9 responses to “Saving money at the farmer’s market”

1. 

   Amber August 1st, 2009 at 23:10

   I shop at farmer’s markets. Since I have a family of 4, I do buy in bulk. I also preserve the fruits and veggies in season, by freezing and canning. I pay up front, but then I have frozen blueberries all year at a much better price than if I purchased them from the grocery store.

2. 

   Jennifer August 2nd, 2009 at 08:29

   First, thank you for shopping local. I’ve been on a personal campaign here in NS about getting people to shop local. I mean, why buy strawberries from the US when there are so many yummy varieties fresh grown here!

   As someone who works farmers markets here in Nova Scotia, we pay per space or table AND there is also a membership fee.

   So, when I start a market I pay anywhere from 10-25 dollars to be part of the co-op (which pays for advertising and pays the manager of the market). If you are part of the co-op it becomes cheaper to have a table through the year (18 dollars instead of 25 per week).

   Also, the more popular the market, the more expensive the table. My cheapest market is 15 dollars a table, but I make much less than the market that I pay 27 dollars per table at.

   We have very very strict rules here about who can and cannot sell at a farmers market. So, a person trying to sell someone elses crop from another province or state, would not be allowed at all. They are then a re-seller and not a primary or secondary producer. A primary producer is someone who grows the crops or raises the meat. The secondary producer is someone who takes those goods and makes them into something else (preserves, pies, packaged meats). Re-sellers can sell at flea markets or on the side of the road, but farmers markets are sacred here.

   I personally am a tertiary producer, and come last in priority when it comes to filling spaces at a market as I make soap. It’s made locally, but some of my ingredients come from out of the province or country. I do locally source a lot, but I’m considered more of an artisan.

   Hope that helps!

3. 

   Saver Queen August 2nd, 2009 at 09:16

   Amber, great point about freezing. I watched an Alton Brown show once on freezing blueberries and it looked really simple. Maybe I should do that before the season is over. I’d hoped to learn how to can this summer but alas, I don’t think it’s in the cards. Another time though!

   Jennifer, thanks for sharing your info from the perspective of an insider! I wish that Ontario was more strict about re-sellers too.

4. 

   CanadianSaver August 2nd, 2009 at 10:10

   I love the photos! Wish my farmers’ market had produce like this! Of course we don’t have local peaches and stuff here…

5. 

   Erran August 2nd, 2009 at 12:40

   Funny timing SQ! I just checked out the farmers market here in Winnipeg yesterday for the first time! I did think it odd a while back ago that we don’t have one, but a friend asked a few days ago if I was interested, and I said “hell yeah!” I guess we have one afterall – woop woop. There was one in the Forks (for those in the know) but it seems more like mom/pop grocery arrangement (with fruit/veg from all over) rather than a legit farmers market. Boo to that I say.

   Apparently, I was living under a rock because the place was packed with people, and finding parking was a bigger challenge than anticipated. It’s located just on the perimeter of the city so not far at all. I was disappointed with the fruits and veggies though, as there wasn’t much but that has to do with the cool/rainy summer weather we’ve been having…that or I needed to get there earlier.

   I ended up buying some green peppers (funny how they weren’t the supersized behemoths you see in the stores – I had to ask my friend if they were jalapenos or not haha), handmade mexican perogies (cheese, beans, chipolte peppers – oh so yum!), and packs of local, organic quinoa and bean soup mix. Sweet!

   I’m all for supporting local folks.

   By the way…homemade veggie burgers, eh? Marry me?

6. 

   Ginger August 2nd, 2009 at 13:53

   When I was growing up in Stratford we had a farmer’s market every Sunday and I loved it. I still love going to them, but being in Toronto makes it pretty hard to get out to the authentic ones.

   I always loved seeing all the fresh, top-notch produce and some of the more unique items like purple carrots and potatoes that some vendors were growing as an experiment.

   I try to get out to the St. Lawrence market here in TO every once in a while and it’s great–but it’s a little more expensive and is just not the same as the real-Mennonite-deal!

7. 

   Diana F August 3rd, 2009 at 17:37

   SQ, I read this yesterday and meant to comment but the kids got to the computer and well, that was the end of me posting to you.

   I LOVE the photos of your market!

   I went to 2, one on Friday at Sherway Gardens and the other in Weston on John Street.

   I must say that I’m trying really hard to buy local. Trying to avoid the mexican strawberries when there are so many good fresh Ontario ones around. My daughter (she’s has been taking notice in the grocery store too about all the imported produce at this time of year. If she sees something that says Ontario she about yells it out.

   That said I hate seeing the resellers. The Shwerway Market doesn’t have them but the Weston one does. It really irks me too, because it used to have none and now the biggest booths there are resellers. I know who farms and who resells so I avoid them. We also have an awesome egg guy at Weston Market.

   For meat when I lived in Guelph many many moons ago I just shopped Zehrs but I’m not even sure if they exist anymore.

8. 

   hklover86 August 8th, 2009 at 23:56

   Wow you got all that for $22 thats great!

9. 

   Lisa August 30th, 2009 at 22:40

   Thanks for the tips! I love the St Jacob’s market I don’t think I’ve ever been to another market before, actually!