Wondering how to shop at farmers markets to make the most of them? Learn all about how to put your lovely produce to the best use with these top 6 farmers market shopping tips.
There’s no doubt about it, a visit to your local farmers market is a great way to spend a summer morning. A kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and a mélange of earthy aromas awaits you. But sometimes that can be a problem. It’s tempting to consider your farmers’ market more of an open air art exhibit, rather than a shopping experience. And it can be a challenge to figure out what to do with so many unusual fruits and vegetables, from purple carrots to wild greens. No wonder you often spy empty-handed “window shoppers” at farmers’ markets. But before you get intimidated, take heart. Your local farmers market can serve as an inspiration for delicious, healthy meals that focus on whole plant foods all year long. And farmers markets offer many more benefits than meet the eye.
“The fundamental benefit of a farmers market is the one that is least visible and perhaps the most poignant in today’s current polarizing environment: farmers markets keep the tax base closest to home. Dollars spent locally with vendors who grow and operate in a local community, benefit a local community,” says Amanda Archibald, R.D., dietitian and founder of Field to Plate, a food education company that focuses on sustainable, fresh foods.
Archibald explains that farmers markets also allow you to take part in a conversation on foods. When you visit a booth at the farmers market, you can ask the farmer where and how he or she grew the food. That’s difficult to do in the supermarket produce aisle. Best of all? “Farmers markets deliver nutrient-rich, flavorful food harvested a few short hours before your purchase it. Most farmers markets get food to your plate without the need for a ‘sell by’ date,” says Archibald. If your refrigerator is stocked with nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, picked at their flavor and nutrient peak, you’re more likely to include more antioxidant-rich, disease-protective fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.
With so many reasons to shop at your local farmers market, it’s time to schedule your next trip with this handy guide. Wondering where to find your nearest farmers market? Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s listing of farmers markets here.
Top 6 Farmers Market Shopping Tips
Try these tips to turn your next farmers market shopping experience into a success.
1. Buy Produce that Appeals to You
While it’s great to try new things, it’s also important to consider which fruits and vegetables, as well as how much, your family will consume over the week to reduce food waste. So, start with familiar produce that will make everyone happy.
2. Do Some Pre-Planning
If you’re not a cook who can master preparing any produce you bring home, learn what’s in season before you visit the farmers’ market in order to be ready with some basic ideas of ingredients you’d like to purchase for your favorite dishes. For example, if you want to make a stir-fry this week, think about the veggies that will suit this dish.
3. Keep it Fresh
Once you’re home with your produce bounty, keep it fresh with these tips:
- Soak all leafy greens, then pat or spin dry before storing in refrigerator.
- Refrigerate berries and wash just before serving.
- If fruit is very ripe, eat immediately or slow down ripening by refrigerating it (note that refrigeration can make some fruits, like peaches, mealy).
- Plan to enjoy the most perishable produce first, such as leafy greens, berries, stone fruit, mushrooms, and peas, and save the more storage-friendly foods, such as potatoes, carrots, beets, celery, cabbage, citrus, apples, to use later in the week.
4. Make Easy Farmers Markets Meals
Turn any seasonal fruit or vegetable purchase into a shining success with these culinary techniques:
- Drizzle a simple vinaigrette dressing over beautiful salad greens.
- Prepare greens by boiling, steaming, or sautéing with a small amount of olive oil, herbs and garlic.
- Roast a variety of fresh summer vegetables (as well as root vegetables during the winter) in a shallow, oven-proof dish; drizzle with a simple dressing, and roast at 400 F until crisp-tender.
- Preserve fresh berries by freezing them or making jams and jellies to extend the season.
- Preserve stone fruit like plums, peaches or cherries by freezing or canning—to enjoy them all year long.
5. Waste Not!
If you end up buying too much produce, plan on preserving it or share it with a friend or neighbor before it spoils. If it spoils before you can use it, compost it and give it back to the Earth it came from. Learn more about composting in my free garden toolkit here and check out my tips on reducing food waste here.
6. Stock up on Farmer Market Friendly Cookbooks
Include a few great cookbooks that focus on fruits and vegetables in your library, including my own book California Vegan. Here are some other classic cookbooks to search for:
Farmers Market Recipes
Try these easy, healthy delicious farmers market recipes for inspiration.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with Pistachios
Celery Juice with Fresh Rosemary
Pesto Fusili Pasta Salad with Corn and Tomatoes
Radish Salad with Cantaloupe and Pumpkin Seeds
Barley Vegetable Stone Soup
Blueberry Buckwheat Bowl with Rosemary Balsamic Vinaigrette
Best Avocado Toast
Lime Dill Roasted Asparagus
Italian Zucchini Boats with Vegan Pesto
Coconut Almond Strawberry Coffee Cake
Check out these blogs on farmers markets and local foods:
Written by Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN
Main Image: Ojai farmers market
