Unless you live in quite a rural area, going to a Farmer’s Market is something of a rarity, but they’re great for shopping. They’re usually known for giving a more rustic, outdoors-ey feel, from the building architecture to the decoration, the way everything is set out, makes it feel a lot different from your typical supermarket.
They often have that authentic feel that can’t be replicated in your local shop. The goods in farmers markets are usually made locally, by family owned businesses, and produced by local farms. It definitely makes you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth, that feeling of reassurance that you know where the produce comes from, and it’s also a great way to support local businesses and economy. If you do live near a farmers market, or are planning to visit a countryside resort or village, here are 5 things that we’d definitely recommend buying on your visit.
Preservatives
There’s just something really authentic about buying preservatives from a farmers market. Maybe it’s the design, the fancy looking jars that have that tablecloth-esque cover on, sealed with string or ribbon. Either way, preservatives like jams, marmalade, chutney are great purchases. Go Raw Honey is also a great buy, as it’s not something that would typically be sold in your local stores, and having it from local beekeepers gives it that authentic, honest backstory. Preservatives also make great Christmas gifts as part of a hamper for foodies. They just look incredibly cute.
Cheese
The selection of cheeses you typically get at a farmers market is unrivalled. Local cheese makers are free to be creative and you’ll usually find some of the most interesting and unheard of combinations of flavours around. If you’re a lover of cheese, you can’t go to a farmers market and not buy a few blocks. They’re just so imaginative, and again, there’s that feeling of authenticity that comes with buying cheese from a local business.
Juice
Does anyone remember the years when your milk used to be delivered on a milk float in the glass bottles, and how good that used to taste? If so, do you remember sometimes they’d come by with glass bottles of various juices? Buying juice in a glass bottle is incredibly nostalgic for that reason, and you tend to find that local juices are more likely to be organic or pure.
Meat
Buying meat from the farmers market is particularly better, for a number of reasons. As the meat is sourced from local farms, you know exactly where it is coming from, and chances are you could even ask the farmer who provided it. It’s less likely to have been exposed to emissions, as they were not driven far distances into the neighbouring cities to source for supermarkets.
Fruit/Veg
Farmers Markets tend to have a larger selection of fruit and vegetables. What’s more, as farmers tend to get up early to harvest, before being brought to markets, you won’t find fresher produce anywhere. A lot of fruit and veg is seasonal, and it’s handy to have the option of buying certain fruit all year round from your local grocery, however it’s also healthier to eat fruit and vegetables that are in season.