I love the Rochester public market for a lot of reasons. It's so refreshing to spend your early Saturday mornings buying fresh produce and beautiful wildflower bouquets. And if you don't live in Rochester, find your closest public market to make your weekends just that much better. Here are 12 reasons why.

1. The produce is cheaper!

Sometimes it's locally grown, and you want to check for that by looking to see if the fruits or vegetables have stickers on them. But even it isn't locally grown, it's bound to be cheaper than your local supermarket (I'm sorry, Wegmans. You know I love you). I got two mangoes, three peppers, a box of raspberries, and six full-sized carrots for 11 dollars one time. At Wegmans, that box of raspberries would have cost about three dollars and the mangoes would have been like five dollars. Impressive, right?!

2. The produce tastes so much better when it's from the market!

I never would have thought I would be complimemted on the scent of my cucumbers. Cucumbers, guys! I had four people tell me that my cucumbers smelled amazing, and needless to say, they tasted amazing, too. Vegetables are sweeter, fruit is less likely to be mushy. Does it get much better than that?

Oh wait, it does.

3. The produce lasts way longer!

Not only does the produce taste better, it lasts way longer. I had the same five or so carrots that I chopped up and they still tasted fantastic two weeks later.

4. The flowers.

All the heart-eyes for the wildflower bouquets that are sold at the market. I got a bunch of sunflowers for four dollars last weekend and they are the most beautiful sunflowers I've ever seen. And they still look amazing a week later. There's just something special about fresh flowers.

5. The plants are so healthy.

Herbs, succulents, and all sorts of other plants that you find at the market come in already healthy soil, which puts you at ease about making a new home for them. I also bought two succulents from Wal-Mart, and the soil was basically sand in comparison to the soil the succulents I bought from the market were planted in.

6. Scott's II!

Incredible breakfast sandwiches. That's all I have to say about that.

7. The Chai Guy!

If you like Chai, you must visit the Chai guy! Hot or iced, sugar free or sugar, you'll find one you love with their 20 or so flavors.

8. Boxcar

You know how there is drugstore makeup and luxury makeup? Boxcar donuts are luxury. And they're located right near the market!

9. Meet a Muslim

I haven't had time to stop and talk yet, but there are two Muslim men who have a table with Islamic literature, and they just desire to be open about their religion. So you can ask them any questions you want! And that's super cool, no matter what we believe.

10. The street musicians!

Many of them are from the Eastman School of Music, so you know their skill level is top-notch. There are French horns, Eastern Asian instruments, and guitar players who have no affiliation with Eastman and are also outstandingly talented!

11. They are open all year round!

"What's so great about that? Rochester winters are freezing!"

Well, luckily for us, the market has an indoor section which is perfect for winter shopping. Additionally, the whole market is sheltered and compact, making for a convenient and money-saving shopping excursion!

12. The people.

The vendors and the customers are all friendly and welcoming. You rarely feel swindled or unwelcomed, and I've seen regular customers make casual conversation with many of the vendors. Vendors almost always give you the best deal possible and are sweet and smiling even at seven in the morning!

Whatever your reason may be, you've got to check out the Rochester Public Market, and take your friends with you!