Want to shop the farmers market but unsure of the cost? See why shopping at the grocery store might be a better option!
By Tiffany, Contributing Writer
Farmers markets all over the country are opening their doors and showing off the best produce their fields have to offer, but I’m not going.
Say what?! A real foodie who is purposefully NOT shopping at the farmers market?!
Yes!
I know that produce from the farmers market was likely picked the day before or even that morning. And I know that spending my grocery dollars at the market is supporting the local farmers. I think both of these is fantastic!
But I also live in a world filled with mountains of laundry, strategic meal plans to fit our tight grocery budget, a home business to run and elementary-aged kids that need to finish their year of homeschool.
In this season of life, going to the farmers market just isn’t in the cards!
I used to feel guilty about this, that I was somehow shortchanging my family by shopping at the grocery store instead of the farmers market. But then I realized that trying to shop at the farmers market was doing my family more harm than good! Shopping the market every week was causing me to be:
- Stressed about the high food prices and going over budget.
- “Mean mom” by barking orders at my kids to hurry up and get ready so we could leave on time.
- Angry at myself for being “mean mom!”
- Second guessing another trip in the car, going against my own strategy on saving gas while shopping.
For many people, shopping the farmers market is the only way to shop.
For others, though, who are going through a season of life that simply doesn’t include the farmers market (like myself), here are 6 reasons to shop the grocery store instead of the farmers market.
1. Convenience
Can I get an Amen?
Farmers markets tend to be open for a few hours, once a week, in a location that you don’t get to choose. In the eyes of a busy homemaker, this is the complete opposite of convenient!
Being able to shop while I’m already out running other errands, while the kids are at a play date or even after they go to bed is priceless. Plus, cultivating our urban square foot garden and homeschooling two kids takes up a large portion of each day. There are days where I’m lucky to shower before dinner!
Crafting my schedule around the farmers market just isn’t feasible every week.
This is even more so for mamas in the nap time days. I remember all too well the backlash that came from missing nap time, whether it was altogether or just by a half hour. And if my child fell asleep in the car, all bets were off!
Shopping at the market just isn’t worth a sleepless night.
2. Variety
Although a good portion of the country’s produce is grown where I live, the majority of the fields are operated by large produce companies and not small farmers. By default, there’s a greater variety of food at my local grocery store than the farmers market.
Sure my market might have five different types of bell peppers and four varieties of oranges, but neither my kids nor I need fancy food. We need REAL food!
I’d much rather expose my kids to different types of fruits and vegetables than different varieties of the same one. Not only will they get a broader spectrum of nutrients, but they’ll also be less likely to become picky eaters as they grow up.
Image by Don’t Waste the Crumbs
3. Price
I’ve used these money-saving tips in the past to help balance our small grocery budget with higher farmers market prices, and I’ve even shopped using this strategy in order to get the most bang for my buck from the farmers.
Still, when you compare the prices as a whole, the grocery store comes out more affordable.
Balancing our teeny budget against quality food is difficult, so I use the stickers on the produce to help me make better choices. Better food choices means a healthier family, and affordable prices means feeding growing kids (and a hungry husband) is a little bit easier each month.
5 Days to a Fresh Start
For more help with eating healthy food on a budget, check out this FREE eCourse, 5 Days to a Fresh Start! You can grab the free eCourse HERE.
4. Coupons
Although I don’t use coupons nearly as often as I used to, there was a time when they were a necessity. Shopping any place that didn’t take them simply wasn’t an option.
Some of you might need to use coupons to make ends meet, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. If this is you, shopping the market isn’t an option because farmers don’t take coupons.
Image by Don’t Waste the Crumbs
5. Sales and Markdowns
Shopping the sales is vital to our method for eating real food on a budget, and since prices at the market are dependent on several factors (supply, demand, rain, travel, etc.), it’s difficult to budget for everything on the list each week.
