Living in California, I'm blessed by the abundance and variety of fruits and vegetables, year round, grown organically and locally. Most of what I buy comes from the Farmer's Market and from the farmers I know and talk to all the time. There is something deeply satisfying about knowing where your food was grown, who grew it, how they grew it and when.

Not everything sold at Farmer's Markets is organic or pesticide free. But you can easily find out simply by asking the farmers. They're happy to tell you everything you might want to know about the fruits or vegetables you're about to buy.

Within the Farmer's Market, you'll find farmers that grow only a couple of things, and others that grow a huge variety of produce. Some have organically certified farms and others simply use organic methods, but are not certified. Others don't necessarily use organic methods but will tell you that they don't spray any pesticides on their products either. And yet some are certified organic but might still choose to apply some organic chemicals to combat pests while others go completely natural and let some pest chow down part of the crop. Don't just visit your nearest Farmer's Market, talk to the farmers and learn about your food. It's an incredibly rewarding experience to meet the person that grows your food. And be sure to write me when you do!