6 Steps to Mastering the Farmers' Market

Everyone knows that eating locally and seasonally is good for both you and the environment, but keeping track of what to buy, where it comes from and how to get it can be confusing. Shopping your local farmers' market is the easiest way to ensure that what you're buying is seasonal, fresh, and local. Read on for specific how-to's on making the most of your farmers' market experience, and for help finding a farmers' market in your neighborhood, plug your zip code into the Get Local Info tool on The Daily Green's homepage.

Before heading for your local farmers' market, do some research on what's in season in your area — don't expect to find avocados in Maine or oranges in Iowa. Head out with realistic expectations about what you know can grow locally in your neck of the woods. And since all fruits are not created equal, make sure you know what everything you want looks like at its peak. Bigger isn't always better, so find out the ideal color, size and texture of what you'd like to buy beforehand. Some good resources include:

• The Epicurious seasonal map
• The Epicurious Food Dictionary
• The Farmers Market Online in-season listing.

To avoid a nasty collection of tiny plastic bags, bring your own backpack or large canvas tote bags with comfortable handles for easy transport, along with small reusable plastic bags to protect more delicate items like herbs, fruits or potted plants. Have a reusable bottle of water and a few paper towels on hand to keep extremely perishable items like fresh herbs and asparagus hydrated. Also, most vendors are cash only, so come prepared with small bills to speed up your shopping, and look for signs indicating if food stamps are accepted (the effort is slow going, but more and more farmers' markets are making an effort to accept them).

No matter where you live, the early bird gets the goods, so get to the market early before eager chefs and foodies have bought all the best stuff. Also, remember to make a quick loop around the entire market before buying anything. There's nothing worse than making a purchase only to find that it's better and cheaper four stalls down.

No one knows the ins and outs of food like the people who grow it, so get answers straight from the experts by asking the really important questions. Find out exactly where your food comes from by asking where the farm is located, how far it is from the market, and if it's organic. Ask if they use any chemical pesticides and if their farm is USDA certified organic (if the answer is no, find out why not—it may not be a deal-breaker, since certification is pricey and may not be worth it for a small farm). Don't be shy about asking for specifics. Most farmers are proud of their products and don't mind detailing exactly how their food is grown and what to do with it—so if you don't know how to cook artichokes or what to do with rutabagas, ask how he or she likes them prepared. For more ideas on what to do with seasonal fruits and veggies take a look at our seasonal winter, fall and spring recipe ideas. Remember, the more you know about where your food comes from, where it's been and who's handled it, the less you'll have to worry about whether it's safe once you get home (consider it the recall-free zone).

Fresh, organic food and plants are easily damaged and bruised, so treat purchases with care while transporting them home. Store herbs in a zip top bag with a damp paper towel to keep them from wilting on the way home (and continue storing them in the fridge this way). Make use of extra plastic shopping bags by using them to protect delicate items, and remember to rearrange your bags after each purchase with heavy ones on the bottom, and more fragile items on top. Before leaving, make sure to ask whether your food purchases can be stored in the refrigerator, how long they will last, and how often plants should be watered or left in the sun.

Some farmers sell different items on different days, so if you're a fan, find out if they have stalls at other markets or in other locations. Or, if you don't get to visit the market as often as you'd like, find out if they participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and buy a share of their harvest. You'll get a presorted box of seasonal goodies delivered to your neighborhood, and your money will go directly toward growing the farm's crop. For more information on finding and joining a CSA near you, visit Local Harvest, or use the "Get Local Info" tool on The Daily Green's homepage.