Have you explored your local farmers’ market yet this year? Depending on where you live, the last frost could be as early as March or as late as the end of May. Regardless, by June, farmers’ markets across the country should be open for business and full of locally grown, fresh produce at the peak of ripeness.
If you have never shopped at a farmers’ market, the best approach is to go early and plan to stay late. Early birds will be able to purchase anything that is just beginning to come into season, even if the day’s picks were too slim to last for more than a few customers.
Put on Your Bargaining Hat
Staying until the end gives you the chance to haggle with farmers. They don’t want to drag home wilting produce if they don’t have to, so they’ll often give customers steep discounts at the end of the day.
Start at one end of the stalls and stop at each booth to examine their offerings. Don’t be shy. Farmers are proud of the work they put into their produce and are more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Take Time to Learn
They will always take the time to explain the proper way to prepare their fruit or vegetables. It’s really in their own best interests, after all. If you go home and are unable to cook the food properly, you’re unlikely to come back and purchase more.
The farmers’ market is the perfect place to expose your children to new foods. Letting them participate in meal planning is the best way to encourage them to eat vegetables.
Often stalls will have samples of their products available for tasting. Favorite fruits and vegetables may come in varieties that you may have not tasted. Keep an open mind and try something new.
Many times, farmers’ markets will offer selections that are unavailable in the supermarket. These treats are generally too fragile or perishable to transport cross country. Some seasonal favorites are garlic scapes, ramps and squash blossoms.
Try to see the silver lining in the clouds. Farmers’ markets are generally not as cheap as supermarkets, but this is offset by the significant difference in quality, freshness and fair wages for the farmers.
What’s in Season
Remember that the selection of produce at farmers’ markets is limited by the weather and natural growing season of the plants. Rejoice in fresh spinach in the spring, then choose a hardier green when spinach goes out of season, rather than importing it from Mexico. The difference between a conventionally grown, pale hothouse tomato and a vibrantly colorful, juicy heirloom tomato at the peak of ripeness defies words.
Building Relationships
When you go to the market on a regular basis, you will begin to build relationships with the other regulars and the farmers. Whether you express your gratitude by reciting a blessing over your meal or thanking the farmers. you will feel a connection to the source of your food and appreciate the work that went into making it possible.
If you take the time to learn to shop at farmers’ markets, you will be able to support local farms and bring home delicious food. It may not be as inexpensive but you can’t put a price on providing your family with nutritious, fresh produce.
Article contributed by Sandra Mort
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