Visit the Local Farmers Market While Traveling

This article first appeared in the October 29, 2022, issue of Dinogo Travel, a biweekly newsletter from Dinogo’s team about exploring destinations where food takes center stage.Subscribe now.

My ideal vacation often involves a long road trip through the mountains, which leads to consuming a lot of subpar gas station snacks. While I occasionally prepare by visiting a grocery store to gather trail mix and sandwich ingredients for my hikes, I usually rely on beef jerky and chips. That was before I decided to prioritize visiting farmers markets in every city I explore.

Visiting a farmers market is just as worthwhile as dining at a trendy restaurant or browsing unique boutiques while on vacation. It provides insight into the local culinary landscape and the ingredients — perhaps even the farms — that may appear on restaurant menus. More importantly, it allows you to truly connect with a place by savoring local flavors through fresh fruits and artisanal cheeses.

During a recent trip to the breathtaking Glacier National Park in Montana, I explored the fantastic farmers market in Kalispell, which is only open on Saturdays and features a lively family bluegrass band. After gathering supplies from small, rural grocery stores with limited fresh produce, I was amazed by the abundance at the market: stunning fresh eggplants, an array of greens, exquisite black oyster mushrooms, and samples of a fiery radish kimchi that I still wish I had purchased. I did buy those mushrooms and a basket of shishito peppers, which we grilled on our rental cabin's patio at sunset. It was a truly idyllic moment, enhanced by a giant bear claw pastry filled with huckleberries that my friend and I shared for dessert.

Some of my most memorable meals and snacks as a traveler have come from farmers markets, both large and small. I’ve enjoyed delicious vegan tamales and a juniper-glazed doughnut at the Capitol Hill Farmers Market in Seattle, and munched on venison jerky at a market in rural Maine. I once discovered what were undoubtedly the sweetest strawberries at the famous Santa Monica Farmers Market, devouring them all before I even made it back to the car.

Farmers markets are also the ideal spots for souvenir shopping. I’d much prefer to return home with a bag of locally roasted coffee or homemade jam than a dull T-shirt, plus you’re supporting a small business rather than a tourist trap. Even if you don’t buy a single vegetable to prepare in your mediocre Airbnb kitchen, visiting a farmers market while on vacation offers a visual feast and a wealth of samples, guaranteeing a rewarding experience.