At least with grocery stores I can get the same price until the next sale. I can also take advantage of their overstock and bruised produce with hugely marked down prices. We look forward to banana chocolate chip muffins when we find a bag of bruised bananas, and hope we have extras for dehydrated banana chips!
6. One Stop Shopping
Finally, without fail, there is ALWAYS something on my shopping list that I can’t get at the farmers market. It could be a staple like canned tuna or diced tomatoes, or it’s a vegetable I need for the week.
What this means for me is ANOTHER shopping trip. ANOTHER stop at ANOTHER store.
For someone who is already struggling to fit a trip to ONE store into a busy schedule, this is enough to bring this homemaker to tears!
Shopping at as few stores as possible is important with a busy schedule and kids in tow, so I’m okay with choosing the grocery stores instead of the farmers market for this season in life.
Where do you prefer to shop – the grocery store or the farmers market – and why?
For more grocery shopping tips, check out these posts!
Claire
I totally agree with this. I think it’s great to support the Farmer’s Market, but at this season of life, convenience and price win out. Also, my local grocery store carries some locally grown products, so we still have the opportunity to support local farmers when we go there. We do like to go to the Farmer’s Market a few times each year as a fun family outing, however.
Tiffany
Thank you Claire! We consider visiting out CSA an outing too. 🙂
Sally Morris
I completely disagree with this. You can work pretty much any schedule around the times of a farmers market. My kids won’t even touch the stuff that is sold at the grocery stores anymore because it has no flavor. Local is always better. I’ve been poor, and we still made sure our budget could fit in buying produce at the market. And if you talk to farmers and let them know you have a tight budget, most of the time they’ll lower their prices for you, unlike the grocery stores.
Gina
I do prefer shopping at the Farmer’s Market as well. I go to an organic food stand and I not only find the food better and tastier but I found the prices not really different than the grocery store – some items may be more but overall I would spend the same amount as I would in the produce section of the grocery store. The perks to the Farmer’s market also is they will downsize a package if I wanted. For instance spinach- my grocery store for organic baby spinach only sells this huge package that will expire in 5 days. There is no way my family of 4 would finish the whole thing before it expires. I can go to my Farmer’s market and they may have a huge package but they will separate it in half for me if I want so not only am I getting only the amount and I need and end up wasting food but also spending less. The only down side I find with the Farmer’s market is sometimes they don’t have all the items that I normally buy. Plus it can be inconvenient – my farmer’s market is open Thur Fri and Sat. 7am-7pm but taking the kids there is crazy- it is so busy and the aisles are small with pushing a cart. But I would rather be inconvenienced and not have a few items we like for a week or two versus not having better quality food for my family and not wasting food and money.
Tiffany
Hi Sally! How wonderful that you are able to work your schedule around the market! Unfortunately, it just wasn’t possible for us for a very long time, no matter how hard we tried – and the farmers in my area don’t budge on price!
Gina – What a blessing that your farmer’s market has extended hours! Ours is just 4 hours, once a week!
Danielle
I completely agree with you Sally… supporting a local farm is a way to help keep farms in business! Farming is hard work and their prices are dictated by the by global market… The farmers are not getting rich but just trying to survive.
Will O
We do like supporting local, and I also have a post about shopping the farmer’s market as well.
Dawn @ Reveal Natural Health
Great post, Tiffany! Erin, thank you for including this on your blog.
I love the idea of supporting local farmers and enjoying the freshest fruits and vegetables. But I don’t like that I cannot budget for farmers’ markets. Going to a farmers market feels more like a luxury for when I have extra money rather than supplementing my normal weekly grocery purchases.
Ellen
In Wisconsin we have a Farm Market for about 3 months, I try to go once a week. What I like more is my CSA box from a local organic farmer. You pay once, at the beginning, and enjoy a great variety each week. Also get a dozen. organic eggs in the box. Pickup is a 15 min. drive,relaxing, in the country. For 3 months I can buy local, and support farmer’s instead of paying corporate!
Jill York
I prefer the farmer’s markets in my area because of the savings, variety, flavor of the produce, and supporting local families. It sounds like farmer’s markets are not the same everywhere. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your experience!
