Spring is just around the corner and that means prime time for farmer’s markets. Some people have had the lucky opportunity to enjoy farmer’s markets all year round, but spring farmer’s markets can be the most enjoyable ones because, well, everything from fruits to flowers is growing!
Spring is just around the corner and that means prime time for farmer’s markets. Some people have had the lucky opportunity to enjoy farmer’s markets all year round, but spring farmer’s markets can be the most enjoyable ones because, well, everything from fruits to flowers is growing!
The spring weather certainly makes farmer’s market shopping a much more enjoyable experience, and the fresh, blooming flowers are a delight to look at. The Mother Nature Network recently published an article on three reasons to shop at spring farmer’s markets. One benefit they mentioned was that farmer’s markets, this time of year, offer nutrient dense wild greens that can’t commonly be found at grocery stores.
Second, farmer’s markets can help you kick start your own edible garden. Many offer vegetable starts and homemade gardening products such as fertilizer made from compost. The last reason they gave for why you should shop at spring farmer’s markets is that it helps support local farmers. By supporting local farmer’s you can help ensure that your community has access to whole, local foods. In the end this can help reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption because less food will need to be transported to grocery stores.
Some people shy away from farmer’s markets because they believe that the produce is more expensive than at grocery stores. According to an article published last year in the Seattle Times, veggies and fruits at farmer’s markets are comparable in price (or even less expensive) than at grocery stores.
Convinced? Here are some tips for shopping at farmer’s markets; these can help save you money!:
- Check out what is being offered first (and their prices), then decide on your purchases
- Seeing signs that say “first of the season!” may sound intriguing, but these items are usually more expensive and are not yet at the peak of their tastiest taste.
- Keep in mind when produce will expire. Foods that go bad quickly, like raspberries, are more expensive.
- Come with reusable and Ziploc bags! Bring water and paper towels to help keep certain produce like herbs and asparagus hydrated.
- Bring cash!
- The earlier you go, the more higher quality foods you will have available to you and the more options you will have.
- Have questions? Ask the farmer! Farmers are the best resources for tips and tricks since they are the ones that grow and cook with these foods.