Mistakes You're Making At Your Local Farmers Market

Going to the farmers market is something that we look forward to each time spring rolls around. That's when farmers markets are open again (longer and more frequently), thanks to better weather conditions. Additionally, the return of spring means more fruits and vegetables come into season. Aside from a sunny weekend outing, there are plenty of reasons to get excited about shopping at the farmers market again. Accessing fresh produce, buying meat from sustainable butchers, sampling artisanal cheeses, drinking organic coffee, sipping a bottle of sparkling kombucha, and supporting local farmers are just a few of the reasons to get excited.

However, there are also plenty of circumstances where something could go wrong at your favorite farmers market. Common blunders include not bringing the proper bags, forgetting accepted forms of payment, and lacking general food knowledge. By educating yourself and coming prepared, all of this can be avoided during your next weekend shopping trip.

These errors are nothing to be ashamed about. We understand that the farmers market is not as familiar as the grocery store. There's going to be more of a learning curve. You may not even know that you're messing up or how the experience could be improved for you — not to mention the people you're buying from. Read on to make the best of your produce shopping this summer and avoid mistakes you're making at your local farmers market.

If you don't bring a bag to the farmers market, it can be worse than forgetting a bag for the grocery store. There may not be a backup bag waiting for you. You could end up with food in your purse. Even more disastrous yet, those items could use a wash, filling your pasta-inspired handbag with your produce soil. Avoid these mishaps by bringing your own bags.

Forbes has a list of farmers market bags they recommend for the occasion. Most are medium to large-sized, similar to that of a beach tote. This size allows you to fit a few different heads of lettuce or cartons of unpasteurized milk in there (without the bag breaking). In addition to size, check for material. Woven bags with thick fabrics, like straw, are strong enough to hold even the heaviest vegetables.

Larger, reusable tote bags are another good option. Many brands, such as several in this list from The Spruce, sell collapsible totes. These bags can easily be stuffed into whatever you're using to carry your wallet and keys, then expanded to hold your farmers market loot. Reusable totes like these are typically waterproof and sometimes made from recycled materials — like those from the brand Baggu. Not only will you be able to carry everything from the farmers market, but you can feel even better about using those bags. They are better for the environment than using plastic produce bags in multiple ways.

Farmers markets can get crowded. Go to one on the weekends and it could be impossible to get around. Go to a weekend market during peak hours and you might leave without getting anything you wanted because it's so busy. Sometimes, though, the time of day that you're at the market isn't the problem — it's you. People can get stuck in the flow of a farmers market and make the experience terrible for everyone else.

To avoid dirty looks and shoulder-checks, you should be mindful of the space around you. One Tripadvisor reviewer described the problem of lack of self-awareness while shopping, saying, "The patrons are generally insufferable. Lots of group shopping in small spaces, too many giant strollers and tons of looky-loos." This person wasn't the only one experiencing a crowd problem at their market. A Reddit user also commented, "I can't stand how crowded farmers' markets are. I know I should like them, but the whole experience is too stressful."

We can all do our part to reduce crowd problems at farmers markets. Leave the big strollers at home. Better yet, don't bring your kids (if possible). Be mindful of how long you're standing in front of a stall. Are you going to buy something? If not, keep moving. All of this will help keep the flow of people moving at your next farmers market.

Not preparing for the weather is a terrible error to make at the farmers market. Most markets operate during the warm seasons, but that doesn't mean the occasional cold front can't come through (and make you wish you dressed warmer for that particular shopping trip). However, most meteorological problems experienced at the market are related to spring and summer temperatures. Forgetting sunscreen is a common error that happens this time of year.

As the Santa Monica Farmers Market explains, "Spending the day at a Santa Monica farmers market can be a great time. Nursing a sunburn for the next few days is not." Put on sunscreen before you go, and maybe even wear a hat (all the trendy people at the farmers market seem to be doing that already). Additionally, it's a good idea to bring sunscreen with you. Prevention recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours, and reapply more often if you're sweating a lot. During those springtime trips to the farmers market, be especially cautious. As The Weather Channel says, sometimes, people forget to lather up their SPF during these months, to their detriment. That's because the sun is shining without a huge increase in temperature.

Protecting yourself from the sun is by no means the only way to prepare for farmers market weather conditions. You should also check the weather for rain and bring an umbrella if needed. If things look especially hot, make sure you've packed water to stay hydrated while shopping.

Haggling is sometimes a great idea for flea markets or yard sales. You can negotiate prices there, by all means. Maybe those products are used or a kind of burden to the seller. On the other hand, vendors at the farmers market don't usually have the same mindset. You shouldn't always try to haggle at the farmers market.

Markets don't typically have rules about this, but it can be frowned upon. One online user explained how it comes across poorly. "It just seems disrespectful to me. Negotiating for a new car? Yeah. For an ear of corn? No," the person wrote on EG Forums. You wouldn't haggle for prices at a grocery store, so don't do it at the farmers market. The vendor put labor into growing that food and bringing it to you for sale. Your shopping process is likely to be more peaceful if you avoid negotiating food prices with stall operators.

There can be some instances where haggling may go over more smoothly, and the end of the day is one of them. Prices may be more flexible as vendors may be trying to clear out their stock before the day is done (via The Grocery Store Guy). However, it's still considered more polite to simply wait for farmers to lower their prices (of their own accord) rather than eagerly suggesting your own.

Vendors take caution when handing out free samples. They are required to follow certain health and safety codes to prevent the spread of disease, and stall operators wash their hands. Similarly, you should exercise caution while handling farmers market produce.

For the sake of the vendors, you should approach the touchable products with caution. At stalls, try to handle what's on the table with care. Do not haphazardly pick up food that a vendor is trying to sell. Don't bruise the produce by dropping it or grabbing it too roughly.