Support local farmers please
To those complaint about not having enough money. I have been there, but my husband and I made a decision to feed our family a GMO free, real food, local food lifestyle, at only making $24k/ year and 4 children, this would not be easy. We cut TV, we cut my cell phone, we went down to the bare minimum on all bills, and without state aid this is still doable. We got creative and sought out opportunities for free or work for food. There are MANY local farmers who are willing to trade meats and produce in exchange for 2-4 hours per week of work. All you have to do it ask… What a wonderful way to show your children how to work for something they need. We decided to grow our own meat chickens, as it was just too much on our pocket book, we sell a few extra to pay for our own. There are many people who have fruit their yards, just letting them fall off the tree! I knock on their door and ask if I could have it. Some say yes but we’d like a bucket full in exchange, or some say yes, but you must take it all. Also in the last week of the season many farms will allow gleaners to just come and pick the rest of the crop for free or for a very small investment. Buying in bulk, and going in with friends is a great way to purchase meat. Supporting local farmers is the only way to understand how much REAL food actually cost, opposed to the conventional food that is government subsidized.
Tiffany
I think it’s so great that you and your family made real food a priority within your budget, and that you were willing and able to seek out creative ways to put this food on your dinner table. The reality is though is that these opportunities are not equally available to everyone, everywhere. No one in my town has fruit falling from trees in their yard, our backyard is not big enough for chickens and I cannot fit more than 2-3 weeks worth of meat in my freezer.
This post is not saying to avoid farmers markets, but shopping there regularly is just not possible for everyone in every season of their life – for whatever the reason may be. This post was written to simply be an encouragement for those moms who feel guilty for “not being good enough” to shop weekly at the farmers market. No matter where we shop, we should all be doing the best we can with what we have!
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
I think it’s great that you figured out what works best for your family. All of your reasons for forgoing the market right now definitely make sense. And you’re right, it’s certainly not a one-stop shop!
Our farmers’ market is open only 2 mornings a week (Wednesday and Saturday) from early to about noon. But really, if you don’t get there by 11 you may as well not have come. It’s a great little market and usually the produce prices are actually better. If I could go every week, I definitely would. By the end of last summer, though, I was disappointed to realize that we only went twice all summer. I had a baby and two other children and getting everyone out the door in time was so hard (especially since if we went out, we would just plan on being out for a while). I do hope to go with a little more frequency this year, but I know that this is just a season of life for us right now where getting out with young children can be more challenging.
One fun idea if people just want to enjoy the market and atmosphere occasionally is to go and only get enough for a small picnic lunch– fresh veggies, homemade bread, perfectly ripe fruit, and maybe a little cheese. This would make for a fun family outing while still supporting the farmers. 🙂
Mike
We live along the coast between North and South Carolina.
Two local markets are closing. It’s ok though. Their fresh produce isn’t very good. Grocery store produce is my best
Choice. Where I came from up north, we never bought
Grocery store produce. There were plenty of fresh produce options that supermarkets couldn’t match.
Evelyn Hury
I love this article. I work part time for a farmer and fully understand the desire to support local farmers. I, too, buy locally when I can. But back to that previous statement – I work part time. My husband is disabled and already on social security. So, buying locally grown at our Farmer’s Market is a luxury for us. Where we live there is PLENTY of “migrant” help. So farmers don’t need us poor folks to simply ask glean their leftovers. That’s already being done by their workers. I do not find that the prices at our Farmer’s Market are anywhere close to as low as the prices in the grocery store. And forgive me, but to say that grocery store is flavorless and has no nutrients just comes off as snobby. We love to go to Farmer’s Markets, too. But it’s simply not affordable for us most of the time. So, I love that this article reaffirms what I already feel. But I will NOT feel guilty for not doing it more regularly.
