Washington County Weekend Post

2A • WASHINGTON COUNTY POST • SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020 GMTODAY.COM WEST BEND MAXWELL STREET DAYS Join us for 2 days of shopping, deals, food and fun! Thursday, August 6 Music on Maxwell Street Shopping, deals, food, vendor fair and live music 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. in Downtown West Bend! Wednesday, August 5 Traditional Maxwell Street Day Shop for great deals at participating stores and restaurants throughout West Bend! Share your gardening story and knowledge and we may feature you in Gone Gardening. Gardens of all different types, shapes and sizes are welcome! Gone Gardening publishes weekly in the Washington County Post and Daily News from April 19th through August 30th. Send us an email with your suggestions to promotions@conleynet.com. Gardening & Show Tell A Conversation Piece 132 S. 6th Ave. • Downtown West Bend Wed. 8am-5pm • Thurs. 10am-7pm All In Books 136 N. Main • Downtown West Bend Wed. 8am-6pm • Thurs. 10am-6pm Booth Downtown Thursday Savoring Thyme 248 N. Main • Downtown West Bend Wed. 8am-7pm • Thurs. 10am-7pm West Bend Vacuum Center 905 Gateway Ct. • West Bend Wed. 9am-6pm • Thurs. 9am-5pm C o m m u n i t y - b a s e d farmer's markets can intro- duce shoppers to an array of foods they may otherwise never experience. Farmer's markets are great places to find fresh, locally grown foods, and many market cus- tomers are happy to know they're benefitting both the environment and local busi- nessess with every dime they spend. Farmer's markets can range from the very large to the relatively small, and first-time visitors may not know where to begin. The following are a handful of ways to maximize your visit to farmer's markets of all sizes. • Take time to explore. Farmer's markets tend to have many of the same fruits and vegetables you can find at the local chain grocery store, but farmer's markets also are known for offering more than what you may find in the produce aisle. Take time to explore the market and you may just find foods you typically only find at your favorite restau- rant. Exploring also may introduce you to new foods you may otherwise never have tried. • Consider the timing of your visit. The popular- ity of farmer's markets has increased dramatically as more and more people embrace the concept of buy- ing locally grown foods. While that's great news for the planet and local farm- ers, shoppers should keep that in mind when planning their visits. If you love try- ing new foods, arrive early to the farmer's market before the more unique offerings have been snapped up. Foods that have small yet devoted followings may not be available in abun- dance, and you may end up leaving empty-handed if you arrive late. If it's a bargain you want, then visit later in the day when farm- ers with substantial remain- ing inventory may be more inclined to lower their prices. • Know your seasons. Some fruits and vegetables are better at certain times of the year than others. Fresh- ness draws many people to farmer's markets, and foods that are in-season are more likely to have that unforget- table freshness than those that are out of season or nearing the end of their season. Knowing the sea- sons is important for bud- get-conscious shoppers as well. If you're shopping on a budget, purchasing foods while they're in-season may save you some money, and you can always stock up on your other favorites later on when it's their turn to be in-season. • Speak with the sellers. First-time farmer's market shoppers may feel like they're lost in the woods while everyone else seems to know exactly what they want and where to get it. If you find the farmer's mar- ket somewhat intimidating, speak with the sellers. Shop- ping at the local farmer's market tends to be more intimate than shopping at the chain grocery store, and many sellers would be happy to offer you some tips and make some suggestions based on the meals you like. Farmer's markets are great places to support local busi- nesses and find fresh foods. Maximize your farmer's market trip

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