How to shop in your local market…like a local!

Imagine walking along a supermarket aisle with tons of products perfectly packed, all in line, more or less the same.

The store is silent aside from the occasion till beeps. Your fellow shoppers are plugged with earpods, and there is minimal interaction.

You can only hope to learn about a product by trusting what is written on the label.

Now imagine a different shopping reality; instead walking into a shop and being greeting by vivid colours, shapes and sizes of all kinds, smells and aromas that are both familiar and new.

You are enveloped by the warm buzz of people chatting in different languages, cadences, and vibrations from every part of the world.

You can touch the products and ask the vendors anything, about the origins, the materials, and even best ways to pick a good fruit.

Most products are free from plastic, but best of all, they are imperfectily perfect.

Which would you choose?

If you’d choose the second, then you, like us, will love the local markets.

Here in South London we have plenty of beautiful local markets, in every neighborhood, from Brixton, Peckham, Deptford, to Tooting, Wimbledon and Walworth, South London is THE place for local markets.

These markets offer beautiful products which are cheaper than supermarkets, more varied, often sustainably sourced and not wrapped in plastic.

They also often offer products linked to ancient roots, tradition and unique ways of dressing and living.

They are products that are hand made, upcycled, made from the community, for the community.

They represent values, love and culture.

Despite being a great option for shopping, local markets are often neglected.

This might be because of the convenience of the supermarket, including proximity, misconceptions on who should (or would) frequent certain venues, or simply because of brand awareness.

Large companies retain customer bases by establishing themselves so heavily in certain areas that people subconciously feel safe purchasing from them, whether it’s because they know the brand is well-known, or they know their friends shop there!

More than anything, the local markets may appear intimidating, especially to a shopper who is not local. Many may feel a sense of (understandable) anxiety about all of this.

To try to break this barrier, is important to de-mystify local market shopping, and arm yourself with the best practices to shop in a confident and informed way!

Taking the first step will allow you to embrace and include yourself in the community, all while sustaining yourself and your family!

Here are some of our favorite tips for shopping like a local:

Ask the price before you buy

If you are used to supermarkets (or even if you are not), you may find it strange that often there are no explicit prices for products, especially at the butcher or the greengrocer.

It’s also common that prices are expressed only per kilogram, and with some cheeky market vendors, and not being able to weigh things yourself, you may end up paying prices you didn’t expect.

The key here is to ask the price before you buy!  Continue asking for estimates while products are being weighed, and don’t be afraid to ask for slightly more or less of something.

Be clear here, and don’t be embarrassed about asking for clarity.

Build relationships with your vendors.

Shopping at our local market is an embrace of community – a profound connection that goes beyond transactions.

It’s about running into familiar faces, engaging in heartfelt conversations with neighbors, and supporting the dreams of local businesses.

Every visit is an opportunity to connect with the beating heart of our community – the vendors.

These aren’t just faces behind counters and they can be your best assets.

Visit the same vendor and they will know what are you are looking for and remember what you like.

They will likely help you pick out the right fruit, or give you a tip on the best cut of meat to buy for a certain recipe.

Above all else, be kind.

At the end of the day, the market vendors are members of your neighborhood, and just a few kind words and familiarity could lead not just to a great deal on groceries, but also a a stronger sense of community!

Our favorite greengrocer in Brixton, Danny’s Greengrocers, always greets us with a big smile, and more often than not, gifts us a few free items!

Bring your own bag and refuse plastic

Plastic bag use is more often than not the standard practice in shops, and changing this means being proactive individually!

Many people today already bring their own reusable bags for shopping, but more often than not vendors offer plastic bags anyways out of habit.

Be polite, but firm in declining; slowly, showcasing that there is not a necessity for these bags, vendors will hopefully stop offering them.

It’s good practice to bring more than one reusable bag, in case you end up purchasing more than expected, and even to bring other containers!

Handing a glass or plastic reusable container to the butcher is a great sustainable hack to avoid waste.

Conclusions

In a world that sometimes feels disconnected, the local market stands as a testament to the power of roots. Utilizing the markets is not just about shopping; it’s about embracing the heartbeat of a neighborhood, finding joy in the everyday, and creating bonds that make our community stronger.

So, the next time you step into our local market, let the colors, scents, and stories embrace you – for in these moments, we find the essence of what makes our community truly extraordinary.