With groceries becoming increasingly expensive, saving coupons and keeping a close eye on sales seem to be the only way to save. Actually, it’s not. One of my favorite ways to save is going to the local farmers market. Today, I went to the Olive Branch Farmer’s Market in Olive Branch, MS. Conveniently located next to City Hall, you can find an array of fresh produce, canned goods, and even handmade furniture! I love going! Here’s how it works:
You probably typically buy from a grocery store. Farmers sell their produce to grocery stores at a wholesale rate. Grocery stores buy the produce at wholesale, but display and sell it to us at the marked up, retail price. At your local farmer’s market, you can often times get produce at the wholesale price. Other times you may have to “dicker,” or negotiate, with the farmer personally for the best price possible. It may be slightly more than the wholesale price, but by simply cutting out the middle man (grocery stores, privately owned and otherwise) you will save money and keep the money you do spend within your community. When you purchase produce from a farmer’s market, you are not only saving money, but also boosting the local economy!
