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The Smartest Way to Shop at a Farmer’s Market in Oakland

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photo: Christina Mitchell

photo: Christina Mitchell

This post, The Smartest Way to Shop at a Farmer’s Market, has several useful suggestions but I have a few more to add, especially for people shopping in Oakland.

Shop late

I know the selection is better in the morning, but I never make it out that early.  So I show up sometime in the last hour and take advantage of the discounts.

Try different ingredients

Last week, I couldn’t pass up these Japanese Eggplant, but I’d never cooked with them before.  They were 3 for $1 – can you blame me?  Trying new ingredients is how I learn. It’s how I become a better cook.

Talk to the farmers

I speak Spanish, so I always use it whenever the opportunity arises.  I start a conversation with the farmers and we end up talking about things like produce, weather, cooking and family.  Really, it doesn’t matter what language we speak because it’s always a nice chat.

photo: Christina Mitchell

photo: Christina Mitchell

Go to the smaller markets

My weekend routine used to include the Grand Lake or Temescal Market, but they started getting crowded and expensive.  Now, I go to Freedom Farmer’s Market on Saturdays or Fruitvale on Sundays.  These markets are really small, with just one or two produce stands, but I like supporting farmers of color and the prices are 50-75% lower.  One day, I found beautiful heirloom tomatoes for $1 a pound!

Christina Mitchell

Christina Mitchell

Christina is the founder of East Bay Dish. Her writing has also been featured in East Bay Express, Berkeleyside, Oakland Magazine and Edible East Bay.
Christina Mitchell

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