- Share This Post
- submit
- 22
-
Sparkle (0)
Spring's arrival means the return of flip flops and short sleeves but for the 'foodies' among us, spring means the much-welcome return of fresh vegetables and fruits at our local farmers markets. With so much emphasis on frugal shopping, healthful diets and local, organic eating, more and more farmers markets are -- ahem -- cropping up. With the new markets come new shoppers, many first-time visitors. I've been shopping at farmers markets since the early 1980s and love to visit new markets when I travel. So I thought I'd pass along a few strategies for shopping at farmers markets.
The most important thing to know is that, as obvious as it might seem, a farmers market is not a grocery store -- it's not even the best "produce department" you've ever encountered.
So before we can even think about shopping at a farmers market, we have to consider what many (most?) of us are accustomed to, the corner grocery store, the modern supermarket, the mammoth warehouse store.
Every time we shop at one of these stores, we participate in a global food distribution system that (among other things) imports fresh produce from all over the world. It's an amazing system: Missouri has no grapefruit, no Meyer lemons, no artichokes. So without an international -- national! -- distribution system, we'd miss out on many treasures.
But these stores also warp our expectations. We have been taught that it's 'normal' to expect the full range of fresh vegetables and fruits all year round. So many of us have lost touch with the seasonality of produce (and meat and dairy, too, but that's another story). If we ever knew, we've forgotten which vegetables and fruits are in season during which month. Our eyes and our tastebuds don't recognize what really fresh produce looks -- and tastes -- like.
Photo by Alanna Kellogg
Okay -- now that we understand how our instincts are out of whack, we're ready to learn about what to expect from a farmers market and how to get the most out of the experience.
PLAN YOUR WEEK Most farmers markets are held on Saturday mornings. But as more and more markets emerge, there are midweek markets too. If you miss a Saturday, no problem, there may be a Wednesday or Thursday market too, often held late afternoon and early evening. Local Harvest is a great way to find the farmers markets near you.
ARRIVE EARLY For the best selection, arrive early. In my hometown market, this means no later than nine o'clock on Saturday mornings but even then, some times my favorite romano beans are already gone.
VISIT OFTEN Every week, there will be new surprises, this is one of the great joys of exploring a farmers market, getting to know who sells what, when. I am soooo looking forward to the Scharf Farm asparagus come mid-May. Over the years, I've learned that Scharf's asparagus is the most tender and sweet.
TALK TO THE GROWER "What would you do with these tiny okra?" "Will you still have lettuce next week?" "Is this the last week for broccoli?" "When do you think you'll have the first peaches?" "My kids loved the chard last week."
LEARN THE SEASONS For some of us, the opening of the farmers markets means "Yay, finally we can get good tomatoes!" But tomatoes are summer crops, not spring crops. (And think about it, we know, don't we? that summer comes earlier in Florida than in Missouri?) In Missouri, we see good Arkansas tomatoes in early July but our own tomatoes won't show up until later in the month but then will last well into September and even early October. So don't expect tomatoes in April and May unless you live in Florida. And don't expect asparagus and strawberries in the fall unless you live in the Southern hemisphere.
LEARN WHAT'S LOCAL Unless you live in California, don't expect to find artichokes at the farmers market. Missouri doesn't grow blueberries or cherries so these -- luckily -- I can get at the grocery store.
BE PREPARED FOR LIMITED SELECTION A farmers market is more like a thrift store or a good garage sale than a grocery store. There is what there is. If you like the looks of something, buy it now, the season may end in a few days. Or a big hailstorm next week may damage the crop. In fact, don't judge a farmers market by
