Image via Wikipedia10 Easy Steps: how to shop at a farmer's market.
1.) Know your seasons--don't expect to find green beans in the spring. When you already know what to expect when you go to the farmer's market, you won't be disapointed when they don't have that certain seasonal crop that you had a craving for. But if you don't know the season for a certain food, don't be hesitant to ask one of the farmers at the market. More than likely, they can realize that there is a demand for that food and try to have it during that season.
2.) Go early or late--find out the market's hours. If you go early, you may find a popular food that will sell quickly. If you don't get it fast, the farmer may sell out and you'll miss out on that oportunity. If you go late, most farmers are ready to drop their prices so that they don't have to take their produce back home. Look for those bulk quantities during this time, the farmer may be willing to let it go at a cheap price.
3.) Bring your own reusable bags--most farmers recycle their own plastic bags, but sometimes they cost money. If you bring your own bag, you save the farmer some money. Why do you want to save him money? So that he can return with more delicious produce, thats why!
4.) Bring small bills and change -- although the farmer will be able to make change, sometimes those big bills are hard to break. Most foods will be between $1.00 and $10.00. If you bring a one hundred dollar bill, don't be surprised if the farmer asks you if you have anything smaller.
5.) Be spontaneous-- don't know what to do with squash? Experiment! Buy the stuff you've never cooked before and look up some receipes on the internet. Also, don't be shy about asking the farmer for advice on how to cook it. More than likely, he's the grower, and knows exactly how to prepare that odd product. Don't feel embarrassed if you don't know what a certain odd shaped fruit is...ask the farmer!
6.) Buy in bulk--usually the best deals are those products that are in a bushel basket. If you know that you can pressure can something, get it! Have a party coming up? Go and buy a peck of strawberries rather than the one quart. More than likely he will sell out and a missed oportunity is hard to swallow.
7.) Think whole foods--farmers markets have whole sale rather than retail. This means fresher food! Their whole carrots are unpeeled, and whole beets still have the dirt on them. Don't be surprised if some foods cost more than retail. This is because the food is fresher, and these small farmers have higher expenses per harvest than big time industrial farmers. Another perk is the fact that most whole sale foods at a farmer's market have been raised organically (or at least, sustainably). The knowledge that your farmer's market groceries are pesticide residue free is big relief.
8.) Keep your cooking simple--rather than pressure cooking or boiling that food, try sautaying. Fresh greens suated in a skillet enhances the flavor. This food is 10 times fresher, so rather than cooking it into a bland tasting everyday food, find ways to enhance the flavor. Some farmers may even sell the very herbs that make a wonderful pot of spaghetti even more wonderful. Ask the farmer!
9.) Find some deals--some farmers markets actually accept food stamps! Usually in this instance, there is an office or booth where you swipe your card in return for specially-made play money. You then spend this money on produce. The farmer later will take this money and exchange it for cash or a check. Sometimes Markets will even give a deal to the food stamp customers by offering $5 or so for free with every $10 or $20 dollar purchase.
The same applies to nutrition coupons, and other government food dollars.
10.) Tell your friends--this is perhaps the most important. Some farmer's markets have failed because the few customers they had did not tell their friends about the market. Don't risk losing your new food venue by assuming that your friends already know about the market. Markets require a lot of customers in order to stay afloat. If there's not enough money going through a market, the farmers will move on and find another place to sell at (that may be farther away!). Also, support the market; is there a board or council? These councils require money to run. They are the ones who pay for the market's rent, electricity, food stamp machine, etc. Give a donation and keep the market from going bankrupt. Lastly, don't forget to have fun!!!!
