As spring rolls in, farmer’s market season is upon us. Maybe you’ve never shopped at the farmer’s market before, but have always wanted to; this post is for you. I’ve shopped at farmers’ markets casually over the years, but it wasn’t until I moved to Northern California that it truly became part of my regular shopping, and I think it has so much to do with how strong our farming community is here!

Regardless of whether you’re a frequenter of farmers’ markets or you enjoy them on occasion, here are my tips after spending over a year shopping at my local market.

Plan ahead

This might also mean bringing extra items with you. Sometimes I’ll leave the house, and it’s sunny, but it ends up raining later. Or vice versa. Or it gets colder or hotter. Whatever the weather in your region and season, check the weather before going and go prepared. I also like to wear comfy shoes and bring sun protection so that I have an enjoyable time and don’t immediately leave due to being uncomfortable.

Ensure you also plan enough time in your day. Nothing is worse than rushing through the market and not getting to see everything. Plan to take your time and be ready for what the day brings!

Most markets also don’t allow pets, so please check the rules before bringing your fuzzy friend. Of course, service animals are allowed.

Bring cash

My biggest mistake was going to the farmers’ market for the first time with not a single dollar bill on me. Thankfully, in this day and age, many stalls accept some form of digital payment from tap to pay to Venmo. But it’s better to be safe than sorry. While I still pay mostly with Venmo, I always have a little cash on me for the occasional booth that doesn’t do digital payments. Smaller bills are better since they make a lot of change!

My market also has a “market bucks” option. You can head to the tent where the market organizers are set up and give them your Venmo or card, and they will provide you with paper money that can be spent at the farmers’ market. This is a great option if there is no ATM near you and you need a means of payment, but it does mean that you can only spend that money there.

Another tip is to ask about payment before touching too many items and placing them in your own bag or basket. If they don’t accept the type of payment you have on hand, that’s okay, now you didn’t touch half of their items and have to place them back awkwardly.

And be prepared for higher prices than you may be used to. Grocery stores cost less for a few reasons but this means you might pay more than what you’ve come to expect. This is not the farmers scamming you. They often use eco-friendly practices and also harvest by hand vs by machine. They also want to pay themselves and their workers a fair wage vs some large farming operations that exploit their workers by not paying them fairly. Just keep in mind, you’re paying for ethical working conditions and sustainable operations. Though not everything will be more expensive, just keep in mind it might be.

Bring your own bags

Plenty of stalls will have bags for you, but it helps them to save money and saves us all the planetary resources if we all bring our own bags. Especially if you have a super nice market bag or basket, this is more practical and useful than flimsy paper and plastic bags anyway. And then you only have to carry one or two larger bags vs tons of smaller ones.

Perhaps you also plan to buy cold items like fresh meat and cheese; it’s best to have a plan for this. Either bring a cooler bag you can carry or have a cooler ready in your car to help preserve that freshness, especially if you plan to hang out there for a few hours.

If you plan to buy a lot, it may not be a bad idea to bring a wagon or cart of some sort.

Have a plan or make a plan

Sometimes I go with our pre-planned grocery list and find as much as I can at the market, and other times I go with no list, find what speaks to me, and adjust my cooking for the week based on the ingredients I picked up. If you’re a beginner, I would probably suggest going with a plan. But do note that it may not pan out that you find 100% of your items. It depends on the growing season, which farmers are at the market that day, what’s already been sold out, and things like that. Just know that you may have to complete your list at your regular grocery store at another time.

For me, going with a list ensures that I won’t impulse purchase too many things, and those items won’t go to waste. But it can also be fun to go with my gut! Do what works for you, but I still encourage you to buy stuff that you actually plan on using.

Take your time and browse everything

If you have the time, it’s not a bad idea to go around first to see what’s available. Especially since some booths sell the same things, you can get an eye for the best deals and the best options for your needs. I also like to browse every booth, even if I won’t buy anything. It’s how you can find unique produce or art, and it’s also just fun to be friendly and chat with farmers and makers.

Talking to farmers has inspired me to cook new things, too! I was admiring this variety of eggplant I’d never seen before, and the farmer gave me some inspiration on how to use it…and gave me one to sample for free! I ended up loving the dish so much that I went back next week to grab more. So, bonus tip, don’t be afraid to try something new and ask the farmer for advice on how to use their produce!

And be patient! I have been cut in line so many times. I have seen impatient customers storm the farmer or vendor. It’s just rude. Take your time, wait your turn, and if you have a question for the farmer, wait until they’re done with the other customers.

Be gentle with the things you touch

It’s okay to inspect the produce to see what fits your needs. Maybe you need a certain size onion, or you want to inspect the lettuce for dirt, or what have you; that’s fine! But just be gentle and try to minimize how many items you’re touching. Especially be gentle with fragile things like jars of jam or tomatoes and things of that nature.

Buy the “ugly” items

You may be surprised by the aesthetics of farmers’ market produce. It may be weirdly shaped, really small, really big, or something else. That’s because it all tastes the same! Grocery stores care about aesthetics because that’s how we tend to shop. Grocery stores will only sell things that look uniform. But a farmer at the market will sell anything and everything they can. Get used to things looking a little wonky. It tastes just the same!

Store items to prevent food waste

Fresh produce will go bad faster than what you’ll get at the grocery store. Again, this is not a scam; it’s just simply that the farmer is local to you, so they were able to harvest at peak freshness vs a grocery store that had to harvest that item days or weeks ago and ensure it was shelf-stable to transport and sell. This means that your farmers’ market finds will also be tastier, though!

I could make a whole post on this in the future, but here are some general tips:

Store onions and potatoes in cool, dark places
The fridge is a great way to hold onto that peak freshness for just about any other fruit or veg
Store greens wrapped in a dish towel
Store fresh herbs with their bottoms in a small amount of water, like a bouquet

And just remember to eat stuff in a timely manner! When in doubt, find a way to preserve it. Maybe that’s the freezer, pickling, or canning. Whatever works for you!

When it comes to food safety, the USDA has recommendations specific to farmers’ market finds, but they’re pretty much what you’d expect for grocery store produce, too. Wash your items, dry them, and store them dependent on the particular item. And, mind-blowing, don’t eat rotten food!

Be kind and have fun!

Smile at the farmers, chat with vendors, try something new, and enjoy the day outside, supporting your local economy vs the billionaire class. Learn more about the importance of shopping small here.

I also love to take the opportunity to try a local food truck for lunch and catch up with friends I bump into. It’s such a lovely part of my week and community building, more tips for that here.

Let us know about your market below!

As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)

Emma

Tips for Shopping at the Farmers’ Market