It’s that time again…………….outdoor farmer’s market time! I find shopping outside in the fresh air so much nicer than shopping at the grocery store. I love getting to know the farmers that grow my food. I also love that the people I meet at the market are as passionate about food as I am. Every time I go to the market I discover something new and exciting. I know my little guy is super excited to go visit his favorite Amish ladies. He thinks they make the best cookies……….. just for him.
1. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. This one may seem obvious, but it serves as a good reminder. You will also need to dress for the weather. This is an outdoor market and not a grocery store. There is no climate control and you will be walking some distance and carrying heavy bags of food. Sunscreen is also important. The kids and I have come home with pink cheeks a few times. Oops!
2. Get there early. The vendors bring a limited amount of items with them. If you want to get the best selection, earlier is better. I follow some of the farms on Facebook and I know the asparagus is available in limited quantities now. If I want some, I better get there early.
3. Park as close as possible. This goes along with getting there early. Remember, you won’t have a shopping cart and if you decide to buy that heavy watermelon or extra basket of tomatoes, you may want to run it back to the car and not break your back dragging it across town. Older children and husbands are useful for watermelon carrying also!
4. Take cash. Some markets may be more sophisticated than others, but most only take cash as payment. I use this as my method of setting a budget. I can only spend as much money as I take with me. I use this little writstlet purse I have and put my cash in there each week. Some weeks I use a little less than the budget and have extra for future weeks. This method forces me to plan ahead and not make too many impulse buys. Impulse buys usually lead to waste and that is not good for the budget at all!
5. Bring a sturdy bag. The vendors will give you plastic bags, but carrying all of those plastic bags is a pain. I prefer to use my insulated reusable grocery bag. I throw it over my shoulder and then have my hands free for making my cash purchases.
6. Don’t overbuy! I made this mistake when I first started shopping at the market. I wanted everything because it was so gorgeous! When buying fresh and especially organic foods, remember they only last a few days or up to a week. I used to shop once a month, but because of my new way of eating, I have changed to shopping once a week. The last thing I want to do is buy lots of beautiful produce and then throw it away because it’s done bad. I’ve done it and it broke my heart. Make sure you only buy what you can use or preserve (by canning or freezing) during the week.
7. Take the kids. OK…….so now most of you are thinking that I must have lost my mind! Perhaps, I have, but this is not an example of that. I’ve found that bringing the kids slows down my pace so I can take the time to look around. I’ve also noticed that the vendors are more likely to strike up conversations with me when I have the kids with me. The same method works with dogs, but many markets do not let dogs in. Check with your local market on their rules regarding pets.
8. Become a regular customer. For me this happened at a few booths rather naturally, but I suggest it as a strategy. By being a repeat customer, you will develop a relationship with the folks working at the booths which makes it easier to ask questions. I also see it as a perk because the kids and I sometimes get free samples to taste and other freebies thrown in our bag.
9. Create a routine. The first few times you go to the market, you will want to wander the entire market to see all it has to offer. However, as time goes by and there is more and more to “Juggle” you will want to know exactly where you are going and what each booth generally has to offer. I start at my main organic stand and get as much as I can there. I then head down to a local farm’s booth and fill in some additional items there. By this time, Lil C is bugging me about cookies and I let him pick a plate out from the Amish ladies where I buy my 100% real maple syrup. The cookies they make are still treats, but made with all real ingredients. I love that. I then head back up the aisle glancing at additional booths where I may or may not stop on my way to my favorite cheese vendors. I end my trip at The Tea and Honey Company where I get my honey and of course, our favorite cup of lemonade to carry out with us. I can now make my sweep through and still make it to morning baseball games.
10. Ask questions. There are some markets that are “growers only” markets. These are the best because you know everything is grown locally and not shipped across the country. My market is not a growers only market so I have to ask questions. Is this local? Is this organic or grown using organic methods? Many smaller farmers don’t go to the cost of become Organic Certified but may still use organic methods of farming. I always have lots and lots of questions. How would you store this? How would you cook this? Can I freeze this? How would I do that?What do you like to eat? These folks really know their food. Use them as a resource and make sure you know what you are putting in your mouth.
