Here are some tips and tricks to maximize the your time and joy at the farmer’s market. Also, make sure to check out Le Summer Produce Party!

Before You Go

Figure out which markets are near you and when they operate:
NYC Farmer’s Markets is a helpful resource to find a market near your home or work.
I adore the Union Square Green Market and used to pick up produce before work or during lunch when I worked nearby.
Markets usually have services that help reduce our environmental waste/impact. Our Saturday farmer’s market, the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, has composting and collects textiles for recycling.
Bring cash (some, not all, vendors accept credit cards)!
BYOBags — tote bags and individual produce bags — to reduce waste.
Have a rough idea of what you want to buy before going. Browse websites that you love (like Le Dinner Party) for seasonal recipes and inspiration!
Go early...‘tis true that the early queen gets the best tomatoes.

At the Farmer’s Market

Take a loop around the market to scope out the goods before purchasing.
Buy what you plan to eat or preserve (Romaine and I tend to enable each other and get mad excited and go HAM...don’t be like us).
Buy snacks and treats for yourself to munch on as you stroll.
Buy what’s ripe and in season. Here is a helpful resource of what’s seasonal in NYC.
Set heavier items on the bottom of your bag and more delicate ones on top.
Make friends with the vendors and fellow-customers by asking about the produce (what’s great right now, how do you cook these ingredients). Make sure to introduce yourself.
Be respectful of the produce and the farmer (if you grow houseplants you know how much love and labor goes into growing these beauties). Resist the urge to squeeze or damage the produce.
You can tell a tomato is ripe because it will seem heavy for its size and rich in color.
Buy flowers!
Tips for how to get the best melons from my friend Colin @FredrickPaisano. Fredrick Paisano grew up on a melon farm and is passionate about melon sellin’!
“It’s a good idea to go with watermelons that look more dull, if they’re shiny it means they’re likely not very ripe. With Cantaloupe, it’s all about the smell — the sweeter/stronger the scent the better. If the melon doesn’t have a strong scent, it’s not ripe.”

How do you pick the best produce? Do you have farmer’s market party tricks to share? Comment below!