I have always been frustrated at the limited variety and disappointing quality of supermarket produce. So, when I discovered the Farmer's Market, there was no turning back. There, I found a seemingly endlessly rotating array of fresh and ripe fruits and vegetables sold by skillful and proud farmers and artisans, and displayed like works of art.
There are so many reasons I love the Farmer's Market, and it has definitely influenced my interest and focus on eating more fruits and vegetables, but I'm not going to sugar coat it. Shopping at a farmer’s market has many upsides but does require you to do some research and change some habits. It's totally worth it.
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Here are tips I've learned over the years that have made it into a healthy, exciting, and delicious adventure, and a core part of my journey to prevent chronic disease.
What You'll Love About Shopping at the Farmer's Market
- It's an Open Air Market: Shopping in an open air market gives you room to breathe and enjoy the weather as you navigate through the market. On spring, summer, and early autumn days, it's just plain glorious; in the winter, or on rainy days, it's just a reflection on the process of farming itself. Different crops thrive in different seasons and different climates. We're all a part of the cycle.
- It Builds Community and Connection: There is a dedicated community of shoppers that include chefs from local restaurants, home cooks, small business owners, food writers, restaurant owners, and just regular folks like you and me who just really want to enjoy the best fruits and vegetables available.
- You'll Learn Something New Every Visit: I've never been to the market when I haven't learned about a new-to-me fruit or vegetable, or a new variety of one, or a new farmer, or how to cook something, or where to park, or which cart to buy, or met someone new, or just a million other things. If you're the curious type like I am, it like the cherry on top.
- Fruits & Vegetables Rotate Seasonally: When you shop at the Farmer's Market, seasonality is front and center. Fruits and vegetables are ripened on the vine, which means they are more flavorful and nutritious than produce picked green and ripened with chemicals. And, market produce is fresh. Fruits and vegetables are generally picked and packed the day before market, and sold the next day during the market so you get peak flavor, peak freshness and peak nutrition.
- What You Find at the Market Will Inspire and Influence What You Eat: When I go to the Farmer's Market, I first walk through the whole market to see what each farmer is selling. Then, I let that inspire which dishes I'll make, which fruits I'll eat for breakfast, along with ingredients for juices, smoothies, salads, soups, and dressings. Sometimes there are exciting surprises, like when mulberries, cherries and asparagus arrive in the spring, tomatoes, cucumbers and melons in summer, stone fruit and apples in the fall and root vegetables and squashes in the winter. And of course, when favorites fade away for another year. It's a great way to introduce variety into your diet. As so often happens for me, you might just find a new favorite fruit or vegetable that, now that you know about it, you can't live without.
- The Fruits and Vegetables are Fresher and More Nutritious: Fruits and vegetables are mostly picked at peak ripeness, meaning they’re fresher and packed with more nutrients. Less transportation and storage time means higher vitamin and mineral content.
- You're Supporting Local Farmers and the Local Economy: Your money goes directly to small farmers rather than large corporations, which helps sustain local agriculture and food diversity.
- The Produce is Treated with Fewer Chemicals and Preservatives: Many farmers use organic or low-pesticide farming methods, even if they’re not certified organic. That means less reliance on preservatives and artificial ripening methods compared to grocery store produce.
- You'll Find Unique and Specialty Items: I have eaten so many amazing fruits and vegetables this year that I never even knew existed. Mainly, that's because you can only find them at the Farmer's Market or directly from a farmer. They'll never make their way to a grocery store because they’re fragile, unfamiliar to many consumers, and must be packed and handled with care. I hope you decide to visit a market and find a fruit or a vegetable that just blows your mind.
The Challenges of Shopping at a Farmer's Market
- It Takes Energy and Effort: Shopping at a Farmer's Market does require a strategy. You have to research the markets in your area, map out your route, block out the time, bring the gear you need to carry your purchases, and schlep it all back to your car. It's worth it, but, as we all know, change is hard. See my tips and tricks below to streamline your first and help you shop the market like a pro.
