"Over the last ten years, local farm markets have popped up in many urban and suburban towns. These open-air markets are full of lively vendors and farm fresh goodies of all descriptions. Best of all, the prices of fresh fruit and vegetables is generally much below the major supermarket chain prices."  says Kate Copsey.

 I agree that farmer's markets are very popular. Do you shop regularly at a farmer's market? How do the prices compare to other stores in your area?

 

In my area we have a farmer's market but it seems to be at an inconvenient time for me.  Fortunetly we have a lot of area farmers that sell their produce at the end of their driveways, as well as people who want to sell the surplus from their own gardens.  I find that the produce is a lot cheaper than supermarkets.  It's also better environmentally, as well as economically to by produce grown closer to home.

I love our farmer's market. There are now two big ones in my city. One on Saturday downtown and one on Sunday down south. You have to go early to get the good produce and meat. Our markets also sell flowers, hosta, plants, crafts, woodworking, etc. Vendors also sell homemade baked goods, to take home and eat on the spot! DH and I like to take the boys down, get a fresh cinnamon roll to split, and peruse the wares. You can get really, really specialty produce and organic food/meat. Ostrich, buffalo, certain fish, free range chicken and beef. I love the bread that the Mennonite women bring in from out of town. Their pies are wonderful, too! 

We also like buying produce from the back of pickups on the corners around town. Those can be found every day, not just on the weekends. Most set up shop early in the day, take a break during the heat and then open up again to catch the drive-home crowd.

I have found the costs cheaper than the store; the produce fresher and the quality better.

Yea for spring and summer and Farmers' Markets!

I love our farmers market .. last week I traded Honey for a case of corn and a case of strawberries .. I am going back this week to see what else is there ..our is a small  there is a larger in the next town .

 I will be selling at the market this year...

I shop at a Producer's Only Farmer's Market every weekend from mid-April to early November, and I really miss it in between.

The prices are usually about equal to or less than what I pay at the store for the same products, but the quality is *muc* better. This is not true of a market more local to me, where I refuse to shop becuase all they do is purchase from the same place grocery stores do and sell at about the same price. The Farmer's Market is actually part of our standard grocery budget, and on the off-season we put that money into either the grocery store or direct farm visits for greenhouse goods.

For the hubby and I, the market is often a date-like experience. We have a basket, we pick produce, meats, herbs, eggs, and sundries out together, and get to be social at the same time. I've developed a great relationship with many of the farmers this way, and often get deals on things like scratch-and-dent tomatoes for canning. Plus, they save things for me if they're running low. 

In short, I love them! 

They are starting one in New West on thurs from 3-7 so we will see how that is. There are farmers markets but don't go much. except local fairs.  We have local farms to go to near by or lots of fresh produce in the local markets/stores.  I can buy free range eggs, meat etc at local stores.

Actually on the way to Maple Ridge, I saw a place that sells local meat and fresh produce in season. Hopcott Meats. My sister in law has bought meats there and says there are good but of course more expensive. http://www.hopcottmeats.ca/shop.html  Opinions on prices?  I know it is more expensive but I am thinking it would be better in the long run for the health of our family. no hormones etc vegetarian diet.  scary when now it is a selling point that beef is sold with the fact that it is fed a vegetarian diet since cows are vegetarians!   I am thinking it might be better to eat less meat and have more quality and better health for my family.

MFI-I rarely purchase meat (my DH eats it but I don't) so my opinion is probably skewed but I absolutely agree with you that if you eat it, it is much better to buy smaller amounts of really good quality.  Firstly, the taste will be far superior.  Secondly, you will be supporting proper care and management of the animals.  Thirdly, you are making sure that what you are feeding your family is ideal-not full of chemicals, aritifical hormones, and that the animal did not have a poor diet/illness.  I have started to purchase higher quality dairy and eggs in the past few years because of these same reasons . . .  These things are more expensive than conventionally produced items, but sometimes frugal means finding the best quality for the price rather than just the cheapest (in my mind!).  But since I am not a meat eater, someone else may have better advice!  I know it can be hard to reduce meat consumption if you eat a lot of it.

I love farmer's markets!  We have a lot of them here as I live in one of the largest agricultural regions in the country.  We have a couple that are year round-in the Summer we have 5-6 every week in different places, in the Winter there are 2-3 per week.  The largest markets have the best prices here-probably because the booth/table cost is pretty low.  The smaller markets are similar to the store and often higher in price (I think because the booth cost is high) so I don't frequent that one as much.  My favorite one is held every Friday night from May through September and it is huge!  Can't wait to take DS there this year!

Hard to believe in my rural area but our "Farmer's Market" is also the same stuff the grocers get.  I try to buy from the man about 4 blocks away who grows his own when I can.  Of course he usually only grows tomatoes and onions.

Hopefully though we'll have our OWN this year.

re-tired

We have a very nice Farmers Market right across from my parents house. We go just about every saturday for lunch. I don;t find that all the prices are teh cheaps in town but they are local and very yummy! Potatoes and corn are the best price in the summer season and sometimes  berrys  but we pick our own! Also the Thi place in town has a trailer at the market which i enjoy alot and they are WAY cheaper at the market then at the restrant during the week! So it is a good treat to get a lunch plate from them! I just like to go and enjoy the outdoors and sounds of the market! BEAN<><