For the sake of other patrons, you should try to remain as clean as possible throughout the day. Many people will go through the market and come in contact with the same foods. As such, you should be washing or sanitizing your hands between stalls. This can prevent food contamination that could create illness or allergic reactions.

For the sake of yourself, you should practice food safety around fruits and vegetables. Although they may seem more harmless than raw chicken, produce can also carry disease. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the most common produce-borne illnesses include E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. You can avoid getting these by steering clear of bruised or damaged items, washing your hands and your produce, and separating fruits and veggies from raw animal products.

Your whole experience at the farmers market can be blighted by a negative interaction with a vendor. Offending stall owners can be avoided with the aforementioned advice (leaving your dog at home, not taking too many free samples, following coronavirus safety measures) but also in other ways. If you can get a vendor to like you, the whole day of shopping can be improved.

There are plenty of ways to get to know a farmers market vendor, and consistency can help. One Reddit user said of their own experience, "The more often you go the more comfortable you feel to just chat with them. I usually go to the same vendor and the familiarity helps." At the bare minimum, if you greet them with a smile and mind your manners, you're likely not going to make anyone mad.

To bond with a stall operator, it's good to ask them questions. How old is your farm? How long has it been there? How should I cook this product? The farmers market is also a unique opportunity to find out more about how your food was grown. Were there pesticides used on this item? When was it harvested? What's in season right now? All of this could potentially bring you and your vendor closer together. In turn, you could get better deals, more personal cooking advice, and even specialized recommendations in the future.

Farmers market produce is known for being organic and fresh. That probably means it's freshly harvested, whenever you may go. However, knowing ahead of time which products are in season can ensure the utmost success during your shopping trip. In-season fruits and vegetables are good for your local economy and taste better than out-of-season produce.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a guide explaining what produce is associated with each season. Spring is known for foods like asparagus, carrots, and fennel. Summer is associated with vegetables like tomatoes and green beans. Popular summer fruits include blackberries, raspberries, peaches, and plums. Foods that are ideal in fall include apples, pears, pumpkin, and squash. Winter produce is more scarce, but you can still find good citrus fruits like lemons, limes, grapefruit, and oranges during this time of year. These are only a few examples of what is going to look best at the farmers market, depending on what time of year you go grocery shopping there.

What's in season changes depending on what region, or even state, you are located in, per St. Joe's Farm. However, some websites like Seasonal Food Guide will help you search what produce is in season in any U.S. state during any month of the year.

Identifying ripe fruit is another issue that people have. If you don't know when an avocado is ready to eat, you could eat up cutting it into either a mushy mess or a stringy rock — both are not preferable to eat. Learning what ripe fruits look like can help you pick out fresh produce at the farmers market.

According to WebMD, ripe apples should be firm, without any soft spots. Pineapples should be slightly firm and smell sweet. Raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries should look plump and not be leaking any juice. Mangos and bananas should be left to ripen on the counter. When either fruit is a bit soft, that's when they're getting ready to eat. Oranges should be shiny and the skin should appear thin. Leave them in the refrigerator until they feel heavy for their size, then they are ripe (via Market Basket Foods).

In addition to the aforementioned ways to identify ripe fruit, the best produce has a deep color and lacks bruises, as this indicates freshness. Of course, you don't always want to buy fruit when it's already ripe. There may be some items you want to eat in a few days. Just plan ahead so you don't end up wasting food.

Produce isn't the only thing to get at the farmers market. You typically come across several stalls devoted to cured meats, bread, aged cheeses, honey, and jam. There are even non-food products to choose from, such as soaps, candles, and other beauty products. You're missing out if you leave the farmers market with only fruits and vegetables.

With those non-produce items, you can expect to pay a little more than you would for your pre-grated tub of parmesan from the grocery store. However, these specialty booths at the farmers market are worth the extra money. They are often made on a smaller scale, which can sometimes mean better quality, a more complex taste or smell, and a lack of artificial ingredients. You'll pay more at the farmers market for a few ounces of cheese, but it might be worth it.

"We buy olive oil from a local producer, butter from a cheesemaker, mushrooms, pork, honey, fruit, bread, chard, and lettuces," as one Reddit user said of their typical farmers market haul — notably including non-produce items in their list. "I love the homemade – usually goat-milk – soaps I can get at my local market. They smell better, last longer, and are just generally better than commercial," another user responded, describing one of their favorite products to buy at the farmers market. Getting your soap at the market is another way to spice up your shopping trip, all while supporting small businesses selling there.

This mistake and others come from an overarching problem. People treat the farmers market like the grocery store, but by appreciating the differences between the two, we can take advantage of all that outdoor food markets have to offer. One way to do that is by stepping outside of your regular shopping list. Try something you've never had before the next time you go.

According to FoodPrint, there is a handful of rare summer fruits you should be able to get at most farmers markets. There are currants, bright (typically red) small berries that grow on a vine. There are ground cherries, those small fruits that look individually wrapped in own their parchment paper packages. Then, there are the crossbred stone fruits, such as Pluots, Plumcots, and Apriums. The farmers market is a great place to try one of these fruit hybrids.

Prevention also offered a list of rare vegetables that are common to the farmers market. Sunchokes are tan, knobby-looking roots that look like oversized ginger. These plants are eaten and cooked in methods similar to potatoes. There are Chioggia Beets, which look normal on the outside but are filled with a beautiful pink-and-red striped pattern underneath their skin. You could also try Romanesco — it looks like a pointy, light green cross between cauliflower and broccoli. Yellow and green tomatoes are also commonly found at the farmers market. All of this produce may taste a little different than you expect, but it's worth trying.