With spring quickly approaching, we are counting down the days until our local farmers market is open again! To pass the time and really amp us up, we thought it might be helpful if we created a little farmers market shopping guide for those of you out there that might not be frequent flyers yet, but want to become one this year! Let’s get started.
(image via: istock)
Know What Grows When
Early spring produce and mid-summer produce are two very different selections, which are both drastically different than what you’ll see come fall; so make sure you brush up on your knowledge of seasonal fruits and vegetables so you know what to expect when you arrive. For instance, you’ll be super disappointed if you want homegrown tomatoes in March, or squash in June. The good news is that pie and cinnamon rolls are always in season.
Bring Cash
This is a pretty classic rookie mistake, and depending on where you live, this may not even be an issue at your farmers market, but just to be on the safe side, always make sure you have some cash on you.
BYOB
Taking your own bags to the farmer’s market is super helpful, in fact, if you plan on shopping the farmer’s market frequently, you may want to go ahead a nab a couple of tote bags designated for your farmer’s market trips now to keep in your car at all times.
(image via: rent a berger)
Know When to Go
Figuring out when to go to the farmer’s market can be tricky and there are pros and cons to both going early or going later. Going early will mean less of a crowd to get through, and you’ll get the first pick of the produce, but going later could mean that you score some major deals because farmers will be looking to get rid of their inventory. Our recommendation is to go early one week, then later the next, and see what feels right to you. There’s never a bad time to support your local farmers.
Talk to Your Local Farmers
If you see something that you’ve never seen before or have questions about preparing certain produce, don’t be afraid to talk to the farmers because they’re the experts that can help! This is also a great time to talk to farmers about how they farm. We promise they won’t mind answering your questions, and it never hurts to build relationships with your local farmers.
Have Fun!
A farmer’s market is not the place to go if you’re in a hurry or aren’t feeling like dealing with people; farmer’s markets are best when you can take your time, stroll the grounds with a coffee in hand, and just take in the experience.