Blog Post: Power Up by Getting to Know Your Vendors

and it’s a long weekend for most of us. It’s time to power up at the market with fruits and veggies.

Everything is coming into season in a rush of abundance right now.  All you need now is to get some advice and tips that you can’t get at a grocery store. Meet the farmers who produced your food and talk with them about any questions you might have. This is a unique opportunity for all of us.

Power up with tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, peppers and plums, nectarines, and peaches and a promise of all the melons to come! And we’ve got all the assorted berries and cherries (but better come early for the latter).

But how do you know which variety and type of peppers to choose for that special dish you are going to cook? And which tomato is best for canning and what shape of melon should I get and should I thump it or not to see if it’s ripe? And how about knowing how to store certain vegetables once you’ve got them home? Or have you ever wondered how to make beets or leeks?

Most grocery stores are not going to help you out ... but guess what?  This is yet another reason to come to a Farmers Market and spend a few minutes with one of your local farmers and vendors.

What is the best way to approach this? Come early and take your time and shop around and ask questions. Pressed for time or too hot? You can address your questions to me and I’ll ask them for you (manager@viennafarmersmarket.com or talk to us on Facebook). Know that all of our farmers and vendors are there for you, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you see how they are delighted to share their expertise and secrets with you. 

If you’ve ever been at the market and seen customers chatting with some of the vendors—they most likely are the ones with the scoop!