• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Budget Diet

The Budget Diet

Earn, Save & Live Smart.

  • Make Money
    • I Made $62,430
    • Rebate & Cashback Apps
    • Surveys That Pay
    • Side Gigs
    • Career
  • Smart Money
    • Saving Money
      • Save $400/mo
      • Budgeting
      • Coupons
    • Loans
      • Personal Loans
      • Auto
    • Bank Accounts
    • Investing
    • Debt
    • Insurance
    • Taxes
  • Smart Food
    • Meal Delivery & Subscription Services
    • Groceries
    • Recipes
    • Dining Out
  • Smart Life
    • Seasonal & Holiday
      • Summer
      • Valentine’s Day
      • Mother’s Day
      • Father’s Day
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Fourth of July
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Cheap Dates
    • Frugal Living
    • Cheap Thrills
    • Baby / Children
    • Utility Bills
    • Books
    • Clothing & Accessories
    • Electronics
    • Gifts
    • Health & Beauty
    • Home & Garden
    • Weddings
    • Pets
    • Back to School
    • Home Decor
    • Travel
    • Earth Friendly
  • About
  • Rebate & Cashback Apps
  • Cut Spending by $400 a Month!
  • Investing
  • Recipes
Home » Smart Money » Budgeting » 8 Ways To Get The Best Deals At The Produce Market

8 Ways To Get The Best Deals At The Produce Market

Last Updated on September 25, 2018 by The Budget Diet Team

We are a reader supported blog and this page may contain affiliate links. When you buy something or sign-up through our links we may earn a small commission. All opinions in this article are the author's alone.

Special Offer: $30 OFF your first order at Home Chef. Start Now
Image source: www.creeksidervresort.com

There’s a small but charming farmers market that’s held just minutes from my house each weekend. Lately, it’s been my prime source for leaf lettuce and hot peppers. If you think local markets have to be expensive, think again. Savvy shoppers can learn how to get the best deals at the produce market.

  1. Page Contents

    • Become Familiar with Seasonality
    • Shop Around
    • Buy a Bunch from One Seller
    • Have the Change that the Vendors Need
    • Settle for Second-rate Goods
    • Brave the Rain
    • Go at the End of the Day
    • Join the Team

    Become Familiar with Seasonality

    Image source: upload.wikimedia.org

    Thanks to the basic principles of supply and demand, goods are cheapest when they’re in season. The height of the season is the very best time to buy. During the very beginning or very end of an item’s season, prices may be higher since availability is lower.

    Besides, if your market vendors sell local goods, truly out-of-season produce should be a rarity. Finding items that should have passed their prime months ago is a sign that they are actually being shipped in from elsewhere.

    ALSO READ: The Ultimate Guide to Buying Fruits and Vegetables in Season
  2. Shop Around

    Image source: upload.wikimedia.org

    This tip goes for both markets and individual stands. If you have more than one market in your area, scope out which one has the best prices. Visiting a few different markets is one way to find out; another is to ask around among locals.

    Even at a particular farmers market, you may find that the prices on similar goods can vary widely from stand to stand. Before making any purchases, take a trip around the whole market. Figure out which types of produce you most want to spend your money on, and then compare which stands offer the best prices on those items.

  3. Buy a Bunch from One Seller

    Image source: lovethiscitytv.com

    As a general rule, most farmers market sellers don’t encourage shoppers to try to talk down their prices. They set the prices at which they can afford to sell their goods and don’t have a lot of room for negotiation.

    The common exception to the rule? If you buy a large amount from one seller, you may have a better chance of scoring a deal. Whether you’re buying a large selection of the vendor’s tomatoes or a sampling of many of that vendor’s goods, he or she might be willing to offer a small discount to go along with that big purchase.

  4. Have the Change that the Vendors Need

    Image source: www.desmoinesfarmersmarket.com

    Even a well-prepared seller may run low on one-dollar bills or quarters long before the sale day ends. Therefore, if you come armed and with these much-needed types of cash, you may be able to score a bargain.

    A vendor who needs small bills may be more satisfied with accepting just nine one-dollar bills for your $10 purchase than with receiving one 10-dollar bill instead. And a seller in need of quarters may be happy to hand over a couple of small items if it means that you’ll add to his collection of coins.

