It's obvious by now that we are as passionate about supporting our local farmers' markets as the majority of you are. They're an amazing resource, but depending on the city in which you live, it isn't always easy to get in, out and on with your day. They can feel like a black hole of strollers, people who slowly meander without an agenda (who always end up in your traffic pattern), and tables and tables of the same thing. We live near a busy Midwestern farmer's market and have some tips for buying fresh and local without feeling like you need a stiff drink afterwards.
How To Support Your Local Farmers' Market (Without It Consuming Your Whole Day)
We've lived all over the country and have supported farmers' markets whereever we've been. Some markets are crazy busy and some are more slow moving and laid back. But no matter which market you go to we have a few tips to help you out on your journey.
1. Go Early - As early as possible in all honesty. That's when you'll find the freshest product, before it's sat out in the heat and picked through by other marketgoers. It will allow you the freedom to move at the speed you want without being herded through like cattle.
The later you wait the more full the market will be with strollers and groups of people there for a get together whose only agenda is to be there. Which is all fine and well, but if you're looking to acquire fresh goods and get on with your day, being there before every single person, their mom, their dog and their 6 screaming children, is a good thing.
2. Visit The Same Vendors - This isn't to say that you shouldn't try new things or deviate from this idea, but because farmers are selling what's in season, for the most part, they all sell the same things. Returning to the same vendors week after week will not only score you better prices (or at least give you bartering abilities) but it can often times allow you access to the best the vendor has to offer and allow you "celebrity status" at their booth. We're not saying you shouldn't have to wait your turn, but it's nice to be seen, get what you need and get out without waiting in line (wait, that's exactly what we're saying)!
3. Have Cash - The smaller the bills the better. Paying in cash and with smaller bills allows only small change needing to be made, or no change at all. Keep it in a place that's easy to access, an outer pocket on your person or in your bag or purse. Not having to dig through an overflowing purse each time you need to pay for something will save you time and make you look like less of a target for being pick pocketed.
4. Go Often - Going more frequently will keep you in touch with all the vendors in attendance and keep your finger on the pulse of what's new and fresh this week. Skipping a few weeks means more time spent checking out all the extra happenings (it's like trying not to check your email while on vacation, although it means you're out having fun, it just piles up, waiting for your return).
5. Only Buy Local and Organic - Depending on the rules and regulations of your market, some vendors may be reselling produce and goods purchased from other suppliers. If you see something being sold out of season, it's usually a good clue that other things on their table will be imported as well. Things that don't appear to be local or organic can be purchased with the rest of your shopping at regular markets where they will usually be more inexpensive and have a better selection.
Do you have a tried and tested tip for navigating your farmers' market with ease? Share with us in the comments below!
Related: Farmers' Market Report: Opening Day Chicago
(Images: Sarahrae)
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Farmers' Market, organic, local, tips, farmers market, navigation, guideRelated Links
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I go to the farmer's market at the Ferry Building on Saturdays here in San Francisco. It's by the water, has only sustainably raised produce that the vendors must grow themselves. You have to get there before and out by 9:30 am, or you will be caught in a mob.
My plan is that I go with a friend or my partner, and we split up. Since we get 75-80% of our grocery from the market, I'll get the produce (I do most of the cooking) and he'll go line up to get coffee or bread. Coffee lines are long despite there being three Blue Bottle stalls. The line can take anywhere from 15-40 minutes depending on when you line up.
view adiaphane's profile
Hilarious- I like to just go by myself commando style and dart about through the masses of children. Last week I made it in and out of the market in 15 minutes- and I had more than enough produce , chicken and eggs for the week! I do know my vendors though, and resisted the gelato cart...
view spotonmeg's profile
At our public market it can be tough to scout what's local and what's not. My rule of thumb is, if the boxes behind the table say "Dole" or something like that on them, don't stop, keep moving. If the boxes say something generic like "farm fresh produce," or the boxes say "Dole" and they've clearly been reused over and over again, they're more likely to be a vendor from nearby. And of course, if they say "Summery Farms, Sodus, New York," that's easy - they're from here.
view cakekick's profile
@adiaphane I find the Ferry Building farmers' market is really expensive. Any tips for getting better prices? I try to make it to the Tuesday one since it's near my office and, naturally, the Tuesday one in my home-town is during work hours.
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile
i get there within 10 minutes of opening. there's less people, better selection, and better parking. i go alone, go to a few tried and true stands, and leave.
oh, and eat breakfast before you go! that way you don't get tempted to spend extra time and money on a munchie there.
view cassiopia's profile
Another tip: Find a local produce store, shop, shack, or plaza.
Honestly, I can't STAND the meanderers in farmers' markets, as much as I love the fresh produce and dairy. It's so annoying to see an opening to the ONE PLACE you came here for today, only to have someone stop RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU when you're three steps from the table, with not even the courtesy to look around to see if they're in someone's way, and with utter disregard for anything going on around them.
Add to that the criss-crossing leashes of DOOM, children darting here and there while their lazy parents forget they brought them, and thousands and thousands of old ladies with tennis-ball-footed walkers....
Headache. Utter headache.
My produce shop is locally stocked, has low prices, is indoors, and well-thought-out. No meanderers, dogs, children, or old ladies in there!
view bfootnovellista's profile
Holy bitterness, bfootnovelista! Sure, the casual meanderers and the stroller-toters are slower than we utility-shoppers (who get most of our week's groceries from the farmer's market), but I actually love that they're there. It reminds me that I'm part of a community of real people. In turn, I'm rooting for more people to saunter through and discover the market as a cool, relaxing place to shop-- in the hopes that they, too, will adopt a utility-shopping habit. If we're really going to change the way our society thinks about food and farmers, we have to be inclusive, generous, and patient in our farmer's markets.
view novicegardener's profile
@Tiamat--Unfortuantely, it is expensive, so I make my cuts elsewhere (I wholly support sustainable agriculture and put my money were my mouth is). I used to go at the end of the market, when the sellers just want to unload their stuff and not have to bring it back with them. I go in the beginning now because I'm addicted to the eggs Marin Sun Farms or Happy Quail Farms have and they run out by noon. I haven't been to the market on a weekday, as it's during work hours generally, so I don't know which vendors are there.
Also, I bring cash. Cash to pay for everything. I spend 80-100$ at the market, and if I run out of money, then that's it.
view adiaphane's profile
We shop weekly at the Hollywood Farmer's Market and fall into the despised catagory of arriving at peak hours with a stroller. We buy 80% of our weekly produce, fruit, eggs, poultry, meat, fish, and coffee at the market and fill in with bi-weekly trips to either Trader Joes or Whole Foods and maybe a bakery. I went to a regular chain grocery store once last month.
Luckily, regulations are strict in California and only foodstuffs produced by the vendors or sold. No pineapples at my market.
view JudiAU's profile
I am lucky to have a farmer's market (South Station, Boston) right by my office, and because I work odd hours, I take my "lunch" break around 3-4 PM. The market is deserted and I can take my time picking what I want, but my finite break time keeps me from getting off track. It may not be the morning's first pick of goodies, but I always get something good.
view amyeliz's profile