Farmer's Markets: How much do you spend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$60. Last Sunday i bought tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, apricots, spinach, Persian cucumbers, avocados, salsa & chips, toffee.

Where do you live that your farmers market has blueberries and apricots and avocados in May?

Wish people would realize the vendors buy stuff from wholesalers and even grocery stores. It's largely a scam.

Different poster - the farmer I go to supplements his offerings with items from wholesalers. It’s pretty clear what he grew himself and what he didn’t (and he would gladly tell you!), and no one is hiding the ball. I actually appreciate it, since it makes going to the market more of a one stop shop.

[Anonymous]

Easily over a hundred but we drop a couple hundred every time we go grocery shopping for our big family. The cheese guy and the salami guy are insanely expensive and many of the prepared food products are as well, so I skip those unless we really want a treat. Berries are definitely more expensive buy having grown and done pick your own berries, I think it’s still a wild bargain. The only way people are getting those cheap berries at giant is through industrial farming that is pretty bad for the environment combined with really terrible labor practices. I feel like that’s a lot less likely with the stuff I buy at the farmer’s market.

[Anonymous]

The only thing I find worthwhile at the farmers market relative to price and quality are apples when they're in season. Just about everything else is more expensive than WF and often no better.

I have a farmer's stall I go to periodically out in the country that is genuinely a farmer's stall and economical and wonderful. Baltimore County, FYI, so no help to DCers.

[Anonymous]

I will start out admitting that I’m a little bit nuts when it comes to where my food comes from. I live within 45 min of several farms. I rarely go to a farmer’s market but more often go to specific farms for their specific produce.

Right now there is one farm that has early strawberries and greens and potatoes. My csa just started delivering. And the other farm for meat. There is one specific farm for apples and peaches, one for corn and more all purpose veggies. It depends.

I spend anywhere from $20-$100 plus my csa share which is $30/week. I really try to buy what’s in season.

[Anonymous]

Going to the farmers market has become a rich liberal thing more so than a way to purchase actual food.

Most of the produce and fruit I ignore unless they have a small stall and actually produce it themselves. I find the smaller stalls are more likely those who are only bringing their own stuff but YMMV.

Baked goods, cheese, etc and other stuff - that's what I usually purchase if I go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$50 for all groceries including cheese, milk and eggs for a family of 3. Farmers markets are ridiculously well priced. Keep local money circulating locally and cut out the middle man. Support farmers!

which farmers markets do you go to? I have not found them as a place to save money. Great fresh produce, cheese, mushrooms, meat - yes- inexpensive Nope.

I go to Falls Church, McLean and occasionally Oakton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going to the farmers market has become a rich liberal thing more so than a way to purchase actual food.

Most of the produce and fruit I ignore unless they have a small stall and actually produce it themselves. I find the smaller stalls are more likely those who are only bringing their own stuff but YMMV.

Baked goods, cheese, etc and other stuff - that's what I usually purchase if I go.

Most of the farmer’s markets here are producer markets- they have to sell what they grow/produce. Where are you going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$60. Last Sunday i bought tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, apricots, spinach, Persian cucumbers, avocados, salsa & chips, toffee.

Where do you live that your farmers market has blueberries and apricots and avocados in May?

Wish people would realize the vendors buy stuff from wholesalers and even grocery stores. It's largely a scam.

Which Farmers markets do you go to? The ones here (eg the Fairfax county ones and Falls Church) are producer markets- only producers from a certain miles radius are allowed.

[Anonymous]

I spend a lot, but I live in AZ and we have a giant farmers market that has pretty much anything you could want. Last weekend I bought-
Lunch at a food truck (Lobster roll) and a cold brew coffee
2-3 tubs of kefir in different flavors
2 flavors of hummus
mild salsa and garlic roasted salsa
veggie chips
5 bagels
A slice of blueberry pie
Exotic mushrooms
Dog treats and an antler chew
A candle
Hot Honey
2 Frozen crab cakes
Coffee beans
Eggs
Garlic pepper cheese curds
Loaf of Sourdough
1/2 an Apricot loaf
Bottle of Olive oil
a selection of fruits
Plant based coffee creamer

[Anonymous]

Usually about $100
I buy all my meat/eggs there
Produce
Pickles/kimchi/kombucha
Frozen meat pies/prepared salads for lunch
Then around 50-100/week at the regular grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$60. Last Sunday i bought tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, apricots, spinach, Persian cucumbers, avocados, salsa & chips, toffee.

Where do you live that your farmers market has blueberries and apricots and avocados in May?

Wish people would realize the vendors buy stuff from wholesalers and even grocery stores. It's largely a scam.

This. Now I’d spend a ton if they had real jersey tomatoes, but in may, I know they aren’t coming from the ground around here.

I am really careful about this. If one vender shows up with large strawberries in May, you can bet they are buying from a wholesaler. But some vendors have sparse offerings until late spring, and I’m pretty sure they are growing their own food.

[Anonymous]

I bought cantaloupe yesterday at my farmer’s market. $5 each was the lowest price. Whole Foods sells them for $4. Granted the cantaloupe I bought yesterday was excellent, but that’s a lot to spend. Same with strawberries. 2 pints was $9. Whole Foods sells 1 lb for $4.