Ever been annoyed at the grocery store? Of course you have. It brings out the worst in humanity. Half the people are on cell phones, checking lists, blocking aisles, and clearly oblivious to the meaning of 15 items or less.
Farmers markets are all the fuss of the grocery store, with none of the set aisles and check out lines. It’s a free for all on getting attention and pushing your way through the crowd with your three reusable bags, two friends, and a dog. On more than one Saturday morning I’ve been stuck wedged in the ebb and flow of the over crowded stalls at Eastern Market only to come out of it with four peaches, and a new slew of reasons why I can’t understand people with two-aside strollers.
Tomorrow the Penn Quarter Fresh Farm Market will be the first of dozens spring and summer farmers markets to pop up around town in the coming weeks. With most of the markets shut down for the winter, most of DC is a little rusty on how to survive the farmer’s markets. To get ready, here are a few guidelines on making it an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Simple Rules to Farmers Market Etiquette:
- Bringing the dog, baby stroller, or a toddler to the market can be a lovely experience. For you. Be mindful of how you impact others. Your stroller might take up six square feet of space, so keeping it out of the stalls and busy walk ways is ideal.
- Saying thank you. You thank waiters and waitresses (or you should) so be friendly with the farmers. They drove up to four hours at the break of dawn to come to your market, so thank them for it.
- Don’t talk on cell phones while picking out produce or while checking out. A distracted shopper takes up more time and space than those around them appreciate.
- If you happen to run into your old college friends, this is not the place for a chat. Move to an area of the market outside the hussle and bussle to catch up on the last ten years.
- Treat the aisles/streets that you walk through like you would a road. Don’t walk through the middle of everything. Stick to the right, and keep with the flow of traffic.
- Do NOT try to return produce if you find a better price two stalls down. It creates a long line of annoyed customers and merchants. You knew the price when you bought the produce. Move on.
- Farmers’ Markets are for strolling. Don’t huff and puff behind someone who shouldn’t be impacted by your busy schedule or lack of planning. If you want to get in and out of the market quickly, go at the break of dawn.
- If you want to avoid the crowds and have the best selection, go when the market is just opening.
- Get to know your farmers, talk to them, build relationships, but don’t hold them up with endless chatter or hold up a line just so you can try all four types of peaches.
- Don’t over-handle the goods. Nobody wants to buy a peach that thirty people have picked up in one day. You’ll also be glared at by the people behind you trying to get room at the stall and the farmer who doesn’t like his produce abused.
- Know when to bargain, and when not to. If it’s a crowded stall, the farmer doesn’t need to bargain with you, there are plenty of other customers willing to pay full price and get on with their day. If you want to bargain, come at the end of the day when the merchants aren’t looking forward to having to packing up all the unsold produce.
- Don’t eat from the display. If you don’t see a sample, ask for one, but taking one without permission is stealing. You wouldn’t grab a bun from a bakery without asking, so don’t do it with the cherries.
- If you are roaming in a large group, be mindful that you take up a lot of space. Splitting up into groups of two or three is highly advisable.
Jana Erwin is the primary chef and writer of CherryTeaCakes.com, a non-profit venture combining the love of fine desserts and feeding the impoverished in Washington, DC. You can follow her posts on twitter:@cherryteacakes.
