7 Tips for Farmer’s Market Success

It is becoming Farmer’s Market seasoning and schedules are popping up all over! If you are a regular at the markets, you know how wonderful it can be to find fresh straight from the farm produce and products, along with some great Artisan locally made wares. If you are new to the Farmers Market scene, you might be a little timid about how to enter this world unto itself. Here are a few tips – rather 7 Tips to Farmer’s Market Success.

1. GET THERE EARLY – BUT NOT BEFORE IT OPENS
2. BRING A LIST!
3. UNLESS YOU ARE BUYING AN EXTRA LARGE QUANTITY- DO NOT HAGGLE
4. BRING YOUR OWN BAGS
5. ONLY TOUCH IF INVITED TO DO SO!
6. BRING CASH
7. PAY ATTENTION TO SIGNAGE (both in general and at each booth)

GET THERE EARLY – BUT NOT BEFORE IT OPENS

While it is important to get there early in the day to snag the best products, it is important to let the vendors fully set up. When you start shopping and asking questions while they are still getting situated you may not get the best customer service. They need to be set and ready to have the best day they can.

BRING A LIST!

It is always super fun to wander and “window shop” as you walk the stalls. But if you went with the intent of stocking up for the week ahead, come prepared with a list. While you may not find everything (remember it is not a grocery store!), some bit of organizing will make it a much more success trip. And if you aren’t finding what you wanted, don’t be afraid to ask the vendors. They may have not had enough room to put it all out or they may be able to point you in the right direction.

UNLESS YOU ARE BUYING AN EXTRA LARGE QUANTITY- DO NOT HAGGLE

There are lots of things that go into determining the price of an item at a market. Things like the fee to be at the market, traveling to the market, packaging, transporting, signage, wages and more. It is truly not just the single tomato you are eyeing. So haggling a hard working farmer to save a dime, really isnt worthwhile. All that said, if you are buying cases and boxes of something – I am talking many pounds of something- thats when you can look for some quantity discounts.

BRING YOUR OWN BAGS

Again, remember that you are not in a grocery store – so many vendors will not have bags for you. It is a cost savings, as well as cutting down on single use bags. You will always be better off to bring your own reusable bags to carry your finds back home.

ONLY TOUCH IF INVITED TO DO SO

It is definitely tempting to want to pick and look over everything in each stall. But please be courteous and respectful of the vendors’ request to not touch and/or handle with care. This can be a health & safety thing or simple a fragile item thing.

BRING CASH

As we move forward in the dawn of technology- more and more vendors have point of sale options that are simple as having a phone and wifi connection. So often many vendors can take your card easily. That said – some markets are more rural and do not have good service to work wirelessly. Another consideration is that some will charge a fee to run a card, as the vendor is charged a fee by their bank. So having at least some cash is usually a good idea.

PAY ATTENTION TO SIGNAGE (both in general and at each booth)

Depending on the size and formality of the market – you want to make sure you are abiding by the rules of the space. Some markets do not allow animals to walk among the stalls – others do. Some have a central cashier and others are booth by booth. Another important thing to keep an eye on is the separation of booths. While they do try sometimes you may wander to another booth not realizing its not the same vendor. Just be mindful of this.

Now Let’s Get Cookin’!