Savoring that just-picked flavor. Supporting the local economy. Making a direct connection to the people who grow your food. Reasons for shopping at farmers markets are as rich and abundant as the farm-fresh produce they sell.

If you are reading this article, chances are good that you already have a reason, and now want to find a market nearby your home or work place. Or perhaps you shop regularly at a farmers market, but would like to sample a new one.

Luckily, you have over 220 farmers markets to choose from in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Several online resources offer ways to sort through them to find a market that fits your needs and location.

Each listing below includes location, day, time, and contact information for each market. Note that the information is always changing, so I recommend calling or emailing first before heading to a new destination.

• The Washington Post’s Farmers Markets 2009 guide. Search by county or day of the week.
• D.C. Food Finder. Click on the “Farmers Markets” heading and search by address.
• Local Harvest . This source for all things local features a section on farmers markets that grows by the week. Search by city or zip code.

Still not sure where to find a farmers market? Email me.

Hey, readers – this is a re-post from my Examiner.com site.