Farmers’ Market Visit

Farmers’ markets are great places to visit throughout the year. You can enjoy the fresh air and get a week’s worth of fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, and even dairy to complete your plate. You can find your local farmers’ market by using the website, http://marylandsbest.net/. This a great resource for locating markets, searching for a specific food items, and more!

When heading to your farmers’ market, expect to see tables and vendors selling all kinds of food items. Talk to the vendors in order to find out where their farm is located, the farm’s growing practices, or any additional information. Get to know one vendor to build a relationship with them. They may share more tips and maybe even recipes. Vendors can also give you tips on how to transport and store your food purchases for quality and safety. Be sure to be selective when finding produce and other foods to bring home.

When visiting a farmers market:

• Visit soon after the market has opened. The earlier you go the better selection there will be.
• Bring bags or even a rolling cart to carry the produce you buy.
• Bring a cooler if you are going to be purchasing items like meat, eggs, or dairy products that need to stay cold.
• Eat before you go to the farmers market so you are not shopping while hungry.
• Bring cash, small bills and coins. This will make the process go faster when paying.
• Farmers markets are typically outside so dress comfortably and on sunny days make sure to wear sunscreen and even a hat.
• Do not ask to lower prices, the vendors work hard and may be insulted by bartering for a lower price. 

Farmers’ markets are a great place to explore and try new things. Don’t be afraid to buy something you've never tried and experiment with it!