- There are Limited Hours and Locations: Farmer's Markets are organized locally, so you'll need to research which ones are in your area. When you find markets near where you live, you can focus in on their hours and locations. The challenge is that many markets pop up once every week on a certain day for a few hours at a pre-set time. So, you need to manage to their schedule. Not ideal, but understandable, given that all the farmers are driving in from their locations to be there. Even though it can seem limited, just remember that the farmers are working harder to be there than the shoppers.
- It's Not a One-Stop Shop: We've all been trained by supermarkets to buy everything we need in one store. Farmer's Markets vary in their offerings, but many offer a wide array of products, including produce, meat, fish, eggs, fresh flowers, breads and pastries and prepared foods. However, because Farmer's Markets prioritize seasonality, what you'll find on offer will change with the seasons and will be impacted by the weather, as all farming is. Also, every Market is different. The only way to know what a Market offers is to visit and see. I personally love that it's an adventure every time.
- Most Produce is Available Only When in Season: As noted above, Farmer's Markets prioritize seasonality. You'll only find fruits and vegetables that grow locally in the season in which you're shopping. That's because that's when fruits and vegetables are abundant, fresh and ripe right off the vine, at peak flavor and nutrition, and at the best price. And, because there's no travel time, it means you get the best tasting everything, especially when compared to anything that you buy at the supermarket.
- Parking Can Be Tricky: Farmer's Markets rely on your local city to designate a location for them. It could be the parking lot of a church or a school or a shopping center, or some even block off an intersection and set up in the streets. Once you research the location, pull up a map and figure out parking options nearby. Remember that everyone attending the market will be competing for the same parking options, so plan accordingly. I usually drive to the location on a non-market day and map out the options, see how full the parking garages are, then check out which street parking is metered and where I can park for free. It may take a few tries to learn how fast parking fills up on Market days, so your initial efforts may be a bit of a trial and error puzzle, but be flexible and you'll figure it out.
- Every Market is Different: Farmers markets vary in size and always reflect your local region's agriculture and seasons, which means you'll find different offerings in Texas or California than you'll find in Virginia or Maine. Some markets are seasonal and comprised of a small number of vendors, while others involve hundreds of vendors and take place year-round. Some markets concentrate on produce, while others carry everything from fruits and vegetables to baked goods, meat, eggs, flowers, and dairy products. Some may carry locally made crafts or prepared foods as a complement to the agricultural products they sell. If you look up your local markets online, they will list the farmers and vendors, and products you're likely to find in each season.
- Weather Can Add a Degree of Difficulty: If the weather doesn't cooperate - or if it is spectacular, it impacts which fruits and vegetables show up at the market. Too much rain, not enough sun, or the perfect amount, all determine what you'll find at the market. Additionally, if you shop on a rainy day or on a super hot and sunny one, plan accordingly about how you'll care for your purchases at the market, in the car, and on the way home.
- It Takes Time to Figure it All Out: Whenever you try something new, it takes time to figure out how to make it work for you. Below, I describe the tips and tricks I learned to make the market as fun as it is delicious.
Tips & Tricks for Navigating the Farmer's Market
I've visited a lot Farmer's Markets because I love learning about fruits and vegetables, meeting the farmers and artisans, and figuring out how to cook with ingredients I've never worked with before. Plus, eating amazing food doesn't hurt either. Here are some of the ways I've figured out to make the market experience an enjoyable one.
- Get your timing right: I've shopped at a lot of markets and I've found that, if you're there to buy your food for the week, it's just plain harder to navigate a market when it's crowded. I've found the most enjoyable time to go is the first hour or two. That way, it's easier to talk to the farmers who are presenting their foods, all the produce has just been laid out, and there's more room to think. However, later, the market atmosphere can seem almost like a neighborhood fair. It can be a great place to socialize and spend time on a beautiful day. So, you might decide to bring your family or friends and casually stroll through the market to pick up a few things or indulge in the prepared offerings (if your market has them). Visit your market at different times to figure out the time that best suits your goals.
