Tips for Shopping at the Farmers Market

This past Sunday kicked off National Farmers Market Week. And what better time to celebrate, given the berries, stone fruit, tomatoes, corn, and other amazing offerings that are at their best right now? Hopefully you'll have a chance to head out to a nearby market — one of our top eight, perhaps? — and buy the season's bounty until your bags are bursting at the seams.

But before you do so, I'd like to offer some pointers on how to be a better shopper at the farmers market. If you follow these tips, you'll save money and time, avoid the crowds, and simply have a more enjoyable experience overall. Shop savvier when you keep reading.