Peak farmers market season is just around the corner. Are you ready for the annual fresh produce bonanza? Whether it’s your first trip or your hundredth, a refresher on navigating a farmers market is in order to help you make the most of your visit —and get the most bang for your buck.
I spent 10 years selling produce for a Pennsylvania farm at various Washington, D.C., farmers markets. Though I’ve retired from that scene, I still frequent markets and know that some of this advice isn’t as obvious as it should be. So grab your tote bags, slather on some sunscreen and get ready to invest in your local economy.
Check the rules
It’s the most basic tip, but still worth stating: Know the rules about bringing dogs and, if you’re not traveling on foot, look up car and bike parking guidelines. If you have questions that can’t be answered from a market website, check in with the staff when you arrive. They are also trained to assist you in case of emergencies, including severe weather or interactions with federal law enforcement agents.
Ask questions, practice patience
Curious about your local food system? A farmers market is the place to be. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, to really engage with the farmer or the person behind the counter, because they want to tell you all about where your food is coming from,” says Regan Choi, who comanages Ela Family Farms with her husband, Steve Ela, in Hotchkiss, Colorado.
Try the free samples to find your new favorite cheese, ask the staff which apple variety they love, and let the farmer help you pick out the sweetest melon and freshest ear of corn.
If it’s particularly busy, read the room, says Philip Keating, who manages markets for Reid’s Orchard & Winery in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania (the farm that I worked for). “It’s all about finding the opportunity and just being patient with each other,” he says.
Come with a plan but be flexible
Arriving with a shopping list is helpful, but the seasonal nature of a farmers market necessitates flexibility. Do a lap when you first get there, says FreshFarm executive director Cat Oakar: “Get a sense of some of the pricing, have some chats with the farmers to see what they recommend.”
When the season ramps up, you’ll see a bounty of options. “Always buy what you like, but every so often be adventurous,” says Ela. And, adds Choi, if you don’t know what something is – looking at you, kohlrabi – ask the vendor for cooking advice.
Bring bags and produce storage options
You’ve got a stash of reusable totes, right? Leave some in your car, bike basket or by your keys so you don’t forget them. Think through what you’re buying, too; pack a few storage containers (or repurposed takeout containers) in which to transfer fragile produce such as raspberries, grapes and other boxed items. Reuse plastic produce bags (or buy reusable cloth ones) for greens, broccoli, apples and so on. Wide boxes are handy for peaches, apples, squash and the like.
Bringing your own storage vessels enables the farmer to reuse their packaging, keeping their costs down. Showing that you care is also a great way to make fast friends with farmers market workers. Does being considerate improve your chances of getting a freebie or discount later on? Let’s just say in my experience, it doesn’t hurt.
Set realistic price expectations
“Sticker shock is a big thing right now,” Keating says. Farmers markets can be more expensive than grocery stores, though depending on the state of inflation, that difference can be small. Margins are as thin as ever, with tariffs, labor shortages, wars and climate change impacting costs. Ask about prices to learn more, but approach it with curiosity rather than suspicion. “It’s a soft spot for a lot of farmers because a lot of us feel guilty about the prices we charge, except that we also know what bills we have to pay,” Ela says.
It’s rational to wonder about pricing, but most growers undercharge relative to their costs, Choi says. “Farmers as a whole are fairly low income and try to base their pricing on making food available to people,” she says.
Keep in mind that you’re buying recently harvested fruits and veggies that not only taste better but last longer. A bag of market greens that stores well for a week ultimately costs less than a supermarket salad mix that you throw out because it goes slimy a few days after opening.
Don’t forget you’re buying local
Unless citrus, avocados and bananas are local to your region, don’t expect to find them. (You’d be shocked how many people asked if we grew oranges in Pennsylvania.) Some things — especially fruit in a difficult weather year — have finite availability. Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t know the season for something; a farmer will happily tell you when to expect what.
Follow the farmers market and producers on social media, too, Oakar says. “You’ll be able to get a little sneak peek of what they might be bringing to market, which is really fun and inspiring.”
Can’t find what you’re looking for? “Get into a conversation with a grower,” Choi says. “There’s a fair chance somebody will start growing it.”
Keep an eye out for bargains
It varies among markets and vendors, but you will often see produce that’s less than perfect — usually referred to as seconds or imperfects — at a discounted price. Think bruised nectarines, tomatoes that split in transit and blemished apples that are more suited to baking and preserving. Depending on the setup, it will be visibly displayed or you may have to ask the vendor.
“If you’re looking to get seconds, the best time is about halfway through the farmers market,” says Keating, because that gives workers time to quality check produce as people buy it. (Though again, timing and availability are variable.)
You may encounter reduced prices near the end of the day if a grower doesn’t want to take excess produce home. But some markets have gleaners who gather unsold fruit and vegetables to donate to food banks, and some growers take unsold products to turn into pickles, jam and cider.
Another savvy move is preordering in bulk, especially if you’re canning or preserving fruit and vegetables, but also for things like bread, pastry and other prepared items. Just remember that market vendors operate on smaller economies of scale, so don’t assume you’re entitled to a bulk discount.
Check payment methods
If you’re paying with cash, bring small bills. Most stands accept credit cards, Apple Pay or apps such as Venmo. Be aware of potential card minimums and added charges to compensate for merchant service fees.
Depending on your location, the market will also accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits while also offering a bonus that doubles purchasing power for fruits and vegetables. Check with the market staff to learn how to get the most out of your benefits. And in the case of another government shutdown that impacts SNAP, markets may still provide some level of assistance to alleviate the gap. For example, during last year’s shutdown, FreshFarm offered SNAP participants $30 in FreshMatch benefits, even if customers couldn’t access funds on EBT cards. The benefits extended to furloughed federal workers as well.
Cultivate community
Beyond commerce, markets are a great place to connect with your community in a much healthier way than Nextdoor or other online echo chambers. “Even for those introverts, don’t be put off that farmers markets are inherently social,” says Oakar. Whether you talk to everybody or nobody, being out of your house and interacting with people makes for an excellent digital detox.
Know the relationship goes both ways: As a market worker, I loved getting to know the regulars, giving people cooking tips (and receiving occasional baked goods made from our produce – another great way to make friends, hint hint) and watching the neighborhood kids grow up.
Know when to time your visit
For the best selection, go early. “It’s not just an idiom, the early bird does catch the worm,” says Keating. Going early in the morning lets you avoid the heat, too, adds Oakar.
If your market is uncomfortably crowded when it opens, try going a few hours later. “You’ll probably find smaller lines, and halfway through people usually still have a fair supply of their inventory,” says Choi.
Also consider purchasing a community-supported agriculture (CSA) share. Not only does it help farmers plan and fund their season, but your produce will be set aside for you to pick up at the market stand, no elbowing to get to the last peaches required.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 10 tips for being a smarter farmers market shopper
Reporting by Kara Elder, Special to the Washington Post / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
