It's probably one of the cards i hate the most in the entire game. It doesn't feel tactical at all. It's just, sit there, get points, sit here, choose between giving away points or losing $4 this turn. Hooray! Seriously, not everything you have no control over is an exercise for your cleverness. Some things are just random. In fact, the whole gathering concept seems like it was taken from a family game where the goal is to annoy others by beating them to some arbitrary finish line they can't really influence. Yuk.
I give some credit to Temple, because there you can decide yourself when you get the points. I still don't like this game of chicken. But with Temple you're not screwed over by the random nature of the game. With Farmer's Market, oh boy, better get some anger treatment.
About the questions in the OP:
1. No. Instead, wait a shuffle and let your opponent either try to play them all, allowing you to TRY and get the VP, or not play them, harming himself. Of course, if he plays them, you may or may not get yours in time, which is all the "fun" with this card.
2. No, never.
3. Yes, most certainly.