May 28, 2024
Visiting your local farmers market is a double-win: A fun excursion and a great way to get connected to fresh, local, and healthy food.
Check your local events calendar or search “farmers market near me” to see where farmers markets will pop up. Saturday is a popular day for farmers markets, but cities and suburban areas are increasingly offering shopping opportunities on weekday afternoons and evenings. You can sign up for emails or texts to remind you of when and where your favorite farmers markets are open for business.
Farmers markets are a perfect destination for your next road trip, too. If you’re headed out on a vacation, plan ahead to venture off the interstate and shop regional produce. You’ll find snacks—or even a whole meal—far better than what’s on offer at the gas station or fast-food restaurant.
To make the most of your farmers market adventure, keep these shopping tips in mind:
01
BYOB(ags)
Two bags are best—an insulated tote for items like eggs, meat, fish or cheese, for example, and a regular sturdy, reusable bag for produce.
Also, be sure to bring a couple of different payment options. Most farmers market vendors will likely take credit cards, but you might want to be prepared with some cash (in small denominations to eliminate the need for getting change back) for speedier checkouts.
02
Go early
You’ll get the best selection, plus leave time in your day to clean, prep, and properly put away any produce when you get home.
03
Get to know the market
Do a quick tour of all the vendors when you arrive, scanning the goods to see what looks best. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the delicious options, so think about the week ahead and shop with your menus in mind.
04
Mingle!
Get to know farmers (and their customers), too.
Vendors can offer you tips on proper storage and preparation, advice on what produce is peaking, and may even offer a free sample. Strike up conversation with other shoppers, too, and get some scoop on what’s especially tasty that day. Part of the fun of a farmers market is enjoying the company of your fellow foodies.
05
Be adventuresome
Your farmers market is the perfect venue for culinary exploration.
If you run across a vendor offering something you’ve never tried (or even heard of) ask about it to learn more. You’ll likely see artisans who have crafted cheese or sauces and dips that will make amazing partners to the produce or proteins you’re already buying.
And don’t reject irregular or “ugly” produce—you might find a bargain.
06
Prep properly
When you arrive home with your haul, you’ll want to immediately refrigerate any purchases that should stay cold. It’s also a good time to inspect and wash your produce.
If it’s the weekend, take advantage of extra time to peel and chop produce for easy meal prep later.
While farmers markets offer fresh, locally grown fruits and veggies, produce can still be contaminated with Salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria. Always wash your hands first and use separate cutting boards for produce and raw meat to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
A final thought: If you have kids, bringing them along to the farmers market is a good lesson on where our food comes from and can be educational in other ways, too. Talk to them about the colors of the fruits and vegetables, ask them to do the math on purchases, and introduce them to your community’s farmers. Having extra hands to carry those bags can’t hurt, either.
Bonus Recipe!
Depending on what’s fresh at your farmer’s market, you can try different vegetables and herbs with these kabobs.
Consider also skewering your favorite protein—chicken, fish, shrimp, or beef—alongside vegetable kabobs and serve on rice or another favorite grain. Leftovers are perfect on a salad the next day.
Grilled Vegetable Kabobs
Total Time: 40 minutes • Servings: 6
Image and recipe courtesy Mayo Clinic
Ingredients
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced into circles
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into chunks
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 10 cremini mushrooms, halved or quartered
- 1 medium red onion, cut into chunks
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, fresh, minced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
- Soak 6 wood skewers in water for at least 30 minutes while you wash and prepare the vegetables
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat, or use a grill pan that can accommodate the full length of the skewers
- Place all vegetables in a large bowl
- Add the garlic, fresh herbs, oil, salt and pepper
- Toss until evenly coated
- Skewer the vegetables and place on the grill (or grill pan)
- Turn every 2 minutes until fully cooked, totaling about 5-8 minutes
- You can also partially cook the vegetable skewers on the grill, giving them great grill marks and flavor, and finish them later in a high-temperature oven
TAGS:
Ty
Thanks
Thanks