Last week, we told you about the Frisco Farmer’s Market and all the great stuff you can get there while eating healthier, eating local, and supporting small family-owned businesses, as well as supporting the Frisco Noon Lions Club.

And we don’t just talk the talk… we walk the walk, so Frisco Savvy was there last Saturday, loading up on tomatoes, onions, corn, goat’s milk soap, sourdough bread, fresh bratwurst from the grass-fed cows at Sloans Creek Farm, cashew brittle from Batch Bakery…

Today, we’re going to tell you how to shop a farmer’s market wisely. This isn’t like rolling up to Sprouts! There are some tips and tricks to make your experience even better.

1. Go early or late. The market opens at 8:00 am. If you want the very best selection, be there in the first hour. When we went last week at 10:00, vendors were low or sold out on hot items like fresh eggs and sweet corn. (The flip side is that if you go late, you might be able to get good deals from vendors who are discounting goods that they don’t want to haul home.)

2. Remember the sunscreen and the hats. The FFM is on an open paved slab at Frisco Square, and the booths are tented but otherwise shade is minimal. Protect your skin, and especially the kids’.

3. Don’t stop for breakfast. You might grab a to-go latté if you need caffeine, but otherwise, wait and get a fresh pain au chocolat or breakfast taco at the market. And if you don’t even want to stop for coffee, the Lions Club sells sodas and bottled water on site.

4. Bring your own bags. Grab those plastic Target bags, or bring your cloth grocery totes, to take your purchases away in. Some booths will have bags you can take but this is a great way to recycle yours, and to minimize consumption.

5. Bring small bills. Not all of the vendors run credit cards. Farmer’s markets are a cash-and-carry business, so be prepared with actual cash. And Savvy shoppers will change it into $5’s and $1’s before they arrive. Everyone else brings a stack of twenties from the ATM, and the vendors run out of change quickly.

6. Bring a cooler. If you know you might want to buy meat, cheeses, or anything else that needs to be kept cold, put a cooler in the back of the car, especially if you have other errands to run that day. Fill your cooler with some Ziploc gallon bags full of ice, or with those cold gel packs, so your goods stay dry. Or if you don’t live far, you can drive straight home with your perishable items; ask the vendor if he’ll hold them in his cooler till you depart the market.

7. Ask questions! The vendors are accustomed to this. “Where is this grown?” “What’s the heat on these peppers like?” “Do you have greener tomatoes in the back?” “How often should I water this basil plant?” “How do you recommend I store this honey?” You need to know what you’re buying and how to use it. And the whole benefit to the farmer’s market is local food and improving your eating, so take the opportunity to learn.

8. Don’t assume anything about inventory. Just because a booth has strip steaks or bell peppers or doggie treats or lemon cakes today doesn’t mean they will next week. Like with the best retail operations, inventory changes based on demand and availability. And not every vendor attends every week, either. Ask the vendors about selection, frequency, and custom orders.

So, armed with these tricks, you’re prepared to go out tomorrow morning (rain or shine!) and rock the FFM! Happy eating!