Shopping at Your Local Farmers Market

Why should you shop at a local Farmers Market? Simply because you can get fresh, local produce (most of which is organic) for a reasonable price. Organic is good for you because the fruits and veggies aren't sprayed with a ton of chemicals as opposed to regular produce. You may be charged more, but I always notice that the taste tends to be better.

Here are some shopping tips to take into consideration:

1) Don't leave the house without CASH. 90% of all vendors will only accept cash. I usually bring about $50.00 in cash which is more than plenty of money to buy what I want. The Farmers Market I go to also sells food from local dive-ins, coffee houses, wood-fired pizza, and more in the Atlanta area.

2) Always bring a canvas bag or a bag that is reinforced at the bottom. I brought one of those reusable grocery bags to the market today, and it ripped at the bottom because all of my produce weighed it down. I wish I had brought a bag that was strong and reinforced with support at the bottom of the bag.

3) When you arrive at the market, the first thing you want to do is check out all of the vendors before you buy something. I know in the past, I never used to do this until I realized that some vendors sold produce that looked better than others. Trust me, you'll regret it if you don't.

4) Some Farmers Markets will have Cheese, Honey, Pickles, Charcuterie, and Bakery vendors. I would definitely check them out if yours has them. The Farmers Market I go to in Grant Park in Atlanta, GA has all of these. I have bought some great things from these vendors. Georgia Honey was my favorite. The old wives tale is a spoonful of local honey a day will help you build immunity against allergies in the area. The markets that will generally offer options other than produce are usually community run as opposed to city or state run.

5) My motto: buy local, fresh, and organic. Always buy LOCAL (or REGIONAL). Not only are you supporting the farmers in your community, but you are getting the crops that grow best in your area. I took a course in Horticulture, and I learned that it is benefit to buy local produce because the crops are usually fresher when they reach your grocery store. Every May (for the past 2 years), I have gone strawberry picking at local farms that offer U-pick Strawberries. Not only were they the best Strawberries I've EVER eaten, but also the freshest.

6) Always ask if it's organic. Like I've previously mentioned,  not only does it the taste better, but it's better for you. A lot of vendors will have signs up about what produce is organic, so you don't have to ask.