Shopping at a farmers’ market is a great way to eat healthier and support local agriculture, but if you’ve ever been to one, you know that the food isn’t cheap.<\/p>\n
When you’re used to fairly inexpensive tomatoes from the supermarket, the price of locally-grown, heirloom tomatoes can be a bit of a shock, leading some consumers to wonder what makes the market tomatoes so much pricier.<\/p>\n
The thing is, the farmers’ market prices are the true cost of food. In Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food<\/a><\/em>, author Bryan Walsh writes:<\/p>\n The U.S. agricultural industry can now produce unlimited quantities of meat and grains at remarkably cheap prices. But it does so at a high cost to the environment, animals, and humans…our food is increasingly bad for us, even dangerous. A series of recalls involving contaminated foods [in 2009] \u2014 including an outbreak of salmonella from tainted peanuts that killed at least eight people and sickened 600 \u2014 has consumers rightly worried about the safety of their meals. A food system \u2014 from seed to 7\u00e2\u20ac\u2018Eleven \u2014 that generates cheap, filling food at the literal expense of healthier produce is also a principal cause of America’s obesity epidemic.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Cheap food is often unhealthy food, but most of us have a bottom line, a household budget of some sort that we have to keep in mind. There are ways to make farmers’ market food work within your budget, though.<\/strong> Use the following tips to make the most of your market purchases.<\/p>\n Farmers don’t want to pack up leftover goods and drive them back to the farm, especially perishables like fruit and produce. You’re likely to find farmers discounting their goods if you arrive closer to closing. Because farmers work long, labor-intensive hours, my preference is to not haggle, but many vendors don’t mind at all.<\/p>\n If it’s your first time at a market, go to the information booth. The volunteers will alert you to deals, coupons, and other specials. Some markets have frequent buyer programs that give discounts to regulars. My city has a “Go Local” card that can be purchased for $10 and offers discounts at the market and at most local businesses around town.<\/p>\n The information booth is a good place to ask about a tasting booth, as well. Usually vendors are not permitted to offer samples at their booth, but can provide samples at a designated sampling table. Finally, the information booth at some markets functions as an ATM if you don’t have cash and some even accept food stamp cards.<\/p>\n If you want to get the inside track at the market, befriend the vendors. Take a few minutes to say hello and chat about the produce. Also, make their lives easier by keeping in mind the following:<\/p>\n One time a vendor lowered my bill just because he was happy to receive so many one-dollar bills!<\/p>\n If you can’t afford to buy all of your groceries at the market, decide how much you can spend and stick to that. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Start with fruits and vegetables, which are inexpensive in comparison to specialty items like bread, seasoned meat, jam, honey, and olive oil.<\/p>\n Local isn’t cheap, so make sure your groceries make it home. As you shop, pack your bags carefully, taking obvious precautions, such as packing the heavier items at the bottom of the bag. Plan ahead if you’re going to buy anything that comes in a glass bottle or jar, such as olive oil, vinegar, and jam, to prevent breakage. Finally, if you need to run other errands after going to the market, bring a cooler and ice to keep items frozen and\/or refrigerated.<\/p>\n It’s easier said than done, but a good way to make your market dollars stretch is to actually eat what you’ve bought. I still struggle with this sometimes, but a few pointers that reduce the amount of food lost to spoilage include the following:<\/p>\n Finally, know what to do with persimmons. Okay, not persimmons specifically, but make sure you know what you can do with the food that you buy, or it’s likely to sit in the pantry until it has to be thrown out. Buy cookbooks ordered by seasons. Two of my favorites are Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America’s Farmers’ Markets<\/em> and <\/a>Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life<\/em><\/a>, but there are a lot of good ones out there.<\/p>\n Another great resource is Epicurious<\/a>: Just type in the ingredient (like persimmons<\/a>) and pick a recipe that appeals to you. The best resource of all, however, is the farmers themselves. Some have recipe cards at their booth, but even if they don’t, ask them for advice, and you’re sure to get an earful.<\/p>\n The poultry vendor at my market was a chef in the south of France. You can bet I get great advice from him, and I’m not about to let food spoil after he’s given me so many mouth-watering ideas. Just be willing to come back the next week to share how it went with them!<\/p>\n What about you? Do you shop at a farmers’ market? Do you have any tips to save money and stretch your dollars at the market? Also see How to Eat Healthy While Keeping it Cheap<\/a> for additional tips on how to eat healthy on a budget.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Shopping at a farmers’ market is a great way to eat healthier and support local agriculture, but if you’ve ever been to one, you know that the food isn’t cheap.<\/p>\n When you’re used to fairly inexpensive tomatoes from the supermarket, the price of locally-grown, heirloom tomatoes can be a bit of a shock, leading some consumers to wonder what makes the market tomatoes so much pricier.<\/p>\n<\/span>Go Early for the Best Selection, Arrive Late for the Best Deals<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Stop by the Information Booth First<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Make Friends with the Farmers<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/span>Prioritize Your Purchases<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Properly Pack Your Groceries as You Shop<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Don’t Let Food Go to Waste<\/span><\/h2>\n
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