7 Tips for the Savvy Farmers’ Market Shopper

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A woman shopping at a local farmers' market.Farm-to-table gets real when you shop at your local farmers’ markets. Seasonal and sustainable products are an ideal way to nourish yourself with items that are good for you and the farmers who gain your support.

It’s a pleasure to stroll through one of the many farmers’ markets in Westchester County. I find them enjoyable because I love to eat and cook with fresh, simple, and delicious ingredients, and I’m a homeschooling mother of three children. So our visits are a valuable teaching experience too.

As my children learn and grow, their skills in the kitchen improve, and it’s a joy to explore recipes together. From old family recipes to inventive new creations, the inspirations abound, and we love it all. Getting creative after a visit to the farmers’ market is learning at its best because there’s a connection with the food. For example, where it comes from, how it grows, the economic trail, and how it nourishes us. The talking points seem to be endless.

Farmers’ markets are great for connecting with our seasonal and local produce. They give us a pathway to the rhythm of the world around us. We enjoy our spring dairy and asparagus in plentitude. We anticipate strawberries in June, followed by cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and other wonderful and flavorful summer fruits. We anticipate the first sweet corn with joy. We relish the thought of jarring our first cucumbers for garlicky dill pickles.

Maybe it’s the romantic in me, but eating in season feels right. Getting your fill of the harvests as they present themselves is gratifying and grounding. Here are seven tips for getting the most out of your Westchester County farmers’ market visit.

1. Bring cash.

Most farmers’ markets are still a cash-only operations. Farmers operate out of a small cash till for the day, so remember that it’s also good to pay with the smallest bills you have. They will appreciate you as a considerate customer.

2. Talk to your farmer.

This is the time to connect and determine if the produce is organic. Finding out how it’s grown and knowing that pesticides may not have been used is just as good. After all, it can be pricy to get the organic certification. Sometimes the relationship with the farmer is all you need.

3. Bring bags and consider a cooler too.

With super slim margins for profit, the farmer will appreciate every penny saved. Plus, it’s a better thing for the environment. Also, don’t miss out on great deals on cheese, fish, or other perishables because you didn’t bring a cooler for the trip home.

4. Shop early for selection or late for deals.

You never know what you will discover, but beating the crowds isn’t always the best! Sometimes it’s better to wait for them to be done for the day and ready to unload.

5. Buy in quantity for better deals.

You can freeze many things for later use. If frozen in the supermarket, it can be frozen at a farmers’ market. You can also make large batches of sauces for easier meals down the road. Get creative.

6. Shop around.

Don’t hesitate to compare price and quality. Sometimes farmers with prime real estate at the market charge extra for those impulsive shoppers. That doesn’t always equate to the best deals.

7. Try something new.

Heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes and squash, are returning to farmers’farmers’You never know what might await you at the market, so be ready to get adventurous.

Enjoy the harvest and EAT because life is delicious.

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Arlene
Arlene equips moms with life rhythm tools and teachings to restore joy, sanity, and self - because when a mom can show up for her role from a place that’s full and vital - everyone wins. Arlene is an experienced career woman, wife, and homeschooling mother of three. She began the journey into health and wellness over 20 years ago when she cured her own IBS after conventional medicine failed (not one Doctor thought to ask about diet and lifestyle). Then, she became a mother and suffered from anxiety for the first time in her life when she became overwhelmed in her role. It wasn’t more information she needed, it was an application of smart and practical tools for living in a healthy life rhythm. So she built her tool kit to get back on track and started implementing new practices. Using experience as one of her greatest educator, combined with training, she helps moms restore, replenish, and revitalize their lives. Visit Arlene at https://arlenefigueroa.com/

2 COMMENTS

  1. Thanks so much for this list, Arelene. Even more, it was such a great reminder that farmer’smarkets can be a great learning experience for my kids too. And at least there will be no poptarts to beg me for at the farmers market. I’m also hoping you’ll share some of your storing and preserving secrets with us!

    • Glad you liked the article Leah! Yes, the markets are great learning experiences for kids. I capitalize every chance I get (and yes, there’s no poptarts). I’d be happy to share some recipes for preserving. Growing up in the middle of farm country in Pennsylvania, I learned to pickle and ferment just about anything 🙂

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