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One of the best ways to save money, save the earth and keep healthy is to shop at a local farmer’s market. Not only are you eating fresh and local but you know exactly where the food comes from. Eating locally also saves the pollution caused by trucks and boats hauling foods from long distances. Here are a few tips on shopping at farmer’s markets:

1. Go once a week. It is important to make the farmer’s market shop part of your weekly routine. Many people go once every while but just end up buying at a grocery store most of the time. In order to get in the habit of doing this make it part of your weekly routine and stick with it.

2. Don’t waste. It is easy to get carried away at farmer’s markets. Everything looks so good and it is cheap. Be careful not to over-buy and waste food and your money. Plan out your meals for the week in advance and make a detailed list of what foods you need and how much you need. Don’t stray too far from the list and you shouldn’t have any leftover food.

3. Know what is in season. Knowing what foods are in season when you shop at a farmer’s market can save you major cash. You can still plan your meals around the foods that are plentiful and not get sick of it.  All it requires is a little creativity. Don’t be afraid to experiment with foods and recipes that you have never tried before.
 
For the best selection, do your shopping in the early morning. If you can avoid weekends as farmer’s markets can get extremely busy, especially in these difficult financial times.