How to shop at a food market

To get the most from a food market, go early, walk the whole market before you buy, ask the stallholders about what is good today and take a bag. A market is a place to see what is in season and to talk to the people who grow, make or sell the food. It is also a good place for a quick, decent lunch.

Check the days and hours

Markets run on set days and hours, and some are seasonal. Check before you go. A market that runs on a Saturday morning may be closed on Sunday. If you are visiting, look at the market's own page or a recent rating.

Go early

The widest choice is early. Popular items sell out, and crowds build later. Early is also quieter, so you can chat to the stallholders. If you want a bargain, some stalls reduce prices near closing time. The trade-off is less choice.

Walk the whole market first

Do a full lap before you buy. It shows what is on offer and lets you compare. You will probably find something you did not expect. Make notes of the stalls you want to come back to.

Ask questions

Ask what is good today, what is in season and how to cook it. Stallholders usually love to talk about their food. Ask for a taste if it is offered. You are never obliged to buy, but it is polite to if you have tasted.

Bring bags and cash

Bring a bag or two. Many stalls take cards, but some prefer cash, and small ones may have no card machine. A mix of both is safest.

Eat there

Most markets have stalls selling hot food, coffee and baked goods. A market lunch is often a counter or a stall rather than a table, so it suits a quick bite. Find a seat or a spot to stand, and enjoy it while it is hot.

Allergies and dietary needs

Ask the stallholder about ingredients, and about how food is made and handled. Many small producers know their products well. Do not assume a product is free of an allergen because it looks plain.

Carrying and storing

Keep cold food cool, especially fish, meat and dairy. Buy those last. Plan the route home so that chilled items are not in a hot car for long.

A worked example

Suppose you arrive at a market at ten on a Saturday. Do a lap without buying. Notice a cheese stall, a baker and a stall selling hot food. Return to the baker for a loaf, ask the cheesemonger for a taste of two cheeses and buy a small piece of one. Eat at the hot food stall, keep your bag light and buy fish or meat last. Take everything home within an hour and store it in the fridge.

Questions stallholders like

Ask how a product is made, what it goes with and how long it keeps. Ask what they eat themselves. People who make or sell food love to explain it, and the answers teach you how to cook and what to buy next time.

Come back

Markets change with the seasons. Return often, and you will learn what to look for. Our guide to Limerick and the Milk Market shows one in action.