Today, Michael and I took and impromptu trip to the large farmer’s market here in Nashville. We learned a couple of important things I thought I would pass on:

1) Pay attention to where the produce is coming from.
For example, at one of the stands a vendor was charging $2.50 a pint for strawberries that were actually from California. I found the same thing at Aldi for $1.50 a pint. Just because it is at the farmer’s market does not guarantee that it is local or organic. Be sure to ask questions!

2) Farmer’s market employees can be a valuable resource.
There is a garden center at our farmer’s market, and I was able to ask an employee a lot of questions about locally growing vegetables. We will be moving to a house with a fenced in backyard in the next few weeks, and I needed advice on what to plant in the garden I will be creating. I was able to learn what works at this point in the season for the area we live in. Don’t hesitate to get to know the people who work at your local farmer’s market; they can often provide you with a wealth of information.

3) Make sure to comparison shop.
Not all vendors are created equal. We always take a least one trip around the whole market before we make any purchases.

4) Only buy what you will realistically be able to eat.
It is so easy to get carried away when you see all that delicious fresh produce. However, getting carried away and buying more than you need almost always results in waste. If you go in with a plan of what you want to buy, it will help you prevent waste and overspending.