Captain Richard Cook, founder of The Local Catch, saw a need for local seafood distribution and sought to fill it by providing a way to sell his catch to buyers in nearby states, close to where he caught it in the first place. The Local Catch provides a market for other Rhode Island fisherman as well, so they are trailblazing a whole new take on seafood

The end of November ushers in the holiday season. A stroll through the local market finds tables full with hardy greens, colorful squash and fragrant pommes. For me, it feels so natural and intuitive to craft a meal from this delicious bounty. This is when the fall fruits and vegetables are at their peak, robust and flavorful, just begging to grace the holiday table. And even if you aren’t hosting a holiday party or serving a big meal yourself, chances are you will be bringing something to share at the table, whether its a side dish, a dessert or even a bottle of wine.

Fall is by far my favorite season, and not just because you can find my birthday in it. The scarves and jackets, the crisp air and rusty smell, the brilliant colors all around, and of course the harvest vegetables! Here’s a toasty autumnal soup to warm you on a bright, breezy day.

In January, I had the opportunity to attend Edible Institute, a two day conference about sustainable and local food, and the trip became more enticing when I learned it would be in sunny Santa Barbara. When we arrived, we stepped onto the sun-drenched tarmac and, like flowers, turned our faces to the bright sunlight. Ahhh, sunshine.

I spent the first 24 years of my life living deep in the heart of southwest Montana. Not only that, I spent 18 of those years in the exact same farmhouse, on the same gorgeous, breath-taking ranch that I will always, always call home. I would not and could not imagine trading those 18 years for anything. In fact, if I could, I would make it so that every child and teen in America had the opportunity to spend some time on a ranch, living off of the land.

With so much color and variety, it is easy to get lost in these markets, which is exactly what Lorraine Plaxico did one day when she was looking for something to draw. Without the intention to start a new line of artwork, she stumbled into the Asheville, NC farmers market, one of most impressive local food scenes in the country. Entranced by the colors and shapes, she set up her pad and pastels and just started making quick sketches of the booths there.

When I think of New York City, I think of abundance. You can find anything – any cuisine, any spice, any ingredient. It’s no surprise that you can also find a farmers market any day of the week.

When I visited New York in August, I skipped the morning session of my conference so that I could explore the crown jewel of the cities farmers markets – Union Square Greenmarket. I was there on a Friday so there weren’t quite as many vendors as a Saturday, but there were still sufficient treasures to find.

Advice on feeding picky kids with local, farm-fresh food, and two recipes for using autumn fare to make delicious food that your kids will love.

Rather than going with the typical dinner and a movie for a first date, why not get creative and unique by going to a farmer’s market?

Articles on the BP Oilspill, fast food marketing, and the importance of salt in our lives, among a range of other issues involving the USDA and small farms.