Do Your Grocery Shopping at Your Local Farmers Market!

A wide array of products can be found at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market every Thursday in the back parking lot of Cottin's Hardware & Rental by llc

With Dillons on Mass Street closing and the Merc’s Eat Local Challenge in full swing, now is the perfect time to do your grocery shopping at your local farmers market. Farmer’s offer a wide range of local produce, as well as a fair selection of meat and dairy products; not to mention fresh bake goods, preserves and other locally prepared foods. If you are not a regular market goer, here are a few tips that can make your shopping experience more enjoyable.

One - Bring your own bags. Farmers are on a tight budget and no one really wants to add to the over flowing land fill, so bring a bag or two that you can use to collect your finds in.

Two - Don’t bring a shopping list. Of course there are always a few things that you would like to find at the market, and there is nothing wrong with keeping those items in mind, but let the bounty of the season dictate your purchases. Come to the market with an open mind and you will leave with a much more delectable selection of goodies.

Three - Try something new. American grocery stores stock a typical selection of produce that is chosen by corporate growers for durability and productivity over taste. Farmers tend to plant crops based on taste over durability and regional weather conditions over productivity. Fennel, tomatillos, Armenian cucumbers, and cipollini onions are just a few of the items that you can find at a farmers market, but will seldom see in grocery stores.

Four - Ask the farmers what their favorite way to prepare their produce is. Often times farmers will have pre-printed recipes to go along with their produce. If not, they are always happy to tell you how they prepare their foods. Rest assured, farmers eat what they grow… sometimes in greater quantities then they prefer.

Five - Talk to the farmers. Ask the farmers how their growing season is going. Ask them if they use chemicals. Ask them what they have that might be available at future markets.

Six - Talk to the producers. Ask where they get their ingredients. Ask where they process their foods. Ask what their favorite item is and why.

Seven - Enjoy the music and tip the band. Bands at farmers markets are there for your enjoyment. They do not get paid with anything other than your appreciation and your tips. So be generous and show your appreciation for what they do.

Various types of garlic available from New Boston Coop at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market by llc

This week at Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market patrons will be wowed by the sounds of The Prairie Acre Band. Noah and Virginia Musser (banjo and bass respectively) have been playing with Greg Yother (guitar) and Trisha Spencer (fiddle) since 2002. The band recently released its fifth CD titled “Roll Up Your Sleeves.” The Prairie Acre is known for its revitalization of old time music and a distinctively twangy sound. Free State Brewing will be pouring locally hand crafted beer and Iwig Dairy will be serving up delicious ice cream. Iwig will also have a selection of butter and milk products for your grocery needs. New Boston Coop will have a few typical grocery sundries and Drum Creek Farms will be on hand with a selection of 100% grass fed beef. Upward Spirals will have bread and pizza crusts and Stony Ridge Farm will have fresh eggs, jams and jellies and breads to sell. Eight other farmers will be at Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market with a wide array of seasonal produce and Back Door Bakery and Nikki’s Pie’s will cover the needs of any sweet tooth in the family. Vinland Valley and the Lemonade Guy will fill the last two spots in the parking lot to assure that Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market has everything you need to eat healthy (and locally) this week and in the weeks to come.

Stony Ridge Farm offers duck and chicken eggs, as well as fresh baked coffee cakes, breads, jams and jellies at Cottin's Hardware Farmers Market by llc

Cottin’s Hardware Farmers Market is held every Thursday through October, from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm, in the back parking lot of Cottin’s Hardware & Rental at 1832 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas.