It’s the middle of Summer and every farmer’s market is bursting at the seams with fresh produce, poultry, flowers, and fish. While visiting a neighborhood farmer’s market can be intimidating, it’s also your best bet for finding local, farm fresh food for you and your family.
However, sometimes it can be a tough place to navigate due to the crowds and multiple vendors. Bo and I thought it’d make your life a bit easier if we shared some of things we’ve learned over the past year while we’ve been visiting the Union Square Green Market on a weekly basis.
1. Go early in order to find the best selection. Yesterday we didn’t show up to the farmers market until noon and most of the seafood and poultry stands were already sold out. The key to finding fresh meat and seafood is showing up early in order to avoid crowds and have the best selection.
2. If you want the best deals on produce and baked goods, go late. If you’re looking for good deals, then you should go as late as possible as many stands mark down their prices towards the end of the day especially on baked goods and perishable items like too ripe fruit or flowers. 
3. Make a list ahead of time. If you tend to overspend or get overwhelmed by the wide array of products, put together a shopping list ahead of time. This will allow you to focus on what you really need without getting distracted or tempted to spend too much money.
4. Bring your own reusable bags! The great thing about reusable bags is that they can hold plenty of items without breaking. Yesterday we were stuck carrying five plastic bags filled to the brim with produce. It was awkward and we knew one could break at any minute. This fear caused us to walk all the way home with our first load of produce before coming back for more. It was a waste of time and very inconvenient! Next time we’ll go armed with multiple canvas bags! 
5. Take a walk around the farmers market before you make your first purchase. There are multiple booths which carry the same items. Yesterday I compared blueberry prices at 3 different booths before discovering a 2 or $4 special on blueberry pints at the fourth booth! There are some great deals to be found at a farmer’s market but you have to search sometimes.
6. Bring plenty of cash and keep it easily accessible! Most farmer’s markets do not accept check or credit card. Therefore, you need to have plenty of cash, preferably smaller denominations, when heading out to the farmer’s market. The last thing a vendor wants to worry about is counting change for a $50 when you only spent $7.25. In addition, if you have to search for money in your wallet and pockets, the vendor and other shoppers will quickly grow aggravated. 
7. Think twice about bringing your dog or stroller to the farmer’s market. While you’ll get plenty of sweet glances and stares, the space is often very tight and cramped between booths. You don’t want your dog to be responsible for knocking over a vendor’s prized tomatoes or running into a flower stand with your stroller. However, if you have no choice, then make sure to be aware of your surroundings and be respectful of other shoppers.
Love this. Now I wish it were already Sunday again! I go to the Sunday market in Baltimore and now that there’s a fight for summer produce, I definitely have to go really early. I’ve been going at 7:00am to make sure there’s still heirloom tomatoes!
#5 is my favorite part because I get coffee from the local coffee vendor and then take a lap and make my game plan. They are all great tips though! Farmers markets can be tough to navigate but I agree that they are worth it
@Megan: I love the idea of grabbing coffee and then making a lap- good idea!
I always find the farmers market (esp the one at union sq) intimated because there is always so much going on. Thanks for the tips! BTW – Those tomatoes look amazing!!
@Jen: I’m glad you liked the tips. Yes, the tomatoes have been part of every meal the last four days and are AMAZING!
and make friends with the farmers! they’ll let you know what’s up!
@Cat: Amen, making friends can mean great discounts and the inside scoop!
Have you ever been to the Haymarket Farmers Market in Boston? I was at school in Boston and it became part of my weekly routine to go Friday or Saturday 🙂 I completely agree with your suggestions- I used to go first thing in the morning if I was looking for some specific items, but frequently would wait until later in the day if I was just looking for a bargain- the vendors basically hand you the stuff for free! Another great time to go is when it’s raining- the tourists are preoccupied with indoor activities!
@Allison: No, I’ve never been to the Hamarket Farmers market. Hopefully when I’m up there in October to visit Tina we can go! Good call on the tourist suggestion as well!
Also learn the names of your favorite vendors. They’ll often tell you when something is ready to come into season or if they have a special bread or cheese soon.
@Cynthia: That is a great idea and something I’ve yet to do. I really want to get to know the fish monger as his booth is our favorite!!
I’m so jealous of all of the Farmer Markets you have in your area (guess that’s one of the perks of living in NYC!). We have a few in Orlando, but nothing compared to what you’ve posted above. Great tips!!