8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting Your Local Farmers Market

Don’t Buy Refrigerated Products First

You may be looking forward to picking up farm-fresh chicken or locally sourced seafood for dinner—but make that the last stop of your shop. Once animal products have left their coolers or icy displays, the clock is on to return them to a safe temperature.

If the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, most meats and seafood shouldn’t be out of refrigeration for any longer than an hour. If it’s cooler than that outside, two hours is the max. With transit and shopping time, having a few ice packs and a portable cooler on hand may be the way to shop.

Don't Forget the Shopping Bags

While some vendors may provide bags, it’s best to bring your own for ease of use and to help out the environment. Get a designated farmers market tote and keep it in your car. (You may want more than one to separate breakable or potentially leaky items, like eggs or berries.)

Always Bring Cash

It’s easy to leave the house with just a smartphone and keys, but not every farmers market vendor accepts tap-to-pay. Cash may be the only way to pay for some items you want, plus some vendors may offer discounts for paying in cash. This may also help you stay on budget since you'll have a limit to what you can spend.

Resist Overbuying

Every stall at the farmers market may be tempting, and it can feel so good to fill your basket with the bounty of the season. But all that fresh produce has a downfall, though: it doesn’t last forever.

Unless you’re planning on pickling or preserving, try to only buy what you can eat within the week. Ask vendors how long their produce typically lasts, and you can also weigh your produce as you load up your bags to ensure you aren’t accidentally buying several pounds of pricey potatoes.

Don't Haggle

Outdoor markets may seem like the place to bring out your inner frugality, but this isn’t a haggling situation. It’s appropriate to ask if there are any deals when buying bundles, but don’t be stingy—farming is hard work, as is setting up, breaking down, and staffing a booth. Go in with the expectation that products are priced fairly and you’re paying for quality, nutrition, and flavor. 

Don’t Sample Without Permission

You wouldn’t open a package of cherry tomatoes at the supermarket and try a few for quality, so don’t just bite into something at the farmers market because it’s within reach. Some stalls may offer samples, and you can certainly ask about sampling the goods, but get permission before you try any of the food. 

Don’t Mangle the Produce

Don't create waste or harm vendors' products when shopping. It’s rude to the vendor and other customers to break off any less-desirable pieces of produce (such as broccoli stems, cauliflower leaves, radish greens, or mushroom ends), and it’s certainly not leaning into the sustainable ethos of the market. Find new ways to use the extras in your purchases, like using greens for garnishes or pestos, or pickling harder veggies. Also, take care when touching produce—avoid squeezing for ripeness and damaging the goods.

Don’t Assume Everything Is Organic or Local

Different farmers markets have different rules about vendors, so pay close attention if buying local or organic is important to you. Tropical fruit at a farmers market in the Northeast may be a telltale sign that the vendor is outsourcing from a distributor.

Also note that organic farming requires a special designation, so many vendors may offer produce and animal products made with organic practices but not certification. Other vendors may be fine with pesticides and antibiotics for animals that aren't cool with you. Dialogue is part of the farmers market. If you’re not sure of an item's origins, feel free to ask.