TIPS FOR SHOPPING AT FARMERS’ MARKETS

Fresh produce should be clean, look fresh, have no cuts or nicks and be displayed off the ground or floor.

Cut or peeled produce should be on or surrounded by ice and look fresh and cold.

Meat, eggs and cheeses should be in a cooler or on ice. Packages must feel cold. Egg cartons should be clean and eggs not cracked. Milk should be pasteurized for safety. Ask vendor to confirm. Canned fruits and vegetables should be processed appropriately for the type of product. Ask vendor how they were handled and prepared.

Hot prepared foods should have a lid and be warm enough that you can see steam rising from the pan. Preferably, you should see vendors using a thermometer to check food temperature. You also want to make sure your food stays safe on the way home: Keep raw meat separate from other foods. Make the market your last stop before going home. Use a cooler or insulated bags, especially if it takes more than an hour to get home.