I like our local farmers’ market for the same reasons that many others have cited here. It’s nice to be outdoors, and the produce, even when it comes from a middleman, is certainly no worse and no more expensive than at the supermarket. And it’s often much better and much cheaper.
The clincher for me, however, is that the local farmers’ market here in Baltimore (Waverley) is literally around the corner from my place. Very convenient on a Saturday morning.
pizzabrat
Which farmer’s market are you talking about in DC?
For produce, my wife and I usually go to this place, but if you are in DC, it may be a bit of a trek to Fairfax. The produce is usually pretty good and the prices are a bit nicer than Whole Foods.
Have you been to the one downtown, under I-83? That’s the one we go to Sunday mornings.
Eastern Market? It’s the largest open-air public market in the country. Or one of the largest. Or something like that. I go shopping there every Saturday.
I don’t think it’s a farmer’s market, per se, because most of the vendors are sort of whalesaler-middlemen. The Eastern Market area is also home to a lot of Detroit’s big-time wholesalers that supply restaurants and the like. Anyway, the prices from these middlemen-people is usually pretty reasonable: about half of the supermarket price. You’ve got to be on your toes though, because the quality ranges from ultra-fresh to on-its-last-legs. I’ve learned which vendors to avoid.
Some specialty vendors, too. A few herb sellers, some homemade preserve people. And the mushroom guy sells morels in seeason.
There are a few real farmers there. I buy my eggs fresh from one. The apple guy is another. There’s a few more scattered around. But mostly wholesaler-people.
But seriously, chack it out! There’s a few other permanent specialty shops on the area, like RJ Hirt’s, and the retail spice place, that make it worthwhile even if you don’t hit the sheds.
IMHO you have to make the decision yourself. It requires paying attention to all the details. No one can tell you whether all farmer’s markets have fresher or better tasting or better looking produce or lower prices. It’s never as simple as that. They are all different.
For example, I went to the San Francisco farmer’s market last year, and practically peed my pants when I saw the prices people were paying for stuff - outrageous. It was like they didn’t know how much they paid in the regular store so they didn’t know they were being ripped off!!! (Anyone who pays $4 a pound for tomatoes in California is a moron.) I also have been to the Berkeley one, and while it had better prices than SF they are still not great. But that one is great for organic produce, since that is what most of the people who go to that particular market look for. But then there’s my favorite- the Oakland farmer’s market. The food there is mostly cheaper than at the store and the quality ain’t bad. I always keep an eye out for what LOOKS good what I know is in season, and whether it’s more expensive than regular store-bought variety. In other words, I use my head, and you should too. If you want to save money and find great produce at the farmer’s markets then you have to educate yourself.