    ALSO READ: Find a Farmer’s Market
  5. Settle for Second-rate Goods

    Image source: media.oregonlive.com

    Not every fruit and veggie that a farmer harvests is pristine, but some customers want only the best-looking items. If you’re willing to settle for produce that has dents, bruises or weird bumps, the vendor may let them go for a lower price than normal.

    You may have to cut spots off of your purchases when you get them home, but it can be worth the extra effort if you save enough money on the wares. Such fruits and vegetables can be especially good for canning.

  6. Brave the Rain

    Image source: realjerusalemstreets.files.wordpress.com

    The farmers market has many fair-weather friends. When it’s wet, hot or cold outside, a lot of potential customers stay home. If you go to the market anyway, you’ll enjoy a much less crowded shopping experience than on a pleasant day.

    Fewer crowds mean that it’s easier to identify and compare prices before you purchase. It also provides a better opportunity to get recommendations from vendors about their wares; perhaps you’ll learn a recipe for a low-cost vegetable that you’ve never tried before. It is also possible that vendors will reduce their prices in response to lower demand on a poor-weather day.

  7. Go at the End of the Day

    Image source: static1.squarespace.com

    Some vendors are eager to clear their goods out before the market ends for the day. Therefore, if you shop toward the close of the market, you may find that prices have been reduced.

    It’s possible that your farmer’s market frowns on last-minute deals, but it doesn’t hurt to show up near the end to see if you spot any sale signs. Just keep in mind that the remaining selection may be rather picked over.

  8. Join the Team

    Image source: media.oregonlive.com

    Some farmers markets, particularly larger ones, need help with various tasks, such as setup and teardown. It takes a team to make each market happen. See if you can volunteer to help with these efforts.

    As a thank-you, you may find yourself blessed with free produce now and then. It’s not a guarantee, and you shouldn’t expect it, but it sure is nice when it happens.

    Plus, it’s a good way to get to know some of the market’s vendors. Favorite customers may find bonuses in their shopping bags from time to time.

Are you a farmers market bargain shopper? I love to scope out the best deals in my market. How do you save money on produce purchases? Leave your advice for farmers market shopping in the comments. As always, please share this piece on your social media pages.

ALSO READ: Homemade Fruit and Vegetable Wash
Tweet
Pin38
Share1
39 Shares

Related Posts

  • Best Memorial Day Deals

    Summer means biggest Memorial Day Sale and you can find a lot of discounted summer…

  • Use, Don't Throw: 7 Ways to Transform Expiring Produce

    Sometimes in the produce aisle, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. More often than…

  • christmas budgeting tips
    4 Ways to Spend Less This Christmas

    Every year you vow not to blow your Christmas budget, yet every year you overspend.…

Filed Under: Budgeting, Frugal Living, Grocery, Instant Savings, Organize My Life

Must Read

How I made $62,430 – Ebates

7 Ways to Stow Your Stuff on a Limited Space

Leave a Reply

  Subscribe  
Notify of

Primary Sidebar

Search

Popular Posts

How to Save Money – 98 Ways to Cut Your Spending by $400 a Month!How to Save Money – 98 Ways to Cut Your Spending by $400 a Month!1M Total Shares
DIY Teeth Whitening for Any BudgetDIY Teeth Whitening for Any Budget916K Total Shares
Southern Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese RecipeSouthern Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe469K Total Shares
How To Make Oreo Balls Cookie Recipe | No BakeHow To Make Oreo Balls Cookie Recipe | No Bake363K Total Shares
How Not Using Coupon Codes Makes You a Savings RookieHow Not Using Coupon Codes Makes You a Savings Rookie277K Total Shares

Footer

The Budget Diet is all about showing you budget friendly yummy recipes and life hacks that shrinks your budget and earns you money. It’s not just a diet for your wallet…but for your waistline too.

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Become a Contributor
  • Advertise
  • Free Newsletter
  • Home Decor
  • Organize My Life
  • Parties
  • Seasonal
  • Back to School
  • Christmas
  • Father’s Day
  • Fourth of July
  • Halloween
  • Mother’s Day
  • Summer
  • Thanksgiving
  • Electronics
  • Smart Life
  • Baby / Children
  • Books
  • Cars
  • Clothing & Accessories
  • Health & Beauty
  • Home & Garden
  • Homemade Gifts
  • Pets
  • Travel
  • Utility Bills
  • Weddings
  • Weekly Challenge

Copyright © 2021 The Budget Diet · The Budget Diet LLC
Made with in Seattle

  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • CCPA Information
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Contact Us
wpDiscuz