I am so looking forward to the time of year when I can do the bulk of my food shopping in the great outdoors! It’s such a pleasure to go to the farmers market first and then “fill in” at the supermarket. Personally I think it’s harder to go wrong at the farmers market than at the supermarket. To ensure that you have a good experience if you aren’t a pro yet, here are the answers to some of the most common questions I get asked:
Food at farmers' market is always more expensive, right?
Not necessarily! According to a study by NOFA, comparisons of conventionally raised produce on average are priced the same at supermarkets and farmers markets alike. Produce purchased at farmers markets may actually be cheaper than at the grocery store. Certainly the produce is fresher and, once you've tasted locally grown produce and meat, eggs and cheese from animals that are well-cared for, any extra cost is very well worth it!
Why go to two places to shop when you could get it all at the supermarket?
The quick and easy answer is fresher fruits, vegetables, meat, and eggs. The food from your local farmers market is, quite frankly, fresher. Because it was grown/raised locally, there is a good chance that the greens you buy from the farmer were picked yesterday and pretty certain the animals were grass fed and treated humanely! This is impossible to be sure of in a supermarket. The closest you can come is produce and meat that is labeled “organic”. Maybe one day we will see “local” sections in our supermarkets.
Everything at the farmers market is local and organic, right?
Statistics say that most of the food you buy at the supermarket travels over 1,500 miles to reach your plate. And just because you shop at a farmers market doesn’t mean that all of the food is local or raised organically. While many markets insist that the food must be grown by the farmers themselves, with distance limits to market, this isn’t always the rule. The same can be said for organic practices. At my local farmers markets in Annapolis, MD, the people I shop from welcome questions and have the location of their farm posted where everyone can see it. As for organic or what their animals are fed and how they are raised, all I had to do was ask. They happily answered all of my questions and then some! And just wait til you taste the difference!
Will I actually meet real farmers?
For sure. You know your hairdresser, your doctor, your favorite barista, your car mechanic or the staff at the gym, right? Shouldn’t you know your local farmers as well? While not every stand will be staffed by a farmer (after all, they have crops and animals to tend to) chances are you’ll meet plenty of producers at your local market. They are a wealth of knowledge about both where to get related products and how to use the ones they sell. And it feels really good to know that your dollars are going to support your local farmers!
Are markets always seasonal?
Pretty much. Although as interest in shopping at farmers markets has grown their selling seasons have been extended. The offerings during cold weather in my climate tend to be less extensive and the hours shorter, but I think being outside is a great reason to shop at the farmers market all year round. It can occasionally be frustrating if you can’t find what you were expecting but you will be filling in at the supermarket anyway, right? Sometimes I find delicious and unexpected things and tweak my weekly menu accordingly. And seasonality is a great indication that your food is authentically sourced; for example, cantaloupes aren't going to grow in New England in February. Eating seasonally isn’t just about pumpkins at Halloween or turkeys at Thanksgiving. When you explore your local farmers market, you’ll also be exploring your local food landscape.
So grab a few reusable grocery bags (of course) and head to a farmers market near you! You won’t be sorry you did!