I’ve talked long enough……..now it’s your turn. Have you made it out to the farmer’s market yet this season? What are your favorite items to purchase at the farmer’s market? Does your family have any fun traditions for market day?
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The Juggling Real Food and Real Life Newsletter is Coming!
Make sure you subscribe by email so you don’t miss a single issue. Facebook is showing you less and less of what I post there. The only way not to miss a post is to subscribe by email. You can subscribe by entering your email address to the right of this page. Just wait to see what I have coming. Please also follow us on our various social media. You can easily find me there if you have questions. Twitter is a great place to chat. Follow me @jugglngrealfood and introduce yourself. The Juggling Pinterest Boards are crammed with lots of great information and recipes. Check them out! Come back each Friday for our Let’s Get Real Friday Party. The best bloggers from across the web link up their favorite posts from the week. It’s quite a treat!
I love going to the farmer's market. Unfortunately we have more small farm stands here. The season is a little here, but I can't WAIT to see what they have. Maybe I have to just stop by…
We have a bunch of the little stands around us also. Maybe pick a time when they aren't too busy to stop by. I bet they would love to chat with you. Nothing tastes better than fresh from the field.
I don't go to our farmer's market often because we are usually gone on the weekends and we also have our CSA. But I love going to supplement what I get at the CSA. With the CSA, quantities are always limited and I always want more tomatoes or more of something else. It's such a treat to get local produce. It's hard to go back to the grocery store when late fall rolls around.
That's interesting. I don't belong to a local CSA because their pick up schedule doesn't work for me. I hit the market super early many days so I can go on with the rest of my busy life afterwards. You are so right…….after fall, I do not want to go back to the grocery store. The taste difference is amazing to me.
Love this! I can't wait until the farmers' market gets going up here in New England. We get most of our produce there and at the local farms. We would do a CSA, but we're on vacation overseas for most of the summer harvest. Great tips! Thanks so much.
Kelly
http://www.alovelylifeindeed.com
Hi Kelly. Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit. Nothing tastes better than fresh fruits and vegetables in season. Vacation overseas sounds wonderful…………I bet that is its own unique culinary experience.
These are great tips, Christina. It's been interesting to see in my own family the different ways people use to get local fruits and vegetables. One of my sisters swears by her CSA, the other loves her all-local farmers market, and I focus on growing fruits and vegetables in our garden. Although I also have an all-local market in my city, and really need to start going there at least somewhat regularly.
Nothing can beat growing your own. That is actually being the farmer. Too cool! I do like going to the market for the social and educational aspect. I talk to folks about how they use the products they are selling. I've learned a lot.
These are fabulous tips! We moved to a new town this year and haven't hit up the local farmer's market yet. This article is coming just in time for me and I'm pinning to refer back to it again – thank you for sharing!
Thank you for your kind words Jen! I hope you make time in your schedule to visit the local farmer's market. It really can be quite fun! And……..I've learned so much about food by talking with the fine folks who are at the market.
These are excellent tips! I never would have thought of the point you made about bringing the kids. I usually wish I could go alone so I can take my time and concentrate on what I am doing lol.
There are some times that I like to go alone, but for the most part………I like the socialization of it. The kids really add to the fun.
Awesome tips! I love going to the farmer's market… The kids love to go too. I do think you are crazy for saying to bring them… NO, just kidding – I love that it encourages them to eat healthy and local.
Thanks Meeghan! Taking the kids really does encourage them to eat real food and make healthy eating decisions. An added bonus……..I also get in a nice little math lesson. I encourage the kids to figure out how much we are spending and what are change will be.
These are great tips! I also suggest, if you are not looking for something in particular, going toward the end. Vendors are sometimes willing to bargain and drop prices.
These are all great tips! Especially taking cash and bringing sturdy bags. We go to the WSM all the time, but need to start finding more farmer's markets to attend.