Shopping Your Local Farmers Market: How to Get the Best Prices and Produce

As prices continue to climb at your grocery store, a Farmers Market can supply you with fresh, locally grown food. If you like your veggies fresh from the vine, and especially if you like them organically grown, a farmers market can supply your dinner table with the very best at a better price than you'll find anywhere else.

Here are 5 tips to help you get the best from your local farmers market.

What Can You Find at Your Local Farmers Market?

Know your local farmers market. Some markets are limited to locally-grown, green products. Others allow products to be shipped in and sold. Some markets encourage crafters and artists to join. Other markets include locally produced meats, artisan breads, jams, jellies, flowers, and more.

Decide what you enjoy shopping for and find a local farmers market that meets your criteria.

Be an Early Bird or Sleep In to Get the Best Deals

Get there early or stay late. The farmers market in the rural area where I used to live was open by 7 o'clock in the morning. In larger cities, you might find that some markets cater to city dwellers who sleep in on weekend mornings by opening no earlier than 10am or even not until the afternoon. Regardless, if you want to score the best looking veggies and the most variety, it pays to get there when the farmers market opens.

If you must sleep in, all is not lost. While you won't get the choicest produce, you may find some real bargains if you get to the market after the early birds have left. No vendor wants to carry his produce back home. Most of it is perishable, after all. So you're liable to get some real deals on the leftovers.

Find Your Farmers Market Online

Visit the farmers market website, if available. There you'll find directions to the market, hours and days that the market is open, and usually a vendor list. You may even find links to the vendors own websites where you can glean even more information.

Sign up for weekly emails. Most savvy farmers markets have web pages with newsletters or email alerts so their customers can follow the vendors and their seasonal produce selection.

BYOB - Your Own Shopping Bags (and some Change)

Bring your own shopping bags and lots of change. Since shopping at a farmers market for local produce is a ecologically sensible thing to do, don't ruin it by expecting the farmer to pitch your produce into a plastic bag. They'll have them, but why use them? Help your local farmer keep prices down and help the environment by bringing your own reusable bags.

And, if you take home a bushel basket of peaches or potatoes, bring the basket back to the farmer next week to reuse again. She'll appreciate it and it won't be sitting around cluttering up your home (or the landfill).

You can also help the vendors by bringing plenty of small bills and change. It is a great help to them and, if you feel comfortable bargaining, you might find you'll get a better price. Can't bargain? Then don't be surprised if you receive an extra tomato or two for your thoughtfulness.

It Helps to Be Friendly at the Local Farmers Market

Develop a relationship with your favorite vendors. They work hard but they love what they do. Ask them how their produce is grown. What is their favorite way to cook that particular squash? What vegetable is coming into season next for them? The farmers market vendors will appreciate your interest and it makes the whole experience more fun for everyone.

Visiting the Farmers Market is one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday morning. The prices are right, the produce is fresh, and the people are friendly. What more could you ask?

Sources:
My personal experiences as a frequent Farmers Market shopper.