Heather
My heart sank when I saw this post in my Pinterest feed. Then I started to feel a bit angry. Then, I decided that I couldn’t let this go with out a comment. I am a vendor at our local farmers market and I am one of the organizers. We spend much time and effort to try to convince people to patronize their local markets. This is an up-hill battle for us, because shopping at the grocery store is the default choice. We are even working toward accepting SNAP benefits (formerly Food Stamps) and credit and debit cards at our market, to make it easier for folks to access local, fresh food. That is why it kills me to see a blog title like this.
Maybe the author’s family owns a grocery store that is seeing sales drop, maybe you had a bad experience with your local farmers market or maybe a bad experience with a local farmer. I really don’t know why you decided to write this peice. Perhaps you wanted others who choose to spend their time and money somewhere other than the grocery store to feel better, to feel that they are not the only ones who might be feeling a bit guilty about the choice. Of course everyone is free to choose not to shop at the farmers market for whatever reason. But for the most part, no one needs a reason to NOT shop the farmers market. People like myself are going out of our way to get people to the markets. Why? Well here are some good reasons:
It’s convienient. No, actually it isn’t convienient and most who shop at the market have to go to another store to pick up ‘the rest’ of their groceries. But it isn’t just about convienience. It’s also about community. What better place to meet like-minded folks. Our market strives to have activities to give families a reason to hang around or to make the market a destination. We also strive to have a variety of vendors from vegetables, baked goods, handmade soaps, herbs, baby gift items and cut flowers. If I (and several of our other vendors who are moms) can get ourselves, our wares and our infants and toddlers to the market every week, those that make local foods and goods a priority certainly can too! It’s a family affair and I have made many good friends through planning and vending at the market over the past 3 years.
Variety. This is another tough one, as you can find more different fruits and vegetables at the grocery store than the market. Again, if you are committed to making local, fresh food a priority, this is not an issue. We eat out of our market garden all year, canning and freezing for winter. We only buy things like oranges and avocados as treats through the year, mostly when they are inexpensive and in season. We grow about 18 different kinds of vegetables in our market garden. That doesn’t included different varieties of things like tomatoes and peppers. We also have a few fruits available to us and lots of herbs. And that’s here in Northern North Dakota. I’m not saying it’s wrong to expect to be able to buy oranges. I’m just saying that there is probably a good variety at your local farmers market, it’s just seasonal.
Price. This varies by area. At our market, most vendors grow organically but do not certify their operations. That keeps cost down. Most vendors keep prices of their vegetables and baked goods at or near grocery store prices because we know that price is a factor for a lot of consumers. Sometimes this isn’t possible, as in the case of canned goods and some homemade body care items (we have no economies of scale to take advantage of.) With exceptions I have found that you get what you pay for and even if you pay a bit more at the farmers market, you often get more bang for you buck as the produce is fresher and therefore has retained more nutrients and often tastes better. Another way of saving money at the market is to talk to the farmers. I have made deals with customers who were willing to take larger quantities of things like tomatoes and green beans to freeze or can at home.
Coupons. I don’t think I have ever seen a coupon for fresh vegetables. Maybe this is regional or done at some of the bigger grocery chains?
Sales and markdowns. Aren’t we just splitting hairs now? This may more accurately be only 3 reasons. Along with coupons this has to do with price. Again, when you talk to farmers you can get good discounts especially buying large quantities.
One stop shopping. Again, covered under convienince. I know in the fast paced world we worship convienince. Can’t we stop and smell the carrots once in a while!
Of course we will all need to make the choices that make the most sense in our particular situations, but please consider supporting local land control under your local farmers and small bussiness owners in your community by shopping your local farmers market.
Claire
In my area there are coupons for produce. There are store coupons, I get coupons for Driscoll’s berries, there are Savingstar rebates, etc.
Heather
Savingstar seems like an interesting program. Our grocery store in town is a local chain and doesn’t participate. For those who have the big chains close by, it seems like it could help. Our local store does offer sales on some fruit and veg, but no coupons in our circulars.
Claire
Sometimes I can find printable produce coupons on grocery store websites as well.
