Shop Smart - Shop Your Local Farmer's Market

Your local Farmer's Market is the perfect way to spend your summer afternoon. Live music, fresh produce and fun people—why wouldn't you swing by?

Here are a few tips on getting the most out of your Farmer's Market trip:

Shop early for the best selection

Farmer's arrive to the market bright and early with their trucks full of fresh produce. The closer to opening time you arrive, the better your selection will be.

Shop late for savings

Once the market slows down and closing time approaches, you may have a good chance of getting a bargain. Some, not all farmers would rather sell all of their produce rather than haul heavy loads all the way back to their property. You may score a few bargains during the last hour of the Market.

Have a taste

The best part of the Farmer's Market is that you are ensured quality. Many of the farmers hand out samples of their produce for you to taste their delicious goods. This is a great time to try new things! If something looks different, try it, love it and cook it for dinner!

Stock up

While supermarket produce is harvested weeks before it arrives in stores, the items you see at the Farmer's Market are usually picked from the ground the day before you buy them. That means your produce purchases will have a longer life expectancy so load up and take home your favorites along with a few newbies!

[caption id="attachment_8180" align="alignright" width="420" caption="Chef Karla giving a cooking demonstration at the Farmer's Market of Bluffton"][/caption]

Why You Should be Shopping at the Farmer's Market

Piggy backing off of Chef Jen’s post on Gardening tips; I’d like to share with you my new found love of local Farmer’s Markets. I’m not much of a gardener but I’ve found that shopping at the Farmer’s Market is the next best thing. Not only do I know that I’m buying fresh produce, but I also feel good knowing that I’m supporting my community, get advice from local farmers and enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere.  

Whether shopping in the grocery store, neighborhood farmer’s market or in your own garden, it’s important to know what’s in season. Purchasing ingredients that are in season will make your meals more flavorful, and can also mean spending less on sometimes pricey fruits and vegetables. The key is to be flexible. Instead of shoveling out more for blueberries, you may want to buy strawberries because they’re on sale. Typically, items that are on sale are in season—when in doubt, do a little research.  In South Carolina this time of year, cumbers, peaches, peppers,  sweet potatoes and one of H3’s favorites— summer squash are all in-season (I love this Butternut Squash Soup healthy recipe).  Since I know what’s growing in my area, I can plan my meals accordingly.

Go a step further and look for foods that are grown locally. This cuts down on the damage caused to the environment on shipping produce, supports local family farms, and gives you and your family the opportunity to enjoy un-bruised, organic, fresh produce. The Culinary Arts Center at Hilton Head Health visits the Farmer’s Market of Bluffton every other week from 2:00-7:00 pm. If you’re in the area, stop by our tent to view a free cooking demonstration and have Chef Karla show you how to pick out ripe produce.   

Experimenting with new seasonal recipes is fun and helps you get in your servings of fruit and vegetables. The new H3 cooking school, the Culinary Arts Center (CAC), will provide a variety of culinary classes including some focusing on seasonal produce. More information and a class schedule are available on the H3 website and CAC Facebook Page.