10 ways to save money at the farmers market

There’s a common perception that farmers markets are expensive, sometimes prohibitively so. But fresh, local, seasonal food isn’t just for the privileged few, it’s for everyone. And by being a little strategic, using insider tips like these, you can get more for your money and truly make your farmers market dollars count.

Keep in mind that many markets accept SNAP and WIC, and some even use “market match” programs — such as Double Up Food Bucks — that multiply the value of these benefits. Ask your market manager for more information.

Here are a few ways to save money at the farmers market.

1. Buy food at the peak of its season

Buying food when it is at its most abundant is the best and easiest strategy for stretching your market dollars. Think of seasonality as a bell curve. There will be a trickle of any given crop at the beginning of its season that will build and then, as the season progresses, taper off. At the peak of the season, the crop is abundant and the price will be at its lowest. Although many farmers plant at intervals to smooth out this pattern as much as possible, their harvests will follow this tempo to some degree.

2. Seek out “seconds”

Produce that looks a little less than perfect doesn’t always make it to the display table. So-called seconds might have a little dent or ding but are still delicious and are often deeply discounted. These might be out on the table or you can ask if they have any on hand.

3. Buy in bulk/shop with a friend

Farmers are often happy to offer case discounts or reduced prices for large orders. Get together with a friend or two to share the haul and plan out a big canning project for summer’s tomatoes or a big batch of jam for that flat of berries. Sometimes the farm will bag things as a bulk purchase — bags of apples, potatoes ot corn, for example — for slightly less than if you picked out your own, piece by piece.

4. Use a general shopping list

Try to stay broad-minded when making your shopping list, sticking to categories like “greens for sautéing” or “vegetables to roast” rather than specific items and you will be better able to take advantage of what is available, and what’s the most affordable that day.

5. Substitute simpler varieties and stretch pricey ingredients

Pricey porcini mushrooms might not fit in your budget, but there are probably other more common mushrooms that will. When shopping for “gourmet” ingredients, ask for an alternative that would work equally well in your recipe. Try mixing in less expensive produce with pricier items to lower the cost of a dish. Take berry pie, for example. It’s delicious, but those little jewels can add up to be quite a treasure. A mix of berries with apples or stone fruit — which can be less expensive —  will taste great and be a bit lighter on your wallet.

6. Enjoy good meat but less of it

We are used to steaks as big as our plates, but a satisfying dinner doesn’t need to feature such a large portion (or, in fact, any meat at all). Meat is just as tasty when sliced and shared, and when served this way can feed more than one diner. Of course, there are also significant environmental and animal welfare benefits to de-centering meat on the plate, and of buying better meat whenever possible. Look for pasture-raised, regenerative or grassfed. Some might have specific labels or certifications; you could also learn more about their practices by asking whoever is working at the stand.

7. Buy lesser cuts of meat and fish

Fish collars sell for much less than filets. Roasts cost less than tenderloins. Using a whole-animal approach to buying meat — one that celebrates all of the different cuts — or even livers or feet/trotters — will lower your grocery bill.

8. Use the whole thing

Be mindful of every part of the plant. The beet tops, carrot fronds and chard stems make up a large segment of the produce you are buying. Throw it away and you’re throwing out your money, too. Studies show that American households waste nearly a third of the food they buy, and wasted food generates a significant amount of methane gas, which contributes to climate change. When shopping for a specific item for a recipe, try to be creative and come prepared with ideas for how you’ll use the whole thing: For example, you might have plans to buy beets for borscht, but you can also plan to use the greens in a sauté (and purchase whatever other ingredients you might need for that at the market, too).

9. Make organic count

Not all produce at the market will be certified organic (and that’s ok!). Farms that are certified will have that displayed on their signage. If shopping organic is important to you but you can’t afford to buy everything organic, you can always buy some food at one stand and some at another. Not every farm that uses fewer or no pesticides will be certified. You can ask if they may be using “low spray” techniques, or IPM (Integrated Pest Management) — or possibly organic practices that aren’t labeled as such because they haven’t gone through the (costly) process of certification.

10. Compare prices and markets

Different vendors have different prices depending on what is growing abundantly for them. It doesn’t hurt to do a little walk-through of the entire market to comparison shop before you start filling up your basket.

You may be lucky enough to have several markets in your area. It might be worth doing a little price comparison between markets, too. Vendor fees can vary from market to market and those often get passed on to consumers. This is often also true of credit card fees — you may pay less if you pay in cash.

Insider tip:

Do keep in mind, however, that farmers operate on very narrow margins. Honor their hard work and commitment to the health of the land and people. Never try to haggle. Do not shop late in the day expecting a bargain. And do not insult the prices — every farm is doing its best to remain competitive.

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