CSA Box or Farmers Market? How to Choose What Actually Fits Your Household
CSA box or farmers market? A practical comparison of cost, flexibility, variety, and time — plus how to tell which one actually…
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Recipes, seasonal guides and food business tips from Butter & Sage Market.
Charred Eggplant and Sweet Pepper Pasta with Ricotta and Basil
A charred eggplant and sweet pepper pasta that turns a late-July market haul into a 35-minute dinner. Smoky, creamy, and built for…
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How to Pick the Best Tomatoes at the Farmers Market (An Heirloom Decoder for Peak Season)
Learn how to pick the best tomatoes at the farmers market — what heirloom varieties actually taste like, how to judge ripeness…
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How to Sell at Fall Festivals and Craft Fairs: A Cottage Food Vendor’s Late-Summer Playbook
Fall festival applications close in July and August. Here's how to pick the right events, price for a craft fair crowd, and…
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How to Start Selling Sourdough at the Farmers Market in 2026
Sourdough is the hottest thing at the market right now. Here's how to price it, set up your table, and turn crusty…
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Summer Squash Gratin with Gruyère and Herbed Breadcrumbs
A summer squash gratin with Gruyère and herbed breadcrumbs — the answer to an overflowing zucchini haul, and the one that doesn't…
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How to Grow Basil at Home (And Never Buy a Sad Plastic Clamshell Again)
How to grow basil at home — from starting plants to the pinching technique that keeps them producing all summer. A beginner-friendly…
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How to Choose Packaging for Your Cottage Food Products (Without Wrecking Your Margins)
Cottage food packaging that protects your product, sells from six feet away, and doesn't eat your margin. A practical guide to materials,…
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Do You Charge Sales Tax at the Farmers Market? A Cottage Food Vendor’s Guide
Sales tax is the question every new market vendor gets stuck on. Here's a plain-language guide to figuring out whether you collect…
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What’s at the Farmers Market in August? Your Peak-Summer Shopping Guide
August is the market at its most generous — tomatoes, corn, melons, peppers, and stone fruit all at once. Here's what to…
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How to Pick a Perfectly Ripe Melon at the Farmers Market
A ripe local melon is one of summer's great pleasures — and a mealy one is a letdown. Here's how to choose…
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What to Ask a Farmer at the Market (And Why They Love the Questions)
The best thing at the farmers market isn't on the table — it's the person behind it. Here are the questions that…
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