The farmer’s market is a great place to support local families and farms and buy great food but often times the biggest obstacle is the cost. Many local farmers can’t offer prices at or below the cost of food in a grocery store because they don’t benefit from economies of scale as large agriculture productions do. It is still important to invest money in the local economy and in healthy sustainably-grown food but how can we do that on a budget?
I started shopping at my neighborhood farmer’s market as a student a few years ago and learned a few tricks for saving money.
An early spring farmer’s market haul.
Shop Around
Walk the farmers market at least once before buying anything and compare prices. Some farmers specialize in specific products and have great prices so it is worth looking around. We have specific vendors that we go to for fruit, eggs, meat, etc. because we know they have competitive prices. We go to one vendor that sells gigantic onions for only $1 each which is a price that can’t be beaten anywhere else in the market (and even in some stores)!
Build Relationships with Vendors
Get to know a farmer and become a regular. I have had vendors knock off a few cents or give us a little something extra just because we are regulars. Relationships matter and of course, it makes the shopping experience feel more personal too!
Take Advantage of Seconds
Tomato vendor with a box of cheaper ‘seconds’
Many vendors have a selection of “seconds” – produce that is maybe not as pretty or is bruised or getting too ripe that they sell for sometimes half the price of the perfect produce. I have found seconds bins for mushrooms, tomatoes, fruit and lots of other produce and it is a great way to save money. If a vendor doesn’t have a seconds container out then just ask if they have any available.
Buy in Bulk
Many vendors offer deals if you are buying large quantities of produce or meat. They will sell quarter cows or half a pig and as long as you have the freezer space it’s a great way to buy pastured local meat at a flat (often lower) rate for a variety of cuts. You can also often get bulk quantities of produce for a good deal. I’ve bought entire boxes of peaches or tomatoes that are over a dollar less per pound than smaller quantities.
Watch for Sales
Sometimes certain vendors will have sales on products if they are at the end of a growing season, have surplus, or want to feature a certain item. I always watch for these sales and stock up! The farm that we frequently get meat from always has a featured sale item of the week and buying what’s on sale helps us save money and try new products.
Participate in Rewards Programs
Our farmers market has several programs that reward shoppers. If you are a student or staff member at the university, you get “farmers market bucks” and if you qualify for SNAP benefits, a certain amount of your money is matched in market bucks. There are also programs that give you discounts if you ride your bike to the market! Check with the market host to see if there are any discounts available!
Some farms even offer rewards programs like “buy 10 pounds of cherries and get the 11th free”. Just ask!
Shopping locally is so beneficial to our economy, people in our community, our health, and our environment and it doesn’t have to be detrimental to our wallets!
What are your tips and tricks for saving money at the farmers market?
I purchase most of my produce or food goods at Costco because of the bulk products. Clearly all of the packaging is in plastic, what is the best way to transition?
Hi Lindsay,
I would start by buying produce package free since almost every grocery store offers that.I would also try to prioritize Costco products that come in reusable or recyclable packaging (ex. glass jars) so that it isn’t going straight to the landfill. I still buy a couple things this way (like coconut oil) but the plastic tub goes into the recycling when I am finished. The other benefit of zero-waste grocery shopping is that I end up with cupboards full of beautifully labeled glass jars or spices, nut butters, and other goods so that organized aesthetic is a big motivator for me to transition!
Hi Jonica,
I just started reading your blog and I have a question. Have you looked into how sustainable eating meat is? When reading this post, I saw you bring it up a few times. In all honesty, the information I found about it turned me vegan a few years ago and was wondering if this has happened to others you know. Since then, i try to buy in bulk, i use reusable produce bags and grocery bags, shower every other day (if I can get away with it), and use eco friendly non resuable products such as tin foil (If you care brand), hair and body care, and dish soaps.
Hi Brittney – thanks for reaching out! I got really interested in learning about the sustainability of our food system while getting my environmental studies degree. The conventional animal agriculture industry is atrocious in terms of its environmental impacts but animals are also a vital part of small family farms that follow ecological stewardship practices. I support those small, local farms and also love that there are so many people paying attention to the environmental degradation happening because of our food. I want everyone to be able to find resources on this blog to become more sustainable and hope to create more posts on food issues soon!