[ grocery ] :: how to shop the farmers market

My new favorite thing to do on Saturday mornings is to hit up the local farmers markets - yes, it's more expensive, but nothing beats fresh, seasonal produce. Normally I try to find the absolute best deals on my groceries, but when it comes to supporting my local economy and small family farms I don't mind paying a little more!

I'm a self-professed newbie to shopping at markets, but here is what I have learned to do to have a successful shopping trip!

1. Bring your own shopping bags and a cooler. Not all venders will have shopping bags, or they will have a limited amount. I bring my own fabric bags - one for produce and one for meats and cheeses. We bring a small cooler with us since we travel between markets, and we sometimes buy fresh meats, eggs, and cheese that should stay cool.

2. Bring change! The farmers at our markets seem to scramble to find quarters and $1 bills. Help them out and bring exact change if you can. Some vendors accept credit cards, but there may be a fee.

3. Get. There. Early. The first day that the market was open we arrived at 10:30 - after two hours most of the choice produce and specialty foods were gone. You may notice that some items, like $3 cartons of farm fresh eggs, sell out faster than others. Plan to arrive early so you can get the best pick.

4. Find out where your food comes from - talk to the farmers! Do they use pesticides? Organic practices? Are their chickens free-range? I enjoy talking to the same farmers every week and I really like that they remember me. For example, I had a conversation about Black Krim tomatoes with one farmer selling vegetable plants - two weeks later he had an entire flat of them to show me!

5. Shop for the best prices. Once the market is in full swing, multiple vendors will be selling the same product. Don't be afraid to ask prices (they aren't always labeled), or even ask for a bulk discount!

6. Walk away. Ok - this really only applies to some vendors selling specialty items, like sauces, jams, and canned goods. They offer amazing samples, and you will feel like a horrible person when you don't want to buy a $12 jar of jam that you could make at home. Don't be afraid to politely say "thank you for the delicious sample," and walk away. Otherwise you will end up spending a ton of money. Trust me on this.

- Maggie White