After a one week hiatus to celebrate July 4th, the Linton Farmers’ Market will be back and packed with a huge variety of fruits, veggies, plants, and crafts.
The market will be in full swing this Saturday, July 5th. For some Lintonians and Greene County-ites, the Farmers’ Market is already a much-loved summer staple, but for anyone who has yet to visit, here are a few tips for getting the most out of your Saturday, in no particular order.
1. Make it routine. My son knows that on Saturday mornings, we ride our bikes to the park and buy food. He’s only a little guy, just going into kindergarten, but he knows our routine and often is the one who enforces it. Go every week. Not only will you get to know people, you learn about the growing seasons and how to incorporate foods into your cooking when they are the freshest and the tastiest.
2. Bring a big bag. Fresh eggs, a head of cabbage, two pints of strawberries, and a mess of pickling cucumbers…that takes up a lot of space. Come prepared with a big bag or two to haul your goods home. Remember, if you can also get a free Linton Farmers’ Market tote bag by picking up one of our Frequent Customer Cards and getting it punched every week.
3. Don’t make a list. For some of us, it is unthinkable to approach grocery-buying without a solid list. But the glory of the farmers’ market is that the food is extremely fresh, and you just never know what you’re going to find there. Sure, you are likely to see some tomatoes and zucchini. This is Indiana, after all, but don’t forget all those different treats in past articles. Kohlrabi was not on my list, but it was a completely delicious surprise. Buy what looks good, not just what’s on your list.
4. Talk to the vendors. This is a big deal. At a grocery store, the people who grew your romaine lettuce are nowhere in sight. At a farmers’ market, they are literally making change for you out of their own wallets. Talk to them. Ask them why they use organic methods, or what the difference is between purple and green asparagus. The answers might surprise you. You will definitely learn something, and you might make a new friend in the process.
5. Come early, and stay a while. The Linton Farmers’ Market is as much about community as it is about food and artisan products. Often, customers are treated to live music, with plenty of seats in the shade. If you get there early enough, you can grab a cup of coffee when you get your frequent-customer card punched, buy some homemade molasses cookies, and enjoy the show. Early birds, by the way, get the first pick of the gorgeous produce.
–Amy Lore, Linton Farmers’ Market Steering Committee
