15 June 2011

How to Navigate Your Local Farmers’ Market and What to Buy

Contributor Post

For today’s post, meet YN contributor Blair T.! She’s a 21-year-old student and writer who loves to cook (and write about) healthy food. She spent last summer as an intern on an organic farm, learning and teaching kids all about growing healthy, delicious, and sustainable produce.

I know it’s probably getting hard to keep track of all the new contributors, so my AMAZINGSUPERGENIUS designer/developer Jona is working on a new section for the blog that will showcase everyone!

In her first post, Blair talks farmers’ markets — a place everyone should get familiar with if they’re lucky enough to have access to one. Read on to hear Blair’s tips and favorite things to buy at her local market.

YNC Contributor
Blair T.

Lots of people look forward to the beginning of summer for a chance to take a vacation break, finish up finals, or just enjoy some long-awaited sunshine. My favorite part of summer, though, is farmers’ market season coming in full swing.

More and more markets are cropping up around the country, and whether you’re looking to eat healthfully, sustainably, or both, it’s hard to go wrong with a trip to the farmers’ market. These days, markets offer more than just produce — many can boast local meats, cheeses, eggs, and speciality products like jams and honey — but for a newbie shopper, they can be a little intimidating. Here are a few of my tips to making your first or fiftieth farmers’ market visit a delicious success.

• Plan ahead. Look up a farmers’ market near you by doing a search on localharvest.org, or look around for flyers or newspaper ads. Many markets are open several times a week, and usually at least one weekend day. When market day arrives, stock up with some cash (not all vendors will take a credit card) and a reusable bag or cart for your goodies. If you’ve got a long way to travel or a hot car ride between the market and home, consider bringing a small cooler or an ice pack for perishables. Remember: arrive early for the best selection, or later for the best bargains. Either way, it’s hard to go wrong—just don’t wait til the last minute!
• Scope out the scene. Even small farmers’ markets can be tricky to find your way through, but a quick once-around will let you get a feel for what’s being offered and what you might want to buy. Keep an eye out for multiple stands with the same produce — just because one vendor has asparagus doesn’t mean they have the cheapest (or tastiest!).

• Be flexible. A farmers’ market isn’t like the local Megamart. You might not get tomatoes year-round or find the exact cut of pork that you want. The upside is that when things do appear at the market, it means they’re really in season, which means fresher and more flavorful. And prices are not always going to be cheap, so be prepared for a bit of sticker shock and coming home with a little less than you might usually. That said, don’t avoid the market because you think you’ll go broke — recent surveys have shown that most products tend to be cheaper when bought directly at a farmers’ market.
• Speak up. Don’t know what kohlrabi is? Wondering how to prepare a grass-fed steak? Don’t be afraid to ask! The farmers and vendors at markets love what they do and know lots about it, and I’ve learned tons of great tips and recipes just by making conversation. But be polite — no one likes to hear that their produce is too expensive or that the apples at the supermarket are bigger. Try asking what their favorite vegetable or cut of meat is, and then listen and learn!
• Try new things. Farmers’ markets are a great way to experiment with unfamiliar fruits and vegetables, or step out of a flavor rut with artisanal cheeses or new herbs. Don’t hesitate to pick up something that’s unusual just because you’ve never had it before. With the high standards of most smaller farms, you know you’ll be getting great quality. If you’re unsure, you can always ask (politely!) for a sample — if they aren’t offering them already!
• Set a budget. It’s very easy to get carried away and end up with way more food than you can cook before it goes bad. If it’s your first time, you might consider giving yourself a budget, either of cash ($40 total) or a certain chunk of your food shopping for the week (half of your produce ingredients). Don’t feel like you need to buy everything from the farmers’ market alone — remember, everything you buy is a vote with your dollar.

Here are a few things that are definitely worth buying at the Farmers’ Market instead of the grocery store:

• Meats: More likely than not, they’ll be from sustainably and humanely raised animals. And I’ve yet to have tastier bacon than the kind that comes straight from the farm!

• Eggs: If you’ve never had a farm-fresh egg, you are seriously missing out—chickens raised in free-range environments get a wider variety of nutrients too!
• Heirloom tomatoes: I hated tomatoes until I tried a real tomato from a local farm. Heirlooms are bred from seeds that are handed down for years and come in all kinds of amazing colors and flavors.

• Berries: Peak berry season is coming up in many parts of the country, so take advantage and stock up!
• Honey: Even though its allergy-curing properties have been debunked, honey from neighboring bees still has a delicious flavor unique to their area.
• Prepared foods: Pasta sauces, jams, and breads might be a bit of a splurge (both health- and budget-wise), but if you’re going to go for it, you might as well make it the best quality. I always get apple butter, which I love but don’t have time to make myself, and never has any weird ingredients either.