Great information about Farmer's Markets

Who Knew? 13 Things Farmers' Markets Won't Tell You BY MICHELLE CROUCH

1. Just because the sign says "farmers' market" doesn't mean there are any real farmers involved in the makeshift shop. Many so-called farmers' markets are actually set up by wholesalers who buy the same food you can get in your local grocery store, mark it up considerably, set up stands, and resell it. For a much more authentic experience, look for farmers' markets that are "producer-only," meaning they require all vendors to actually grow or make the foods they sell.

2. Want to save some money? Ask me about "seconds," visually imperfect fruits and vegetables you can often get by the case at a discount. Also called No. 2 produce, seconds are great for making tomato sauce, salsa, jam, and soup-but they're perfectly fine to eat as is, too, as long as you don't mind a few dings.

3. Don't show up with a set-in-stone shopping list. Part of the fun of a farmers' market is that you never know what you're going to find. So shop first, and then adjust your menu based on what you find.

4. Seriously? You want oranges in Colorado in July? Find out what grows locally and what's in season before getting your hopes up.

5. Please don't walk up to me holding your caramel macchiato and say $3 is too much to pay for a bunch of beets. Did you try to bargain with the barista at Starbucks? I was up at 3 a.m. today harvesting crops just to support my family.

6. Don't squeeze the peaches to see if they're ripe. Ask me to help you pick out some ripe ones, or look for a warm yellow base color and a fragrant smell. And while we're on the subject, don't husk every ear of corn either. That dries them out.

7. You can get great deals by arriving at the end of the day, when vendors discount unsold goods so they don't have to haul them back home. But some markets don't allow the practice, so check before you go.

8. Don't forget us in the winter! Many farmers use greenhouses, cold storage, and other extension methods to make produce available all year. And dairy products, meat, eggs, and homemade breads never go out of season.

9. Buying at the start of the season doesn't always save you money. You'll pay a premium to get the first peaches or tomatoes of the year. If you're on a budget, wait a few weeks until a food is abundant, demand dies down, and prices drop.

10. Get to know your farmer, and be a consistent customer. Once I start to recognize you as a regular, I may get in the habit of slipping some extra in your bag.

11. Don't know what something is or how to cook it? Just ask. For the best advice, ask the grower what he has that day that you shouldn't miss and how he prepares it.

12. There's a reason why our produce tastes so much better than what you find in the grocery store. It was probably picked yesterday or even this morning.

13. Fido may be friendly, but no one is going to be happy if he lifts his leg on a crate of watermelon. Please leave your beloved four-legged friends at home.

Sources: Ann Yonkers, coexecutive director of FreshFarm Markets, which operates 11 markets in the Washington, DC, region; Jenny McGruther, former manager of Crested Butte Farmers Market in Crested Butte, Colorado, and author of The Nourished Kitchen ; and Lynn Caldwell, market manager for Atherton Market in Charlotte, North Carolina.