- Test different parking spots: Some markets offer free parking lots, some guide you to a city lot, and some just offer street parking. Drive to the market sometime before you plan to shop to map out the parking options. Then, on your shopping day, observe your options as parking fills up. I like to go early to get the best parking because once you've purchased a bunch of things, you don't want to have to hike a mile back to your car. In my experience at the best markets, a parking strategy can be a game changer.
- Bring a cart for your purchases: For too many years, I brought my own bags, threw them over my shoulder, and then hauled all of my purchases like a camel back to my car. Don't do it. Especially when watermelon season hits. At the same time as tomato season. Get a cart. Here are a few carts that I like for the market:
- Cart 1: The Transit Folding Cart: I use this type of cart from time to time. It's fine for winter when produce isn't squishable. During the market, things can get shuffled around a bit, so you have to be strategic about where you place heavier and softer fruits like tomatoes, berries, and melons. However, it's the most economical choice, which makes it a good one and I still use mine often.
- Cart 2: The CLAX 2-tier Collapsible Cart: This stylish cart is sturdy, well made and popular. It makes it easy to keep your purchases organized and transforms into a few different form factors so you can use it in different scenarios. Plus, it collapses easily and is easy to wash and store. A little pricier, but it will last a while if you take care of it.
- Cart 3: The Mac Sports Collapsible Wagon: This is a larger capacity cart that I like to use in the summer when so many different fruits and vegetables are in peak season. In the summer, I can never get enough melons and this cart helps me haul all the beautiful cantaloupes, brilliants, bonnies and honeydews back to my car. And, then, when peaches and plums arrive, well, you can see how that could get complicated.
- Walk the market before you buy: The Farmer's Market is a collection of farms that each has their own little storefront within the larger market. Many specialize in specific products unique to them but also offer additional products which might overlap with others on offer. That means there might be several farms selling oranges or tomatoes or lettuce, for instance. I've found that the best way to figure out where the best products are is to walk the full market before you buy anything. Look at the quality of the produce in the different "booths". Observe which ones are attracting a crowd. Notice which ones are offering items you really want, or a fruit or vegetable that looks interesting or a product you want to try (many offer samples). Then, decide which products you want to buy from each farm and get on with it. This way, you don't buy something, just to find a better version of it around the corner. You'll have no buyer's remorse and will have saved yourself time and trouble.
- Bring cash, Venmo, and a credit card (or Apple Pay): Many Farmer's Markets have modernized and now accept credit cards and Venmo in addition to cash. However, there's always a vendor or two who only takes cash, so plan accordingly.
- Get to know the farmers: Strike up a conversation with the farmers or artisans if you're interested in their products. Ask questions. This is how you learn about items you don't recognize or how to cook something or - well, a million other things. Also, the farmers sometimes save specialty items or tastes for chefs, restaurant owners, folks in the food industry and customers they know. Plus, it makes the market fun and you can look forward to seeing a familiar face as you get to know the market.
- Bring reusable bags: Every market is different, but most provide some kind of bag (plastic or paper) to use for your purchases. However, if you really want to care for your produce and let it breathe, bring your own cotton mesh bags like these. Then, you can wash your produce when you arrive home and store it right in the bag so it can breathe, extending it's freshness.
- Organize your purchases in the car before you drive away: I store several reusable cloth shopping bags in the trunk of my car. Then, when I roll my cart up to the car, I can organize my purchases into bags of produce that will be stored together, separate the heavy from the squishable, make sure the berries are packed securely so they can sit with me up front, you get the idea. This way, you don't just have a haphazard set of food floating around in your trunk or car; it lets you take stock of your purchases and note whether you forgot something and gives you a few minutes to think through what you want to cook when you get home or in the next day or two.
- Label your purchases before storing: Last but not least, get a label maker and label each bag stored in your refrigerator or pantry along with the date purchased. Yes, it's one more step, but it will reduce waste and ensure your food dollars are well used. I use this Brother P-Touch Cube label maker.
Change is Hard. Your Health is Worth It.
It's hard to make changes to your routine. You need to decide on eating healthfully is worth it to you. Here's how I think about it. The activities you're currently prioritizing are all super important. Until you are sick. Then, you realize that only one thing is important. Your health. Don't take your health for granted.
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