Farmer's Market...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
May 1, 2008 9:35am CST
With summer coming rapidly approaching, our local Farmer’s Market will be opening. For those that don’t know…a Farmer’s Market is a place you go where ppl have stands set up for selling fruits and veggie’s that they’ve grown. Sometimes there are houseplants also. They are usually a lot tastier than what you get in the grocery store b/c they haven’t had to be trucked in from another state. We also have random stands around town where ppl park their truck and have their fruits and veggie’s in the back. I love going to these places as long as I can remember to bring cash. I plan to eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies this summer in my quest to get healthier.
My favorites are tomatoes, corn on the cob, apples, oranges, watermelons and cucumbers to name a few.
Do you think that with the rising cost of groceries more ppl will be turning to these local sellers? Do you use a Farmer’s Market or stop at the roadside stands? What’s your favorites for the summer?
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
15 people like this
37 responses
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
1 May 08
There is one around here and we keep saying that we are going to check it out. I understand from friends who have been there that the stuff there is a lot better than store stuff and cheaper too. I hate WalMart produce, it has no taste. Our local HEB and Kroger have fairly good stuff but not as good as that "homegrown" taste.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (161010)
• United States
3 May 08
Dillons (Kroger) definitely has better produce and meat than Wal Mart.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
1 May 08
the market around here have the farmers set up but actually the food is more expensive than in the grocery stores, we buy them because they are fresher and if you go at the very end of the day, you can haggle with them to put the price down because they really do not want to have to bring that stuff back in the truck.
2 people like this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
1 May 08
We have a Farmers Market here once a month, and we also have a huge farm shop not far way from here. My partner and I much prefer fresh produce where possible although sometimes the prices can be more expensive. You can't beat fresh fruit and vegetables though
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
1 May 08
You know what twoey, this might be my first year going..Not that I didn't want to go before, I always thought supporting local growers plus the added bonus of the produce being very fresh, we could never afford it..Now with the prices of food going up because the fuel costs rising, it may be better to go there..
I also remember as a child when we went on road trips, we would always stop at a fruit stand and buy fresh produce, and it was the best fruit and vegetables I have ever eaten..
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
1 May 08
I like going to the Farmer's Market. You can get some pretty good deals there. With prices of food going up I think it makes sense to got straight to the source and get it for less. I like to get apples, oranges, cucumbers, cantalope, watermelon, and corn on the cob.
2 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
2 May 08
I cannot wait. They are more affordable and have much better fruits and veggies. I do think alot more people will be stopping.
1 person likes this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
1 May 08
I think a lot more people will be driven to visit the Farmer's Markets now that the cost of living has risen so much. Our local Farmer's Market should be starting up here pretty soon. They just got it going last year, and it was a huge success. I intend to visit it a lot this summer. Of course, I also have the luck of having a hubby that delivers fertilizer to all of the local farmers, so he gets to bring home all sorts of goodies and they don't cost us a dime. LOL
1 person likes this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
1 May 08
I love farmer's markets. I also like to buy the vegetables and fruit from them because it tastes so much better and it also is cheaper and helps the farmers to continue to grow the wonderful crops for us. I like to get squash, okra, tomatoes, melons, oh man, too many things to mention. The only problem is we don't have enough of them around here.
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 May 08
Some farmer's markets somewhere may still offer value, but not where we live. We are in a large gated community that allows the farmers market to come inside and sell in one of the parking lots once a week. It is a carnival-like atmosphere, very festive, with beautiful merchandise and gorgeous fresh-cut flowers, but the prices are ridiculous.
For example, they have rotisserie chickens roasting in a booth that they sell for $13 and they appear to be about half the size of the delicious ones we can buy at Sam's Club for $4.88. We can get lovely vegetables at the 99 cents only store that cost way less than half of what the farmers market sells them for.
I heartily applaud your decision to eat more fresh fruits and veggies this summer! Also, it is probable that for those who can, the high prices will cause more people to grow their own.
1 person likes this
@mobler (38)
• United States
1 May 08
Our farmer's market has more of a carnival atmosphere also. They sell flowers, crafts and preprepared foods. But the prices on the fruits and vegetables are still good. Plus it's just fun to wonder through and see all the things for sale. I especially like when they get the fountain going for the kids to wade in and they sometimes even have live preformers. It makes shopping so much more fun.
1 person likes this
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
1 May 08
I love to stop at these stands.My favorites are tomatoes,
apples,pears,cucumbers and lettuce.I love fresh veggies.
They are so much better for you.I'm sure they are going to
be higher in price this year,because of gas prices.I hope
they are not to high.
@littleowl (7157)
•
2 May 08
Hi Twoey-I love the local grocers,greengrocer etc shops but it is such a shame that they are virtually obsolete here in the UK the main places you can get them is at markets-obviously its the supermarkets that have run small shops like that out-but the other good thing about the grocers,butchers, greengrocers is there food is so much cheaper and tastier than supermarket so as and when I can I go to the market or the small shops if not then its the supermarket-blessed be littleowl
1 person likes this
@Xdrowninghavocx (3117)
• United States
1 May 08
I have never been to a Farmer's Market. But, I like the idea. And yes now that the prices are going up for everything, including air, people will flock to the fresh foods.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
2 May 08
Hi Twoey
Here in Texas, we have a Farmers market every Tuesday from 3-6pm an they have everything you can think of...Fruit, veggies, Breads, cheese, eggs,Honey, plants, herbs, homemade lotions and soaps,juices,and trinkets...everything is fresh and local..can't wait till next tuesday!
1 person likes this
@serialmommy (639)
• United States
1 May 08
The farmer's market here in town opens up this Saturday for the season. In May and November, it's only open on Saturdays, and then from June to October it adds Tuesday and Thursday to it's roster. I'd like to go check out what they have this Saturday, though I feel that pickings will be slim. It's the very beginning of the season, so I don't think there will be much offered. In the next couple of weeks they will start to have strawberries, which will be a nice treat. I need to start making a habit of going over there on Saturday mornings to pick up veggies and fruits for the week. It will be a great way to eat healthier, support local growers, and get out and get some exercise. The farmer's market is just around the block from my house, 1/2 mile at the most.
1 person likes this
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
1 May 08
We have a bunch of farmers markets and individual fruit and veggie stands around here. We bought fruit from some of them last year. I am going to start looking at and comparing prices. I know that a lot of the local stands were more expensive than the stores last year.
I am going to pay better attention this year. I wanted to grow my own stuff, at least a little bit.
It would have to be done in containers though because we live on base. We are gone so much that I am afraid it would all die while we are out of town.
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
1 May 08
I have not been to a farmers market in a long time there is one here every summer I just don't get up to it. I think I will check it our this year as the prices will probaly be lower then the grocery store and I will also be helping someone out by buying from them. I do like to buy corn on the cob from farmers it is soooo good but I wonder how much a dozen will be this year it was about $4.00 last year for a dozen I remember when I was little and you got a dozen for about .50 cents!
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
1 May 08
I LOVE farmer's markets! My favorite was when I lived in southern Maryland not far from Amish/Mennonite community. They had everything there for fruits/vegetables, as well as a lot of the baked goods, etc, made from them. It was awesome!
I prefer to buy fresh, locally grown produce as long as it's not cost prohibitive. It tastes so much better and is much better for you too.
I've only moved here to Ohio a couple of months ago so I don't know what is available here, I'll have to ask my husband. I do have a few of my own things growing in pots now that I hope to get into the ground or later pots soon, and maybe I'll have a few meals worth of vegetables for my troubles. Sure wish I had room for a 'real' garden.
1 person likes this