Alie Simpson
Im in total agreement! Farmers market produce is the most “real food” you can get. A lot of produce at the grocery store is out of season. This means a lot of energy and fuel is used to get out of season foods into stores to you from around the world. We are not meant to have a huge display of different goods at our finger tips 24/7.
Farmers markets teach, appreciation, hard work, value and community. I truly hope you consider to rethink your post. And of course visit your local farmers market
Samantha Lindsay
I agree with this. Our farmer’s market, and 4 others in the surrounding areas accept SNAP. They actually offer up to $40 more a month on SNAP if you go buy from the farmer’s market. I also have never seen a coupon for fresh vegetables or fruit. We are an extremely low budget family, living mainly off of our SNAP benefits, which makes going to the farmer’s market a BETTER option for us since we are getting more money for food there. Also, I am raising my daughter around a community of wonderful people, and teaching her that just because something is convenient does not mean it is better, rather than just going to the grocery store for everything. One of the biggest problems with our world today is that everyone just wants what is most convenient for them, when in reality there are better options that, in the long run, save on money AND time.
Katie Mae @ Nourishing Simplicity
I loved this Tiffany! In the valley is it hard as well. We only have one farmer’s market in our area that runs May-Aug. It is one day a week and I have to agree that I can’t currently afford to buy everything I want there. I buy a few things like fruit (which is cheaper) when I am able to get there but the rest of the time I am currently more of a grocery store gal. I hope to change that in the future but that won’t be for awhile yet.
Thank you so much for this article! I’m sharing it later today!
Joan Laufnick
I shop at the grocery store. My husband is a homebound disabled Vietnam Era Veteran. He is unable to stand up unassisted. It takes me me less time to go to my local grocery store and back home. The store sell everything I need for him and my family, saving me valuable time and enabling me to have more time for his care.
Meow
I love grocery stores
Celeste
Of course I agree that shopping at the Farmer’s Market doesn’t work for everyone and no one should feel guilty for making the shopping choices that they need to for their family. However it is a bit discouraging as a market farmer to read articles like this. I am also a busy mama of little ones trying to keep up with the laundry, cooking, staying on a tight budget, homeschooling, AND trying to make a living farming. I rush the children and snap at them sometimes in the morning rush to get to market, I have cranky, tired children after missing naps during long days at market, I have spent many days in cold,rainy weather hoping that a few more people would come shop, all the while barely making enough to get by on. So yes posts like this are a little discouraging.
Sarah @ little bus on the prairie
What an interesting article and discussion!
In my area we have a fantastic weekly farmers market that even accepts WIC vouchers.
I must admit feeling guilty even just reading the article because although I don’t stop by nearly as often as I would like to for many of the reasons listed, I also see the point a previous commentator made regarding the fact that farmer’s markets are a niche that could use more encouragement, not less! 🙂
However, I also understand that there are probably many readers here struggling with feeling guilty over not bending over backwards and stretching themselves even thinner to check every last box on the list of what eating real food, being a healthy homemaker, supporting or local communities, etc, entails. So we do need grace for one another and ourselves to do what’s best for our family in each season.
Ultimately, I think that (aside from what is going on in each family individually) so much depends on the variability of FM’s from place to place. I am a big advocate of speaking up about changes that would make supporting a local business easier, I.e. seeing if there is enough business to warrant opening it an additional day, trying to bargain with farmers for better prices if you buy in bulk, etc. I think that many places would prefer to have input on how to change for the better than to lose out on business altogether.
Tiffany
I love your note about checking all the boxes Sarah – it’s spot on for this post! And yes, family aside, the markets themselves vary HUGELY from region to region… even city to city!
