It’s the middle of Summer and every farmer’s market is bursting at the seams with fresh produce, poultry, flowers, and fish. While visiting a neighborhood farmer’s market can be intimidating, it’s also your best bet for finding local, farm fresh food for you and your family.

However, sometimes it can be a tough place to navigate due to the crowds and multiple vendors. Bo and I thought it’d make your life a bit easier if we shared some of things we’ve learned over the past year while we’ve been visiting the Union Square Green Market on a weekly basis.

1. Go early in order to find the best selection.  Yesterday we didn’t show up to the farmers market until noon and most of the seafood and poultry stands were already sold out. The key to finding fresh meat and seafood is showing up early in order to avoid crowds and have the best selection.

2. If you want the best deals on produce and baked goods, go late. If you’re looking for good deals, then you should go as late as possible as many stands mark down their prices towards the end of the day especially on baked goods and perishable items like too ripe fruit or flowers.   

3. Make a list ahead of time. If you tend to overspend or get overwhelmed by the wide array of products, put together a shopping list ahead of time. This will allow you to focus on what you really need without getting distracted or tempted to spend too much money.

4. Bring your own reusable bags! The great thing about reusable bags is that they can hold plenty of items without breaking. Yesterday we were stuck carrying five plastic bags filled to the brim with produce. It was awkward and we knew one could break at any minute. This fear caused us to walk all the way home with our first load of produce before coming back for more. It was a waste of time and very inconvenient! Next time we’ll go armed with multiple canvas bags!  5. Take a walk around the farmers market before you make your first purchase. There are multiple booths which carry the same items. Yesterday I compared blueberry prices at 3 different booths before discovering a 2 or $4 special on blueberry pints at the fourth booth! There are some great deals to be found at a farmer’s market but you have to search sometimes.

6. Bring plenty of cash and keep it easily accessible! Most farmer’s markets do not accept check or credit card. Therefore, you need to have plenty of cash, preferably smaller denominations, when heading out to the farmer’s market. The last thing a vendor wants to worry about is counting change for a $50 when you only spent $7.25. In addition, if you have to search for money in your wallet and pockets, the vendor and other shoppers will quickly grow aggravated.  7. Think twice about bringing your dog or stroller to the farmer’s market. While you’ll get plenty of sweet glances and stares, the space is often very tight and cramped between booths. You don’t want your dog to be responsible for knocking over a vendor’s prized tomatoes or running into a flower stand with your stroller. However, if you have no choice, then make sure to be aware of your surroundings and be respectful of other shoppers.