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Shopping smart at a farmers' market is mostly about timing, planning, and knowing how vendors price and rotate products. Here are practical ways to get better quality and value without overbuying.
Before you go to the farmers market, you should check what’s in season where you live and look for flexible ingredients you can use in more than just one meal. Keep your strategy simple by buying staple products first.
Timing is everything. If you arrive right when the market opens, you’ll have access to the best selection, specialty items, eggs, berries, fresh bread and desserts. If you arrive in the final 30 minutes, you may be able to score a discount as many vendors don’t want to haul back what they brought.
If you are buying multiple items of the same thing, don’t be afraid to ask for a discount. Vendors have the flexibility to barter!
Remember, in-season produce is usually cheaper, fresher, and tastes better. In the prairie provinces for example, greens, radishes, and asparagus are ready during the earliest months, while berries, tomatoes, cucumbers and beans are available in the summer. In the fall, you can expect quash, potatoes, carrots and apples.
You should also check for signs of freshness. Do this by looking for a vibrant color, firm texture, leafy greens that aren’t wilted, no sticky residue or mold, and heavy-for-size fruit. However, don’t ignore mishapened produce as they can be cheaper, equally nutritious, and ideal for cooking.
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Photo Credit: ID 55272873 © Gerald T. Coli | Dreamstime.com