Jo Ann Rangel
Here in California our local 99 Cent stores have been selling produce that can compete for freshness, and flavor. I do not know how they supply their stores but to be able to purchase fresh asparagus at 99 cents a bunch or fresh squash among other vegetables allows me to prepare more balanced meals for myself and friends I cook for. When I am in the area of an outdoor swap meet I stop by and can get really tasty fruit for a reasonable price, I just have to be prepared with something to carry it in when I go by bus because usually you get a better deal buying by the flat, like strawberries. What I really miss about going to the outdoor markets in my area was when I was a little girl, there were two other kinds of businesses that sold food alongside the produce sellers: one brought freshly baked bread that was hot out of the oven, and there was this other seller who sold large hunks of smoked halibut. My father would buy us a shepherd’s loaf, a flat of fruit, and a piece of smoked halibut, and that was our supper after we got done looking at all the goods at the swap meet. Now when I go to these outdoor swap meets a lot of the sellers are touting designer sneakers, purses, factory outlet clothes and every kind of candy you can think of, not as much of vintage items and produce sellers like it used to be. There is a weekly farmers market at a local hospital entrance a town away from me, very well organized, my budget sometimes lets me get something from there. I miss having my own garden (I live in an apartment these days) the vegetables were much tastier than the market, but buying from the local 99 cent store as well as one Hispanic grocery store a few blocks from here, has been an okay experience, I will not buy produce from the bigger grocery store chains, too little flavor in their mass grown produce. The one thing I have been having a problem finding is a really good potato that is creamy and flavorful after baking. I wish there was a cooperative store in my neck of the woods, they tend to be up in Central and Northern California, sigh.
Tiffany
Jo Ann – I’m in California too! What part do you live in?
Melissa
I used to go to the farmers market weekly. I told everyone I knew about it and worked hard to get people to understand. Then one Saturday I got up early and ran to my grocery store first while everyone else got ready. I noticed that blueberries were on sale for 99 cents so I bought some and felt really guilty. I got home and I ended up eating the berries so I didn’t have to see them. Then we were off to the market. That day after shopping we decided to get some spring rolls and eat them in the little open area at the market which just happens to be behind all the vendors. That’s when my 11 year old whispered to me to look. There she was, the vendor dumping blueberries out of the same exact containers I just ate berries from into her little green baskets. I couldn’t believe it. My entire family saw it. My heart dropped. I walked over to the stand to get my potatoes and couldn’t do it. She was selling the berries for $6 and claiming they were organic. And claiming the potatoes were organic too. That Monday I called the market organizers and told them and while I’ve never seen that vendor there again, I rarely go or buy produce anymore at any farmers market now.
Celeste
I am sorry that one bad vendor ruined your shopping experience and also gave the rest of us a bad name. If you begin shopping at markets again you should talk to the vendors a bit and get to know them and try to determine which ones are trustworthy. We love to answer our customers questions and explain exactly how we do things. Anyone is also welcome to come see our farm. It is sad that you gave up on the whole thing because of one vendor.
Sarah Koontz {Grounded & Surrounded}
Tiffany,
This is a great piece. I love how you show your respect for farmer’s markets (because they are AWESOME) but you acknowledge that they aren’t for everyone. I love to go to my local market, but I rarely by anything. The prices are just out of my budget. That is why I have worked so hard to grow my own MASSIVE food garden, all the benefits of the farmer’s market right in your back yard!
Tiffany
Thank you Sarah for your supportive feedback!! I hope your garden is flourishing!
Betsy
I LOVE this! I love going to the farmers market to show the kids how important it is to buy local to help the farmers, however, another stop? UGH! Fortunately we have one on Saturdays not too far from our house so we will walk there to get a few things that we cannot get from our garden,BUT i only go if my husband is with me!
Frances
I disagree as well. Since when do grocery stores have coupons for fresh produce anyway? Our market is cheaper than shopping at the grocery store and if you get there late, as I do with young kids in tow, you often get even better deals on things farmers don’t want to see spoil. Of course you can’t get a large variety of vegetables and fruits because only certain things are in season at a time. The farmers market isn’t there to replace the grocery store, it’s to give you access to locally sustainably produced food without the additional cost of a middleman.
