Hit The Farmers Market To Stop Throwing Money Away On Fresh Herbs

Supermarket prices are no joke, and it's not just your imagination, either. According to the latest numbers in the Consumer Price Index, food costs went up by 6.7% between 2022 and 2023. We're all about smart ways to save money right now, and an excellent way to cut costs and stretch your food budget is to hit up the farmers market for fresh herbs, where they cost significantly less than at commercial grocery stores.

When you purchase fresh herbs at a supermarket, you are literally throwing away money. That doesn't mean you can't buy herbs to cook with, it just means there is a better way to get them that won't put the squeeze on your wallet. And by better, we mean in every way. Going to the farmers market for fresh herbs won't just help you save money, but will also get you much more for less.

Herbs sold at farmers markets are likely to be free of pesticides, locally grown, and sold directly to you by the farmers who grew them. Your herbs will also be as fresh as possible, having likely been harvested just prior to coming to the market. It's time to stop wasting money on fresh herbs and find out why the farmers market is the preferred, and cheaper, alternative.

Topping the list of why herbs cost less at the farmers market are reduced food miles, the distance between where food is grown to where it gets transported for point of sale. The farther the food has to go, the higher its cost and ecological impact. Herbs sold at regular grocery stores sometimes travel thousands of miles before reaching the produce aisle. Herbs at the farmers market, however, are brought there by the same farmers who grew them. Locally grown means the herbs have not traveled more than 100 miles, allowing growers serving your community to sell them for a lot less.

Farm fresh herbs gathered at their peak are brimming with nutrients, sometimes picked the same day they are sold. Most produce offered at farmers markets is organic, sustainably grown, and priced without the supermarket markup. Learn to shop like a chef and skip the overpriced, wilted, and browned herbs at the grocery store in favor of the leafy green bounty found at farmers markets.

Here is how you can really save big. While supermarkets sell small plastic packages of herbs for way too much, farmers market fresh herbs are likely to be sold in bunches or by weight — we're talking the difference between a tiny clamshell with a few sprigs of basil, versus a full quarter-pound for half the price. Buying fresh herbs from the farmers market is a no-brainer for superior quality, in greater quantity.

Scoring a deal on tasty, aromatic herbs at the farmers market is one thing, but how should you use them? One way to decide is to buy what's in season and let that guide your menu. Stock up on mint leaves for refreshing lemonade, mojitos, or mint juleps. Buy basil to make fresh pesto with pine nuts and Parmesan, or Caprese salad with tomatoes and mozzarella. Get parsley for an herby chimichurri sauce to spoon over grilled meats. And don't forget the fresh dill for making your own pickled cucumbers. You can also find great deals at the farmers market on edible flowers, dried, and medicinal herbs, which can be used to brew up your own herbal teas and concoctions.

If there is a farmers market in your area, it should be your one-stop shop for fresh herbs. The USDA Local Food Directories website can help you locate farmers markets near you. Farmers markets in most states now also accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (for Women, Infants, and Children) so those receiving these benefits can pay with their EBT cards, making healthy options more accessible and affordable for everyone.

It's true what they say about money not growing on trees, so stop wasting yours and save a bundle on fresh herbs at the farmers market. It's a fun way to spend the day, and your money, without breaking the bank.