Saving Money at the Farmer's Market

Drive through most towns and cities on a Saturday or Sunday morning and you'll usually find a parking lot full of small stalls selling fruits and vegetables. Welcome to the local Farmer's Market, where farmers from the surrounding area gather to sell their wares. Many times, you'll find stands selling homemade crafts and other food stuffs (like beef, homemade cheese and honey) but what really pulls in the crowd is the thought of "fresh from the farm" fruits and vegetables.

With the economy the way it is these days, you can't help but wonder: am I saving money shopping at the farmer's market?

Farmer's markets started as a way for farmers to sell directly to the public, saving everyone money. Buying directly from the farmer made the customer happy. They knew the produce they bought had come off the vine that morning and not sat in a warehouse for weeks on end. Best of all, the farmer was right there, available to answer all of their questions.

Times have changed. Over the last decade, vendors have watched the customers slowly move to wanting "organic" items and not really caring about the price. Farmers began to grow the best vegetables they could with no concern about the bottom line. They knew they'd always have customers who would snap up their tomatoes, even at $5 a pound, as long as they said it was "organically grown".

Wake up early one Saturday morning and take a walk through your local farmer's marker. If you're in a metropolitan area, like San Francisco or Los Angeles, you'll probably find a wide array of produce for you to buy, from carrots to lettuce, from specialty herbs to apples.

Now, look at the price. Ouch, huh? It can be very difficult to stock up the larder at a farmer's market when you're trying to stick to a budget. I know I can't justify buying $3-a-pound apples, when the local grocery store across the street has then for 99 cents.

How can you save money at a farmer's market?

Well, first of all, know the prices at your local stores and produce market. Before you leave for the farmer's market, glance through the weekly flyers for your local stores and make note of their prices. Compare these prices with the farmer's market. If you determine that lettuce is cheaper at your local store, make a plan to stop there on the way home.

(Don't forget about your local ethnical stores. I've found 50 cent heads of romaine lettuce at my local Asian store.)

When you first get to the farmer's market, walk around and compare the prices. Take a pad of paper with you and take notes, noting prices and location. This will help you determine where the best prices are without a lot of hassle.