Claire
It might be a regional thing, but I am able to get produce coupons for my local grocery stores.
mary
I prefer the Farmer’s Market whenever possible. More and more markets are open on Wednesdays and even one evening a week. Cities, like St Louis, have large markets that are open all year. When my kids were growing up the market is one place I took them often. I gave them a certain amount of money and let them figure out how to get more for it. Sometimes it was my break from the kids, a friend and I would go on Saturday mornings, dad had the kids. Sometimes we got a babysitter and it was my husband and my date day. All of these depended on our schedule for the day. I love the atmosphere of the market and it was a good teaching tool for my kids. All 4 of my kids played sports so at times it was challenging just getting there, but with all things you have to work at it. Now that all my kids are grown they still frequent the Farmer’s Markets in the cities they live. Whenever they get back to St Louis Soulard Farmer’s Market is a must stop for them. Shopping a Farmer’s Market is so much more than just the food, it is a life experience and part of our life and history. These days markets have so much more than just produce, we have done a large part of our shopping at them. Developing relationships with the venders is also part of the experience. We also shop the “mom and pop” grocers whenever we can. Makes you part of the community, and helps grow healthy communities.
LeAnne B.
Thank you for keeping it real! As a mom of 6 (4 of those are 4 or under), it is vital for things to be convenient. I know this will not be forever, but for now it takes all of the energy and focus I have to make ONE stop, let along multiple trips in and out of the vehicle. And our Farmer’s Markets do not have great hours or locations. We are on a limited budget and it is not feasible to buy the bulk of our produce there. I will say there are several items that grow well in our area that I know I will be able to get at a great price, winter squash being one of them. I do think it’s unfair for others to say that shopping the local grocery store is not supporting the local farmer. Our grocery stores carry a nice selection of local produce all summer!
Jessica
I was a little taken aback by this article too. Maybe changing the title to “6 Reasons Why WE Shop the Grocery Store Instead of the Farmers Market” would be better since it reflects your personal experience without influencing others. I’m glad in Charlotte, NC we have 2 farmers market options, one being year round (although more limited in the winter) and they’re open at least on Saturdays and 2 days during the week for a few hours. I value the freshness and flavor along with supporting the local economy and hardworking farmers when I buy local. I make it into an “event” on early Saturday mornings where I take my 2 year old with me and we take our time, for once, stopping at another nearby grocery store on the way home if needed. The market just has a different vibe – people relaxed and smiling, striking up conversations rather than rushing through to pay and get going. All that being said, I appreciate hearing your experience and how it differs from others given your priorities and opportunities.
Eileen
Our area has a wonderful farmer’s market that sells their items for less than what I can pay at the supermarket. They usually have a wonderful selection. Of course, you don’t have the sales, and it’s not a one stop shop, but I think it’s worth it regardless.
Rawlawgirl
I recently switched to farmers market shopping ONLY I as part of reducing my waste such as plastics. Shopping farmers market can be inconvenient, but I LOVE farmers markets. The food tastes far better than ANYTHING I buy in a supermarket. Lastly, it is a personal choice. My only child is an adult now. I am Single, and I earn over 106K annually. I have earned the privilege to buy the best food and going all over town on my days off to farmers market is truly a joy, not a burden, and I even meet up with friends there. I did shop 2-3 times EVERY week at farmers markets when my son was growing up and at times the BULK of my food came from local farmers even though I was on a tight budget especially after the divorce. Supermarkets are similar to microwaves. Convenient, but the freshness of local food is beyond addicting!
R
Thank you so much for writing this! When I lived in Asia and Latin America most markets were farmers markets! I loved shopping in them… but they were ALWAYS open. They were open early in the morning until late evening. I could easily swing by after school. Since coming back to Canada it just hasn’t been an option. We don’t have a car it’s not worth bussing more than an hour with a baby and then pay high prices! Three Dollars for a bunch of carrots? We barely make ends meet around here! It’s just too hard. I’ve wanted to go, but instead of being a convenient budget friendly option here it’s stressful and guilt inducing.
