Buying fresh fruit and vegetables at farmers markets isn’t just tastier than the supermarket — it opens up ways to save money you won’t find at the grocery store.
1 Why Farmers Market Produce Is Different
The difference between the produce at farmers markets and supermarkets is more than “tomayto” versus “tomahto.” And buying fresh fruit and vegetables at farmers markets offers opportunities to save money in ways you might not find at a grocery store.
The produce sold at most supermarkets is typically harvested before it’s ripe, says Chris Curtis, executive director of Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets. Then it’s transported — often long distances — before arriving at the store, she says. The many people involved in getting a tomato from the vine to the store and, finally, into your tote may get a slice of your payment, Curtis says. That doesn’t leave much for the farmer.
When you buy a tomato at a farmers market, however, “almost all of your dollar is going directly to the grower,” Curtis says. That grower picked the produce ripe, soon before selling it. A recently harvested peach tastes better than that “hard little green ball” sold at large retailers, she says.
Here’s how to get the most for your money when buying produce and other farmers market goods.
2 Get to Know the Vendors
Many vendors give deals to folks they know, says Gabrielle Lupton, a baker at Bubble & Brown Bakery, which sells goods at Salt Lake City farmers markets. To build that kind of relationship with a vendor, become a regular. Consistently buy from that seller and turn to her for bulk and special orders, like a custom cake from a baker.
In addition to scoring deals — and maybe even a friendship — becoming a regular gives you “an inside scoop on the variability of the season,” says Nina Gruber, outreach and development coordinator for Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets. For example, you may be among the first customers to know when farmers will start selling peaches, she says. You may also learn when peach prices are expected to change with supply and demand throughout the season.
3 Buy “Ugly” Produce
“Seconds” or “No. 2s” are fruits and vegetables that taste the same as other produce but look a little off — they may be misshapen or bumpy, for example. Farmers typically sell them more cheaply than the perfect-looking produce. “It’s something farmers have been doing since the dawn of farmers markets,” Gruber says.
Get a deal on seconds, and you’re not just saving money — you’re also helping to reduce food waste. Even if you prefer eating or serving flawless produce, you can follow Gruber’s lead and use seconds for cooking, baking and making jam. She buys a box of No. 2 tomatoes, then cooks and freezes batches of pasta sauce. “Then I have sauce for the rest of the year,” she says.
Access to a credit or debit card — and dozens of freshly baked pastries — can put your grocery budget in danger. Lupton says that customers paying with a card typically outspend those who use cash. Consider bringing cash, spending a set amount and leaving your cards at home. (This is a reliable money-saving tip for most kinds of shopping trips.)
Vendors don’t want to be stuck with unsold inventory so “they’ll start slinging deals toward the end of the day,” Gruber says. For example, in the final 30 minutes the market is open, you may be able to snag a bag of apples for half the price you would have paid first thing in the morning. The trade-off is that there will be a smaller selection of products at the end of the day, Gruber says.
5 Get Discounts on Bulk Purchases
Remember, vendors want to offload as much of their product as possible. So they’re incentivized to cut a deal if you’re interested in buying a lot of it, Lupton says. Ask vendors what prices they can offer for the quantity you want, such as a dozen cookies or two pounds of potatoes. They may throw in a few extra potatoes or charge you less for a batch of cookies than they would have for 12 individual treats.
This article was written by NerdWalletand was originally published by The Associated Press.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can you save money at a farmers market?
Get to know the vendors so they offer deals to regulars, buy “ugly” seconds that taste the same but cost less, pay in cash to avoid overspending, shop late in the day when vendors sling deals on unsold inventory, and ask for discounts on bulk purchases. Together these tactics help you stretch your grocery budget while getting fresher produce.
Why is farmers market produce different from supermarket produce?
Supermarket produce is typically harvested before it’s ripe and transported long distances, with many middlemen taking a cut. At a farmers market, almost all of your dollar goes directly to the grower, who picked the produce ripe soon before selling it. A recently harvested peach tastes better than the hard little green ball sold at large retailers.
What are “seconds” or “No. 2s” at a farmers market?
Seconds, also called No. 2s, are fruits and vegetables that taste the same as other produce but look a little off — they may be misshapen or bumpy. Farmers typically sell them more cheaply than perfect-looking produce. Buying them saves money and helps reduce food waste, and they work well for cooking, baking and making jam.
Should you pay with cash or card at a farmers market?
Pay in cash. According to baker Gabrielle Lupton, customers paying with a card typically outspend those who use cash. Bringing a set amount of cash and leaving your cards at home keeps dozens of freshly baked pastries from putting your grocery budget in danger. It’s a reliable money-saving tip for most kinds of shopping trips.
Is it cheaper to shop at the farmers market late in the day?
Often, yes. Vendors don’t want to be stuck with unsold inventory, so they start slinging deals toward the end of the day. In the final 30 minutes the market is open, you may snag a bag of apples for half the morning price. The trade-off is a smaller selection of products by closing time.
