{"id":440,"date":"2012-11-15T13:17:42","date_gmt":"2012-11-15T21:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adamjacksonphoto.com\/life_and_health\/?p=41"},"modified":"2021-12-14T14:24:28","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T22:24:28","slug":"farmers-markets-a-field-guide-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeandhealth.org\/lifestyle\/farmers-markets-a-field-guide-part-ii\/13440.html","title":{"rendered":"Farmers Markets: A Field Guide, Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"

I strongly dislike shopping. After spending an afternoon wandering a too brightly lit mall with nothing other than a lukewarm cup of overpriced tea from a kiosk, the hours feel wasted, and I feel frustrated. There\u2019s no better way to feel like a conscienceless consumer.<\/p>\n

But when I\u2019m filling a tote bag with crisp fall apples, their unwaxed speckled skins rolling around, I get excited at the colorful, edible array of possibilities that stretch beyond the line of farmers market stands. Your gaze ping-pongs to the tempting red of the nearby pomegranates, to the bright orange of the (surprise) oranges, to the subtle yellow of the quinces piled beside the fragrant bundles of cilantro, and your mouth opens slightly in surprised awe. Your hand, holding the produce list for the week, drops to your side. Could you really be enjoying your grocery shopping errand?<\/p>\n

Yes.<\/p>\n

However, you might also feel a bit overwhelmed. Depending on when you make your pilgrimage to this promised land of healthful eating, the market might seem more packed with people than produce. Edging around the man waving his Brussels sprout tree like a trophy, your basket is empty, but the scavenger hunt has just begun, and you\u2019re up against some stiff competition. Rather than wandering the perimeter slightly bewildered and more than a little frustrated, here are a few pointers on making the most of your farmers\u2019 market experience.<\/p>\n

1. The Proper Prep Work<\/h3>\n

a. Find a farmers market near you.<\/em>
\nNot sure where the closest farmers market is? Visit a source like LocalHarvest<\/a>\u2019s to find out. Click the bubble beside \u201cFarmers\u2019 Markets\u201d in the \u201cWhat are you looking for?\u201d box, then type in your location in the box below \u201cWhere?\u201d to view farmers markets in your area.<\/p>\n

b. Bring an ice chest and possibly ice in hot weather.<\/em>
\nIf you plan to leave your produce in the car for more than half an hour in warm weather, storing items in a cooler location helps prevent premature bruising or wilting. This is especially important for soft or fragile produce, like strawberries or cilantro.<\/p>\n

c. Carry plenty of small bills and change.<\/em>
\nMost farmers markets only accept cash, so you\u2019ll want enough of it. Note that some markets also accept food stamps. Change can also come in handy when you have to pay to park your car.<\/p>\n

d. Know how much you want to spend\u2014but be flexible.<\/em>
\nSet a budget for your shopping, but if an exceptional deal on, say, apples, which will keep for many weeks, comes up, consider spending now to save later. Specialty items, like locally baked bread or pastries, may be more expensive\u2014but also a special treat you should make room for, at least once in a while.<\/p>\n

e. Check what\u2019s in your fridge already.<\/em>
\nUnless you\u2019re doing a taste test of store-bought tomatoes and local heirloom tomatoes, try not to double up on the same items; look at the produce you currently have.<\/p>\n

f. Plan your menu for the week.<\/em>
\n\u2026or at least think about what you\u2019ll cook or eat throughout the week. This helps ensure that you and your family will be able to enjoy the produce at its peak, rather than having to throw it away because you couldn\u2019t use it soon enough.<\/p>\n

g. Plan when to go.<\/em>
\nGo close to opening or closing time, but don\u2019t go in the middle of the market schedule. It\u2019s likely to be busy without any other advantages. If you go early, the market will probably be less crowded, with a better selection of produce. The cons are that you\u2019ll be paying full price for your purchases (and you might have to wake up fairly early). If you visit the market close to closing time, the location will probably be more crowded, and selection might be limited (more people have pawed through the produce), but you may get a better deal on remaining items, as farmers want to avoid taking extra produce back home at their own expense.<\/p>\n

2. In the Thick of It<\/h3>\n

a. Park in the shade if the weather is warm (see 1.b for related advice).<\/em><\/p>\n

b. Before seriously shopping, walk around the market once.<\/em>
\nPay attention to 1) what\u2019s available out of the items on your list, 2) approximate prices for the items you want. For example, you don\u2019t want to pay extra for fresh strawberries, just because they\u2019re at the stand closest to the entrance.<\/p>\n

c. Consider when you\u2019re going to buy what (no winter squash on top of fresh herbs).<\/em>
\nYour first priority might be purchasing blueberries (this is mine!), but they shouldn\u2019t be the first item in your bag. They\u2019ll be the last thing you want to eat when you recover their crushed remains later, buried beneath a heavy load of butternut squash, Asian pears and perhaps a few rutabagas. Plan to buy more fragile produce, like herbs and berries, last, and layer them carefully in your bag\u2014or even better, separate bags. You don\u2019t want to invent a fruit-and-vegetable lasagna in your tote.<\/p>\n

d. Talk to the farmers.<\/em>
\nThese people know their produce. And, if the line of customers behind you isn\u2019t too long, they\u2019re happy to tell you about their merchandise. If you come regularly to their stand, you might get to know the vendors a bit better, and have an \u201cin\u201d on the latest agricultural news. You never know when this could come in handy.<\/p>\n

Best questions to ask?<\/strong><\/p>\n