The Farmer’s Market is a great place to go to find local and organic produce to cook throughout the week with. Depending on where you live, your local farmer’s market may be a seasonal or permanent thing.
In Chicago, and typically in cities where you experience cold seasons; the farmer’s market is usually present during the summer months. People often don’t realize how affordable frequenting your local farmer’s market can be. If you shop regularly ( I shop for fresh produce once a week) you’ll become familiar with the grocery store prices for things you buy often and then will be able to compare those prices to those at the farmer’s market.
I went to the farmer’s market over the weekend and picked up organic plums and a mango for about $2. A tub of cherry tomatoes, a locally grown onion and cucumber for about $4. The cherry tomatoes alone would’ve been almost that much at the grocery store. I also grabbed some blueberry honey and a spinach and feta croissant.
When checking out your local farmer’s market keep these things in mind:
Ask questions
This is where you find out more about what you’re purchasing. Since a lot of the produce will come from local or nearby farms, ask about how it’s grown. If you’re not sure about what you want to choose ask the person behind the table for assistance. I have never had blueberry honey, had no idea what it was. I asked the guy how it tastes, how to store it, what it works well with and it helped me to the point that I actually purchased it.
Bring cash (and a cute tote)
While many farmer’s markets now accept debit and credit cards, bringing a certain amount of cash will help you better track how much you’re spending. It will also help you stop and think about what you’re buying and why you’re buying it and you’ll most likely use everything you snag while there. The cute tote will definitely come in handy to carry all of your goods around.
Experiment
You’re sure to find something you’ve never tried before and that’s the exciting thing about the farmer’s market. Tasty breads, undiscovered fruits, many possibilities for finding a new food love. A lot of times booths will have out lots of samples, so take advantage! My sister never tried a pluot before, tasted one at her local farmer’s market and bought 10 for $2!
What are some of your farmer’s market tips and tricks? Comment below! You can find out where to find a farmer’s market near you by checking out your local commerce’s website or by going to the USDA website here!
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