Published: August 18, 2008 12:34 pm            

GARDENING: Tips for smart marketing

This is the time of the year that I frequent the farmers market on South Main looking for fresh garden produce. I’ve been there every day it’s open during the last several weeks and it’s just getting better and better.

When you decide to go to a farmer’s market check out the days that they’re open. Our market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I noticed that on the off days there are some growers there also. Most growers arrive early just after daylight and stay to around noon.

As a buyer my strategy is to show up early just after 7 a.m. This gives me a large selection to chose from before it becomes picked over. Also it’s cooler.

What I don’t like to hear is the growers telling me that they had what I was shopping for but someone come in and bought all they had brought. That’s why I go early.

Now let me point out the down side. Sometimes there are growers that come from farther away and don’t arrive until after 8:00 A.M. That’s the reason that you shouldn’t be in a hurry to leave.

Hang around and talk to the growers and ask them about their produce. Questions like “Will you have more next week?” or “What are you going to bring next week that you didn’t bring this week?” gives you an insight of what might be available next week. So when you arrive don’t be in a hurry to leave.

Before I buy anything I like to walk up and down passing each stall and checking out what they’ve brought. Some of the growers go out of their way to display their produce for maximum eye appeal. I also like to see the prices already displayed on the products so I don’t have to ask. I stop and visit and ask about the varieties. I ask about the product’s strong points and ask if they have grown this variety before. You can get an insight of the produce on the table.

I’ve got to tell you, I value our farmer’s market. Shopping at a farmers market can be fun, but also good for our community. It’s an opportunity to buy the freshest foods that are available and fresh means better health for you. Our local farmers market provides an income for many growers. If we don’t give them an opportunity for out business we’ll both lose out.

How can we give them additional support other than our patronage? Bring your own bags. I know they use recycled bags but if you bring them additional bags it will help their bottom line so they can keep the costs down.

Keep an inexpensive cooler in your car to keep produce fresh and safe during hot weather. Shop early so the produce will stay cool. And here’s an important tip, go without a list. This probably goes against what you’ve learned, but the point of going to the farmers market is to get the freshest possible produce. So plan on buying whatever looks best and plan your meals around your purchase. If there is something that you’re not familiar with, ask about it and give it a try. Go straight home after shopping and store the fruits and vegetables appropriately. Leaving fresh produce sitting in a hot car can wilt it.

As you buy, put heavier, firmer items on the bottom of your bag or basket so you don’t damage the more fragile products. Store everything green in plastic bags in the refrigerator. Remember to always keep tomatoes, garlic, potatoes and onions at room temperature.

So take some time to visit our farmer’s market. Smell the cantaloupes, thump the watermelons, and taste what a real tomato should taste like. Nothing looks or smells better than a fresh fruit market. Go out and support our local growers at the farmer’s market.

Phil Beatty is a special correspondent for the McAlester News-Capital. Contact him at phil_beatty@yahoo.com if you have any comments.

        

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