Summer Adventure Guide

8 STEPS TO A FUN FA R M E R ’ S M A R K E T W I T H K I D S Go early: You’ll get your hands on the best produce and the most popular doughnut before they sell out. You’ll also beat the crowd and most likely join the other families sneaking in a trip before it get’s too busy or too hot BYO bags and give your kiddo a basket: Don’t be that dude with all the plastic! If you have a basket for your kids to carry, that’s a great way to get them involved in the process. {double (cool) points: have your kids make their own bag!} Bring cash and small bills: Depending on your child’s age you can divvy up some bills for them to spend and make their own purchases at the market. Talk about this ahead of time and give them an ingredient to look for. Make a scavenger hunt out of it!

Know what’s in season: Share that knowledge with your family. You can loosely plan a menu for the week around vegetables you know may be in season. Be open to change if a certain ingredient isn’t available! For example: veggie lasagna and a green salad, seasonal (asparagus? mushrooms? spring onion?) risotto or noodle bowl, or roasted vegetables for a side dish with a roast chicken.

Make time for a snack: Find a place to picnic and bring a blanket to enjoy your muffins, egg sandwiches, or fresh strawberries.

Give someone a job: If you have a child that’s old enough, you can put them in charge of choosing the root vegetables or finding the best tomatoes and blueberries. Make a game out of it and acknowledge them for their expert sleuthing skills.

Take a lesson home: How do you know when a peach is ripe? What does a turnip actually look like? What’s in season?

Talk to a farmer: Share with your little ones that you are talking to the people who actually grew the food you will be taking home with you! Ask good questions about the location of their farm.

Offer to help out! Sometimes they need someone to unload the next crate of broccoli and chances are they might let your kid help out. True story.