It's buy local week in Maryland and summer harvests are starting to peak, so there's no better time to hit the farmer's market than this weekend.
But how do you make the most of the trip? Here are a few tips.
- Get to know the farmers. Talk to them, ask questions and find out what they're selling.
- Be aware of food safety. Make sure eggs and meat are chilled at the market.
- Packaging matters. Be sure bag meat and produce separately for food safety reasons.
- Check terms. Ask vendors what they mean by "certified organic" and "pesticide free" because the definitions may vary from farmer to farmer.