Rb
So, uh, people do know that not all vendors at farmer’s markets (or farm stands) are selling local produce, right? In my small farm rural hometown there is a very popular farm stand for tourists…it’s all conventionally bought produce sold at a outdoor, run down, kind cutesy stand. None of it is local, all of it is sprayed, but nobody seems to think to ask and the reviews of the place seem to indicate that people think the produce is locally produced! Oranges locally grown in Maryland, come on people!
To the blogger, don’t feel too bad, because the grocery store you are shopping at is employing real live people from your community. Let’s say a grocery store shut down in a rural town, at least 20 people would be out of a job. Many grocery stores are now partnering with local producers, and if not, local residents can request that they do.
I went to yet another farmer’s market last night (hence the search on the topic) where the vendors (but one) were all rude, had conventionally grown food, and had no visible information on their product. I asked the goat cheese maker (my in-laws live a mile away from her farm, it’s not picturesque), what she fed her goats. She was highly insulted that I politely asked about her product and then admitted she did not know what she fed her goats. She had never thought about what was in the feed she purchased. I have gone to farmer’s markets in Washington State, San Diego, Maryland, Florida, etc, big or small you have really got to sift through to find good gems. We all don’t live in Asheville, NC folks.
We left the weird farmer’s market and headed to the mennonite farm where we buy our grass fed beef, non gmo chickens, grass raised chickens (we can see them), grass fed dairy, and occasional when in season fruit or veggie. But honestly, not very many people live near places like this (heck, we don’t, a 45 minute drive!). It’s not like the Mennonites are out advertising their farm either, you just have to happen to drive by to become a customer. Also, most the USA are not having year round farmer’s markets. Sure, in SoCal there are, but again not all of that product is from a quaint little format.
Vendors don’t show up, vendors could be low on products, rain could cancel out your grocery trip for the week, what are people doing in the off-season. Come on, I have never met someone who solely buys local produce and we ourselves buy mostly all organic food.
Local farmers can also be jerks, just like any other person or owner of a business. They could also be a super cool person, like the super cool person who works the check out at Tiddlywinks grocery. My dairy farming cousin and her husband recently had an awful divorce preceded by an awful marriage. Her husband would be at farm fair sweet talking everybody, the altruistic farmer image, but at home hit his wife, yelled and cussed her out for having dinner 5 minutes late, told their kids awful lies about their mother, etc. Farmer does not equal honest, good, moral person…just keep that in mind.
So, come one folks. Be a little more understanding. Truly, most Americans can’t make their farmer’s market their main source of food. Ask a rural Minnesotian, or Wyomingnite to drive several hours to the farmer’s market verses going to the local grocery store where they know all the employees by name.
rb
I should proofread. I meant “eggs” for one of the “chicken”. And, I realize “an” would be appropriate before “outdoor”.
Douglas Hartley
No offense mam but you are why we do not have local farmers anymore and commercial farms are running rampat polluting our atmosphere with deadly chemicals that hurt and harm animals and humans. they support using pesticides and chemicals that are bad for us and our environment. By supporting grocery stores you are killing off good local farms you are why farmers have no choice but to sell their land that they had for generations. You support billionaires and millionaires who promote mistreatment of good employees who are paid poorly because they care more about money then the farmers they ruin. Shame on you and a pox on you and your family.
Will O
No, Douglas, We support doing what is financially best for someone’s family. We encourage people to shop at farmer’s markets when feasible, but it is not always possible. Our farmer’s market is very expensive, so it is not within our budget, but we buy local whenever we can. We are currently eating beef from a cow we bought locally, but we would rather someone eat fruits and veggies (whether local or grocery store) than processed junk.
https://thehumbledhomemaker.com/afford-farmers-market-budget/
Thomson Smith
It’s valuable that you mention that shopping at a grocery store is a convenient way to buy food for your family’s meals. My wife and I are expecting a baby, so we’re thinking about finding a grocery store where we can buy food for our family. I’m going to search for a good grocery store in the area that we can use.
https://www.lloydsiga.com.au/