How to Shop the Farmers Market for the Week
Okay, so you’re probably going, “Is this like a Noxzema commercial or what?” But seriously, I actually have a way normal life for a teenage girl.*
Friends often comment on the fact that they see me cooking all the time. It’s no secret that I love visiting my local farmers market as part of my routine and that I get inspired by what’s in season. It wasn’t always this way. I used to be one of those people who shopped at the supermarket and didn’t have a clue what was “in season.” I once even took a class that purported to unravel the mysteries of the farmers market, and the instructor basically said, “Whatever’s in the market is in season.”
Nowadays, I operate under a very simple system when it comes to shopping the market.
1. Shop to fill the holes.
Generally speaking, at the end of a week, I still have some produce left in my house or some random packaged food, so I figure out what I actually need. Seriously take the step of looking in your fridge and pantry and figure out what probably needs to be eaten (because of freshness or just an overabundance) and make note of those items. Keep them in mind as you shop.
Have lots of beans and tortilla chips in your pantry? Buy peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, and other things that would make a good salsa. Have blue cheese? Buy some beets you could roast and serve with them.
The above photo is reflective of the fact that I had almost nothing (just one apple!) left in the fresh food department. I am trying to eat both more fruits and vegetables, so I always buy a selection of both.
2. Shop to fit your life.
I try to pack lunches at least a few times try to pick fruits and vegetables that make sense as quick lunches (hand fruit, lettuce greens, anything that requires very little work).
Also, get to know how much produce you can genuinely eat in a week (keeping in mind that you might get busy, make last-minute dinner plans with a friend, stay late at work and order in), so you don’t overbuy in the future.
3. Shop things that you (a) genuinely like and (b) have some clue how to cook.
I’m all for trying new things or experimenting, but for regular weekly shopping, I don’t exactly get avant-garde. Kale and collards are some of my staples because I’m well-versed in their possibilities.
4. Shop for things that can go together.
I know this seems obvious, but sometimes I watch people buy some strange combinations of produce. Think about dishes that you have liked at restaurants and keep those combinations in mind as you shop. They don’t have to be the obvious ones, but they can be. For instance, I bought some lovely basil to go with the heirloom tomatoes. But I also recently had a great tomato and peach salad at The Dutch that got me thinking about peaches while I was at the fruit stand.
5. Shop to refill your pantry, and with the future in mind.
This one is related to #1 in the sense that you should take a look at what you’ve got on hand. I think it’s absolutely essential to keep some onions, shallots, and/or garlic on hand, so whenever I’m low, I grab some. They’re great to combine into just about any sauté and whenever I need something savory, I know I can count on them. It also applies for honey, bread, and other artisan goodies that are sold at the market!
I also know that life is unpredictable, so I try to buy mostly things with longer shelf-life and only one or two items that need to be used more quickly. For instance, this week’s haul includes those perfectly-ripe tomatoes that will be eaten right away. It also includes curly kale (which behaves more like a delicate green like lettuce, in that it wilts very quickly and needs to be eaten in the first two days or so…lacinato and other heartier kales will last a bit longer). The other items will keep in the fridge pretty well. Pro-tip: check out this guide for more information about how to store your produce.
More on what I turn these items into in the next few weeks…
*This photo is so picture-perfect it made me think of that first scene in Clueless, a seminal movie in my life.