FARMER'S MARKET CHECKLIST

Learn about canning with Grow and Make's Green Kitchen Guide.

Participate in your local food community: shop at the farmer’s market. Be it big or small, a farmer’s market is a great place to meet friendly folks, ask questions, and pick up fresh produce for the week. Rather than peruse racks of wilted, far-flung lettuces, you can choose among heaps of gorgeous greens just hours from the field. We thought it would be helpful to have a checklist to get started.

1. Find a market. A visit to www.localharvest.org will turn up all the farmer’s markets in your area, as well as information about farms, cooperative grocery stores, and CSAs. Type in your zip and you’re good to go. I've found that some markets have more of what I'm seeking than others. Examples would be more kid friendly, less traffic, larger selection and in a more attractive location.

2. Know what’s in season. In springtime, expect green stuff: lettuce, asparagus, broccoli, fresh herbs and snap peas. Tomatoes will appear later in the summer, along with beans, cucumbers, corn and summer squashes. Hard-skinned winter squashes (like butternut), as well as root crops like carrots, beets, potatoes, and rutabagas will round out the fall harvest. A quick click over to your state’s department of agriculture website will give you a better idea of what’s available seasonally.

3. Be flexible. If it’s your first time at the market, be open to pleasant surprises. Shopping with a set-in-stone recipe in your hand may blindside you to some of the goodies you can find only at the farmer’s market. Purple sage, maybe, or a pile of fingerling potatoes. It’s better to go with an open mind and be inspired by what’s around you. Often you'll find that the vendors have recipes they hand-out and sometimes even cooking demonstrations.

4. Know what to bring: Cash, a smile, and cloth tote bags or baskets to carry your goods are the bare minimum. Depending on location and weather, an umbrella, sunscreen, and a snack might also be worthwhile. If you bring your kids or dog, be prepared to keep them busy or on leash.

5. Get there early. At my local market, the fresh-baked breads and pies are all gone within an hour of opening. The free-range eggs (some of them still warm from the nest) don’t last much longer. If you want the best selection, there’s only one thing to keep in mind: the early bird catches the heirloom tomatoes.

6. Go big. The best deals are on crates, bushels, flats, and boxes, so plan accordingly. Rather than buy a pint of peaches for a couple bucks, buy a whole peck (more than ten times as much) for just a few bucks more. Take them home, bake a pie, and put the rest in your freezer, sliced, in zipper bags. They’ll still be perfectly delicious (and perfectly local) in a month.

7. Don't forget to bring your 'gab'. It's a great opportunity to meet local folks in your community and the vendors often have interesting stories, recipe suggestions and anecdotes from their unique lives.

Related Articles:

Save Money by Reducing Food Waste

Sew a Reusable Produce Bag

Flaxseed: Super-Nutrient

Explore our Growandmake.com Make It Yourself at Home Kits

Cheese Making Kits
Start at: $28

Candle Making Kits
Start at: $26

Soap Making Kits
Start at: $24

Indoor Garden Kits
Start at: $14

blog comments powered by Disqus