NPR...Farmers Markets

irisheyes2005

 Does anyone out there buy their produce at a farmers market or a french market?  Do you think the prices are reasonable?  What are some things you like about them?  Don't like?  What else do you like buying there?  Just wondering...

Jamaica_Bride

I love love love our farmers market. Besides produce, I like their selection of cheese, wine, pastries and the people are awesome.

HotDish!

I just got back from our local farmers market. I buy veg, eggs, bread and jams. The prices are a littler higher than the grocery store but the quality is far superior and I like supporting local business. DD always has a great time because they have a different childrens craft every week and musicians

~Kat~

I just get fruits and vegetables at ours, and I don't go very regularly since it is held on Tuesday mornings. They also sell local honey, baked goods, handmade jewelry and artwork. Mostly it is fruits and veggies though.  Ours is very unstructured and laid back. Farmers just show up with a card table and set out whatever they have. I am going to try to go more often this year since I am not growing a garden.  Everything is either cheaper then the store or about the same price. Rarely is something more expensive, but when it is, it is always worth it. Last year I got some huge peaches for about a dollar each, so they were more expensive then the store, but soooooo worth it.

Kersbear

We buy our fruits and veggies at farmers markets and unless the grocery store is having a buy one get one free, it's always cheaper at the farmers market.

AggieCouple

We have a teeny tiny one by our house, and their prices are slightly better than the grocery store.  I find it hard to justify the extra trip for just produce, though.  We own a CSA share, which is where we get the majority of our produce anyway, so I'm really there to shop for the few essentials I don't get, like onions and potatoes, which is just not worth the trip for me, when I get everything else (frozens, milk, general groceries) from my grocery store.  But other than that, I do like it.  I just don't like it *enough* to make that extra trip.

There is a really big one at Rice University inside town every Saturday.  I've only been once and if you had a similarly large one in your area, it'd be worth it every once in a while, due to the variety.  BUT, the prices at *that* one are slightly higher than that of grocery stores.  But, most are organic (if uncertified), so it's hard to make a 1 to 1 comparison.  

Anyway, I think if you have a fairly large one nearby with a good variety so that you're not making the trip for 2-3 items, I think they are worth it, even with higher prices.  You're buying from small producers so you're supporting local farmers and employees, and since they're not mass produced, they're organic or closer to organic.

 

shopgirl78

We usually just buy fruits and veggies.  We do go because I think it tastes better from the market.  I think ours opens next weekend!