Farmers Market Shopping Tips - CulinArt Group

Eat Well Blog

Farmers Market Shopping Tips

This summer, take a trip to your local Farmers Market. Connecting the community with their local farmers, purchasing directly from growers at these markets allows local agriculture to remain viable and preserves precious farmland. Enjoy peak flavor and nutrition from local produce, dairy and other provisions available at Farmers Markets near you by following these tips.

  1. Know where to go. Markets are becoming popular across the country and range in size, offerings, and hours of operation, For a list of markets in your area and to find out what your local farmers are harvesting right now visit https://www.localharvest.org/.
  2. Talk to your farmer. From growing techniques, to storage requirements and preparation ideas the farmers offer a wealth of information. Not sure how to use a certain vegetable in your own kitchen? Curious about the use of pesticides or if their produce is certified organic? Enjoy the opportunity to connect with your local farmers who can provide invaluable information on local agriculture as well as recipe ideas!
  3. Be adventurous. Different varieties of tomatoes interesting cuts of meat, and gooseberries, you never know what you’ll find at the market. Many farmers offer samples to passerby; the perfect way to try new things. Be mindful that the produce may not look perfect, but understand that it was grown close to home and is packed with flavor and nutrition. Come with an open mind!
  4. Ensure you’re getting the best price and quality take a stroll through the market first. While it’s not customary to bargain with farmers over the price of their produce, many farmers will offer deals at the end of the day. SNAP and WIC benefits are accepted at many markets, for a list visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/fmnp/wic-farmers-market-nutrition-program.
  5. Bring cash and reusable bags. transactions are quicker when using cash and most farmers appreciate small bills so they do not have to make change; especially if you are shopping early in the day. Markets may not supply grocery bags so bring your own environmentally friendly, sturdy tote bags to carry your haul home.
  6. Pay attention to food safety- Check the stand’s overall cleanliness, including gloves and clean utensils for food handling, covered garbage cans, and coolers for perishables. Buy only milk, juice and cider that has been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. If purchasing prepared, ready to eat foods, ensure they have been kept under the proper conditions-under 40 degrees for cold food, over 140 degrees for hot foods. Remember to use separate bags for raw meat, eggs, and items such as produce and bread. Once home, properly clean all produce and refrigerate meat, eggs, and dairy immediately.

 

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  • August 21, 2019

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What our clients are saying

“What a wonderful dinner we had tonight for our international families. The food was delicious and well presented as well.”

“Thank you for including me today in the food waste demonstration/[chef competition] and flattering me with the role of “judge.” I will proudly don the [Stop Food Waste Day] apron the next time I plan an “event” in our own kitchen. I think this is a very worthwhile cause and the statistics you read off are staggering. They, alone, can intimidate a home chef, let alone be the “driver’ for a professional one.”

“Thank you and your staff for all the care and thought you give CSW adults and students. You approach events with such care and elegance- I don’t know how you do it! Especially day after day. Please thank all your staff for their wonderful work and kind manner with all of us. Here is to a great year!”

“Many, and I do mean many, thanks for a great Parents Weekend.  I heard from so many happy parents and you all work very hard to make it happen.  In gratitude and kindness…”

“We are so thankful and so impressed by your immediate attention to our power outage. It was such a relief to see all the equipment and workers coming in within a few hours of the outage. Thank you for serving dinner to all [the] students in a very difficult circumstance. Please extend our thanks to your workers who braved cold weather to grill hamburgers and hotdogs.”

“With all the prep work from Winterim ramping up and classes continuing as usual, it's a busy time to be a Forman teacher. Imagine my delight, tired as I was, when I delved into the upscale-restaurant-quality chicken parmesan our dining hall served last night. Forman is all about support, and providing our students with a dinner of that quality is just as important a measure of support as anything that happens in a classroom.”

“I can’t thank your entire team enough for the outstanding service, food, displays, everything!  You are a master at detail, and because of that Adam and I were able to focus on the parents.  I know what a sacrifice pulling off a weekend like this means, we are so appreciative and grateful to you all for your talent and generosity.”

“I ALWAYS feel spoiled by the meal offerings at CSW (The Cambridge School of Weston) and am entirely grateful for it. As I eat today's delicious and lavish lunch (and think about yesterday's as well), I can't tell you how much I feel so well cared for here, both with the food and by the dining hall staff. CSW cares for us in so many ways, both big and small.”

“Thank You! Chef Budd [and team], you overcame a new online ordering system (and hundreds of labels daily!), provided creative and healthy menus, continued to connect with local farmers to incorporate locally sourced ingredients, and worked tirelessly to serve the school community on three campuses.  While it feels like you are all a little like the Wizard of Oz right now, working behind a curtain in a kitchen far away, we sense your smiles and your passion to deliver the best possible service during these trying times. We are all so grateful!”

“I will say that CulinArt has always been a very collaborative partner to T. Rowe Price, listening to our current needs and future goals and suggesting realistic and achievable strategies to meet those goals.  2020 was obviously no exception.  CulinArt also altered other areas of our OCS and pantry programs to create safer environments for all our associates. We can only thank you for your continued flexibility and innovative ideas through these difficult times.”

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