Farmers’ Market Visit

Farmers’ markets are
great places to visit throughout the year. You can enjoy the fresh air and get
a week’s worth of fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, and even dairy to
complete your plate. You can find your local farmers’ market by using the
website, http://marylandsbest.net/. This a great resource
for locating markets, searching for a specific food items, and more!

When heading to your
farmers’ market, expect to see tables and vendors selling all kinds of food
items. Talk to the vendors in order to find out where their farm is located,
the farm’s growing practices, or any additional information. Get to know one
vendor to build a relationship with them. They may share more tips and maybe
even recipes. Vendors can also give you tips on how to transport and store your
food purchases for quality and safety. Be sure to be selective when finding produce
and other foods to bring home.

When visiting a farmers
market:

• Visit soon after the market has
  opened. The earlier you go the better selection there will be.


• Bring bags or even a rolling
  cart to carry the produce you buy.


• Bring a cooler if you are going
  to be purchasing items like meat, eggs, or dairy products that need to
  stay cold.


• Eat before you go to the
  farmers market so you are not shopping while hungry.


• Bring cash, small bills and
  coins. This will make the process go faster when paying.


• Farmers markets are typically
  outside so dress comfortably and on sunny days make sure to wear sunscreen
  and even a hat.


• Do not ask to lower prices, the
  vendors work hard and may be insulted by bartering for a lower price. 

Farmers’ markets are a
great place to explore and try new things. Don’t be afraid to buy something
you've never tried and experiment with it!