Cost of Fresh Tomatoes at Farmers Markets

[Rella]

I haven't bought any fresh tomatoes this year from Farmers Markets until this last weekend (Woodstock, VA). I paid $2.50 a lb. Is this about the price you are paying your area?

[CindyJ]

The tomatoes at the farmers markets here in southeastern PA are still high -- $2.99+/lb. But the produce stands are selling even their heirloom varieties for 99 cents/lb -- a real bargain.

[pj26]

I paid 2 Euros for 500g yesterday in a market in France. Was a guy selling tomatoes (and only tomatoes) that he grew in his back yard.

[Karl S]

In the Boston area markets, 2.50-3.50 is typical.

[FireFlyFiftyFive]

Paid $2 a pound for beefsteaks last week in San Diego. Tasted just fine with me.

Heirlooms were $3.50 or so.

[wonderwoman]

found one stand at the central square (cambridge ma) market today selling heirlooms for $2/lb -- everyone else was $3. a price war, maybe?

on a side note, here in massachusetts the too short native strawberry season is in late june, and this year was cut short by heavy rains. so i was delighted to find a vendor selling a later-bearing variety today -- a bargain at $6.50/quart.

[andrewtree]

$2.50-$4.00 here in Santa Fe, including for heirlooms, getting very tempted to can some salsa.

[chefathome]

$5/lb for Romas in Alberta. Thank goodness I grow my own tomatoes - I shudder to think of what heirlooms would be!

[monavano]

Around $1.60/lb. for seconds used to freeze sauce. I have to say the quality and taste was incredible, so I'm a happy camper ;-)

[Uncle Bob]

...And just think....When I was a Jr, in High School I had an acre (6000 plants) of tomatoes one summer....I was tickled pink to get 30 Cents a pound wholesale for them...$5.00 for a 5 gallon bucket of culls for canning....Thought I was getting rich!!

[jnky]

Holy Cow....we are paying 1.25-1.59/lb here at the local Farmer's Market...just did so Saturday :)

[LeoLioness]

$4/lb in Boston.

[MsDiPesto]

I stopped at a roadside stand just outside DC in MD on the way home to VA from work and paid $3 per pound. They were OK, but thickskinned, and the guy swore they were from a local farm town. They did make good BLTs.

I haven't been to the farmer's markets this year, they're just too much for my budget.

[ladyberd]

I'm in NJ and my farmer's market charges $2.50 for most varieties. Heirlooms were $3.50 last weekend.

Enjoy!
Ladyberd
http://ladyberds-kitchen.blogspot.com

[SeaSide Tomato]

In boston area--$3 for "regular" and $4 fo rheirlooms. Learned to swallow prices after doing my own gardening--If I were selling mine, the cost would have to be higher!

[escondido123]

At my Farmers' Market in Escondido, heirlooms run from $2.50-$3 a lb last week, at least a dollar more a pound at local groceries.

[monavano]

In the DC/Northern Va area, prices are generally $3-$4 per pound. I do my best to find seconds for half price or less.
I find $4 and above per pound to be odious. I once (ONCE) bought a gorgeous, rather large red and yellow striped tomato for $8. I was so stymied once that thing was weighed and told how much it was, that I handed over my money and got mad at myself later for not walking away.
Heirloom tomatoes do not need more expensive soil or designer water to grow. They grow just the same as Beefsteak or any other garden variety.
I hate the price gouging when it comes to tomatoes.
As an aside, I remember a few years ago, watching a woman pay for 2 tomatoes at a farmers market. She turned around to her husband, totally flabbergasted, and said, "I just paid $5 for this!". I thought to myself, "yup".

[tcamp]

Also in NoVa, saw/bought tomatoes in Alexandria on Saturday from 1.75 (regular, local reds) to 3.00 (heirloom) per pound. Prices were about .40 cents cheaper than last week so we must be in high season.

[monavano]

Good price! Which market, may I ask? Old Town/Del Ray?
(I go to most markets in Alexandria but haven't seen that cheap yet)

[tcamp]

Old Town, rather surprisingly.

[dmjordan]

I buy 5 medium to large for $5. I'm guessing it's about 2.5/3 lbs. This is in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.

[odkaty]

I stopped at 3 different farmers markets in PG County, MD this weekend and saw prices ranging from $3/lb to $5.50/lb.

[Maryld]

i'm paying around 4.00 a pound for heirlooms in Westchester County, NY, However, they are worth it.