5 Tips for Shopping Smarter at Farmers' Markets

Summer is an especially glorious season for farmers' markets, as we move beyond the winter apples and bottomless spring greens into peaches, figs, berries, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and a whole host of seasonal favorites. We're rubbing elbows with other excited shoppers, sampling fruits and vegetables from farm stands, and collecting cooking tips from the farmers themselves.

It tends to be a livelier and more intimate experience than a trip to the local supermarket, and living in the Greater L.A. Area means we (luckily!) have our pick of farmers' markets any day of the week. Here are five tips for shopping smarter and getting the most out of your local market visit.

1. Add an unusual vegetable on every trip.
The beauty of shopping at a farmers' market is choosing from an exotic array of vegetables that you likely won't find elsewhere. Instead of sticking with your usual grocery-store standbys, like red hothouse tomatoes and yellow crookneck squash, try purple icicle tomatoes or blue pattypan squash. Embrace all the colors of the rainbow and expand your palate one weird vegetable at a time; use it as an opportunity to chat up the farmers and learn more about the local foods growing in your region.

2. Embrace the tails and the tops.
Quite often, farmers' markets feature vegetables with greens attached, even for vegetables you didn't even know had leaves, like kohlrabi. When faced with the option of choosing topless carrots or trimmed radishes, go for the whole thing, top to tail. The greens of these root vegetables (including beets, turnips, and daikon) are not only edible, they're delicious. You can use the greens the way you typically use chard, in a variety of sautes, stir-fries, soups, and stews. Young, tender leaves (like those found on spring radishes) can even be eaten raw in salads.

3. Comparison shop before you commit.
It's easy to get tempted by the first beautiful pint of strawberries that catches your eye, but resist the urge to buy it on the spot unless you know the farmer. Chances are, there will be more than one stand selling the same fruit or vegetable, so take a lap around the market when you first arrive and take stock of the selection, quality, and price. Try a few samples, gauge the freshness or ripeness of the produce, and scope out prices on similar varieties.

4. Know your produce.
A farmers' market will usually have a wider range of produce to pick from, and this can be both a blessing and a curse. Between all the heirloom tomatoes available, how do you know which one is the most savory? Or good for turning into tomato paste? Can some beans be eaten whole, while others should be shelled? Are all muskmelons created equal when it comes to texture and sweetness? Learn how to pick out produce, and don't be afraid to ask the farmers for advice. They'll often be happy to help you choose the right vegetable at the perfect ripeness, and even make suggestions on how to prepare it.

5. Not all produce and pantry items are better.
Farmers' markets offer an ideal and romanticized view of what food shopping should be. But don't be fooled into thinking everything you see at a farm stand is organic, or better than what you can find at a local grocery, bakery, or fishmonger -- businesses that are no less deserving of your support if they align with your values.