If you are looking to ditch the grocery store, farmer’s markets are an incredible place to start! Here are a few tips to get your hands on local food from a local farmer’s market.
If homesteading has taught me anything, it’s that relying on the local community is a necessity. I simply can’t produce everything on my own homestead!
Because of that, I rely on local farmers (both in my county and within my state) for goods that my family uses and cherishes every year.
My local farmers’ markets are the best way I can get in-season produce, support my farming community, and feed my family well. If you’re looking to accomplish the same things, here are a few things to think about before you head to the market.
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Photo by Will FqkrXYMosT4 via Unsplash.
Research Your Local Farmers’ Market
I live in Arkansas, and a lot of these tips are going to be focused on people who live in the same state or region.
However, there are some things that differ by state. And it’s important that you familiarize yourself with those differences!
For example, cottage-food laws differ by state. As do the requirements for producing and selling raw goods in each state (like raw milk).
Each market also has its own rules and regulations. I visit several farmers’ markets in my area, and I can always find a social media page or website that lets me know whether or not it’s pet-friendly, what kind of legal tender they accept (including federal and state food stamp benefits), and what the severe weather policy is.
Start researching before you even go!
Do Your Research to Understand a Fair Price
Very rarely have I ever attended a market and not gawked at the price of goods. I tell myself the same thing every time, “I could make that for so much cheaper!”
I get home and start doing the research, and realize wow, no wonder they charged so much!
When you realize the time, resources, planning, marketing, and other efforts that go into creating a product, you can better understand why a producer charges what they do. And that’s important – farmers’ markets can sometimes be pricier than the grocery store!
That’s where you can better understand how a product is made or why a farmer would need to charge more during a drought or a decrease in production. Even understanding your local food system can help you understand where a farmer is coming from!
Does this farmer support local restaurants, too? Do they sell to multiple markets in the area? Knowing your farmers and where your food is coming from can help you understand things like pricing.
Know Your Seasonal Produce
Farmers’ markets are hyperlocal to your food system. That means what grows seasonally for your region is what will be represented.
For my region, peak berry season is April to June. Sometimes we get a full six weeks of berry production. Some years, we only get three weeks. Since I rely on local berries to make my jam, I need to know when those berries go in season!
Understanding this will also curb my shock when I can’t find something like apples or squash at the farmer’s market in May. They aren’t there because those are fall produce. They aren’t technically available year-round! This is where the grocery store is inhibiting your understanding of what’s the freshest food possible.
Even if you don’t get to your local farmers’ markets, research what produce is in season for your area. If you shop for that food at your grocery store right now, it’s going to be cheaper because it’s in season.
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Photo by Will FqkrXYMosT4 via Unsplash.
Is it better to shop at a grocery store or a farmer’s market?
Our family likes to abide by the good, better, best rule. We ask ourselves, given where we are in life and the resources that we have, what is the best decision we could make for our family?
Sometimes, that looks like a grocery pick-up order on the way home from church. Other times, it looks like exclusively shopping for organic produce from our local farmers’ co-op.
So to answer the question, “Is it better to shop at a grocery store or a farmer’s market?” you need to ask yourself, what is best for your family with the resources that you have?
Maybe you’re like us, and you have food allergies that can only be accommodated by the farmer’s market. Maybe you enjoy fresh produce that’s locally grown, and you’re willing to budget the money for it.
Wherever you are in life, I hope that you’re doing what’s best for your family with the resources that you have.
Even More Farmer’s Market Tips
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
If you want the freshest produce, be the first at your farmer’s market! This is a commitment, because some farmers’ markets open at 7 am.
However, you won’t only be getting the freshest produce. You’ll also beat the heat of the day and avoid crowds.
Not Everything is Organic
Don’t let the notion that food being fresh means it’s organic. Organic produce is often grown, regulated, and sold differently than food that’s been treated for bugs or disease.
If you are prioritizing an organic diet, it’s crucial that you ask the farmers at your farmers’ markets if the food is organic.
Bring Your Own Bags
Bring your own produce bags, or even plastic bags, with you to the farmer’s market! Some vendors may provide these, but by and large, they are not provided for you.
You come for the food – you need a way to carry it out.
When I head to the farmer’s market, and I know I’m walking away with quite a bit of food, I will bring a wagon or a larger bag with me to haul my goods away. If your farmer’s market has meat or dairy vendors, consider bringing a cooler bag to keep your goods fresh.
Warmer Temperatures May Mean Peak Season
In our area, many farmers’ markets operate from April to October. This is the peak growing season for our area.
Research your farmers’ markets to see if they only operate during peak season. If some do operate during the winter, the landscape of the market may change. Farm fresh goods may be replaced by things like soap or bread. Winter markets may be held indoors at a different location.
You Can Negotiate for Lower Prices
Locally grown produce might cost more than commercially grown produce. However, there are a few ways you can negotiate for a lower price.
First, try asking for seconds, or damaged or cosmetically poor produce. This is a product that is totally fine, but has to be discounted because of the way it looks. I make jam annually using local strawberries, and I always ask for seconds.
I can get the same amount of strawberries for almost half the price simply by choosing strawberries that don’t look great. This works out great for me because these strawberries are going into jam or will be frozen whole. If I were using these to submit a pie to the county fair, I would not choose second-string strawberries.
Second, try purchasing in bulk. Some farmers may offer a discount for bulk purchases.
These are Genuine Homemade Goods – Understanding Cottage Laws
Many of the things produced at a farmer’s market are produced by people like you and me. That means that the kitchens where their items are produced aren’t inspected by the state.
Enter in – cottage laws.
Cottage laws are state-specific regulations that allow individuals to produce homemade foods directly to consumers without a commercial kitchen.
Here in Arkansas, our cottage laws require items sold to be stable at room temperature. That means I can sell my farm-fresh eggs, but I can’t sell my jam (it’s freezer jam).
If you live in Arkansas but want to sell jam, it has to be processed or canned. Canned jam is shelf-stable and thus safe to sell under Arkansas cottage food laws.
These Are Small Farms – Not Retail Operations
If you are looking for a one-stop shop for all of your weekly grocery shopping, a farmer’s market is not what you’re looking for.
Don’t get me wrong – there are huge markets where a variety of vendors congregate and sell their goods. Stall by stall, you can admire the salad greens, farm fresh eggs, and meat.
But for a smaller market, you might be looking at a handful of vendors, and they all specialize in produce. A farmer’s market may be harder to find all of your weekly staples at.
If that’s the case, be prepared to stop at the grocery store on the way home. Or you can consider shopping in bulk from places like Azure Standard.
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Photo by Kyle Nieber via Unsplash.
You Can Befriend Your Market Manager
The market manager is usually the person responsible for organizing space, time, and vendors at your local farmer’s market. And unlike your grocery store manager, you can actually befriend them directly.
This is a great way to understand the ins and outs of your market. As a vendor, this is the connection to make to understand how to switch from consumer to vendor for the market you want to be involved with.
Homesteading has an incredible community!
The community of people growing their own food and supporting others is warm, welcoming, and always looking to encourage others.
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