If you feel like visiting a farm and experience what life is like in the country, there are several open farms in Denmark that welcome visitors. Both old-fashioned farms with cows and pigs, chicken, dog and cat as well as modern livestock and pig production farms. Maybe you want to join a field walk to learn more about cereal and other crops. Open farms are welcoming and often, they can organise your stay to meets exactly your needs - and as an added bonus many of them are free.

On Danish Agriculture's consumer portal about foods (in Danish only) you find contact details of farmers all over the country who welcome visitors. LandboSjælland (in Danish only) is a confederation of open farms in the western part of Zealand. We can also recommend asking the local tourist office for further options.

Keep an eye out for the signs along the roads directing you to farm shops and sales. This is where farmers sell from their own production to people passing by. The selection, which is often organic, varies a lot – from vegetables, meat, eggs, berries and fruits to honey and jam, home-knit socks and woollen gloves. You choose and pick what you want and pay at the till - most often in cash. This also applies to those places where payment is a matter of trust, i.e. you put the agreed amount in a box or a jam glass jar.

Some farm shops offer guided tours of the farm where you can get a closer look at all the splendour and learn more about farming. Find more information on www.gaardbutikker.dk (in Danish only).

Particularly during summer you will notice cosy homemade signs along the roads informing you that you can stop and purchase e.g. fruits and vegetables, eggs, potatoes or flowers. Payment is always in cash and almost always a matter of trust, where you leave the agreed amount in a box or a jam glass jar.

Get off the bike or stop the car when you see the "Pluk-selv" (pick-your-own) signs, and bring home a delicious desert. Many berry growers offer pick-your-own for your own consumption during the berry season and it is cosy and often much cheaper than in the shops. Of course you have to taste the tempting strawberries, raspberries or maybe it is cherries or blackcurrant and red currant and that is certainly not bad at all!

During the summer season, the animal shows provide a great opportunity to get close to the animals and farmers but also to see huge and fascinating machinery. The horse markets are a particularly interesting experience where they often conclude deals the old-fashioned way by a special handshake; and at the sheep markets not only animals but also different products made from sheep or lambs are sold. Keep an eye out for posters in your holiday area and ask at the tourist offices or check the Internet (www.lr.dk – in Danish only) to find out when and where the local animal shows and markets are on.

Denmark has a long and great tradition for producing dairy products such as cheese, milk, cream and butter. For many years, this was only produced in large dairies, however, over the past years, more and more small and often organic dairies have opened and they often sell their products from their own shops. Here, you can taste the cheeses to find your favourite and hear more about the production.

Every Danish provincial town – small or large - should have a set market day during the week. Here, you can buy fresh vegetables and fruits and other locally produced goods.