep an eye out for.

31. …or herbs.

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Hobby Farms Source: Hobby Farms

Herbs are another great choice. Don’t want to buy herbs at the grocery store? The ones at a farmers’ market might just be in the same price range — or cheaper — and they’re fresher.

32. Buy things that you’ll use in the next few days.

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On Milwaukee Source: On Milwaukee

It can be easy to stock up on things that look amazing, only to find that you can’t eat everything before it spoils. To save money and cut back on food waste, only buy things that you’re planning to eat or cook in the next few days (or items that will store, of course).

33. Ask for samples.

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FoodBuzz Source: FoodBuzz

At a farmers’ market, every vendor has their own rules when it comes to samples. Most of them are happy to let you taste a product before buying to decide if it’s really a good choice. It never hurts to ask!

34. Don’t bring a list.

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Uwishunu Source: Uwishunu

Part of the beauty of a farmers’ market is the spontaneity. Don’t tie yourself to a list like it’s a regular grocery trip. If you need some structure, you can bring your meal plan for the week.

35. Bring extra money for spontaneous buys.

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Michigan Farm Bureau Source: Michigan Farm Bureau

Let’s face it — no one ever goes to a farmers’ market and buys exactly what they expect to. You’re bound to see something that you just have to have. So, make sure to budget accordingly!

36. Buy whole vegetables.

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One Green Planet Source: One Green Planet

By “whole vegetables,” we mean those that still have their roots, stems, or leaves. You might not be used to seeing onions with sprouts, for example, but dare to try something different. You might just discover a new favorite.

37. Don’t assume the quality of everything is better.

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Living Huntington Source: Living Huntington

Farmers’ markets are known as places where people can find fresh, local produce. That being said, don’t assume everything at the market is better than what you’ll find elsewhere. It completely depends on the vendor.

38. Compare prices.

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Visit New Orleans Source: Visit New Orleans

You’ll find multiple vendors selling the same items like berries, greens, zucchini, and so on. Don’t buy from the first vendor you meet. Take your time and compare price and quality to get the best bang for your buck.

39. Know when to ask for a deal.

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The Oakland Press Source: The Oakland Press

In general, haggling is discouraged at farmers’ markets. People prefer to honor prices as they stand out of respect for the farmers’ hard work. However, you may be able to get deals on damaged or bulk produce.

40. Make friends with the vendors.

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