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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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).
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
