Local foods are not just for vegetable and fruit farmers to produce, and for you to buy in the summer and fall. In fact, this month New Englanders will be able to support local fishermen by buying local seafood at farmers markets. Consumers will be able to purchase locally and sustainably-caught shrimp and lobster directly from local fishermen at the winter markets being held on February 7 in Exeter, New Hampshire and March 7 in Stratham, New Hampshire.

Shrimp and lobster prices are at a 20 year low - help your neighbors by buying their catch and feast like locally-minded kings with these winter local foods!

More information on the markets can be found at the site for Sea Coast Eat Local. 

-Jess 

Have you been keeping abreast of the efforts to get am organic garden on the lawn of the White House? In the past week, the polls closed for voting on who should be the White House Farmer, and the top 3 vote getters have prepared statements which will be sent with information on them to President Obama's staff. Hopefully Obama will read over these packets carefully and considered the voices of the nearly 56,000 American citizens who placed their votes for their choice farmer.

Check for updates at the White House Farmer website.

-Jess 

This Valentine's Day, American malls might be feeling heartbreak as more and more stores are closing and malls are becoming barren. Chain stores aren't immune to closings (as illustrated by Circuit City) and with the economy being what it is, people are spending less time and money in these giant centers.

Read the New York Times' interesting article (focusing on the Mall of America) on how malls have evolved into more than just places to shop, and how they're going the way of the dinosaur too.

-Jess 

    What are you doing right now? Probably nothing as important as going out and helping save American newspapers by going out and buying a newspaper today on "National Buy a Newspaper Day".

    American papers having been laying off employees and declaring bankruptcy left and right in the past few months, and daily papers in cities across the country may cease to exist in the next few months. 

    Do you part to save them. Buy a paper before the day is over and try to read the paper more frequently instead of getting your news online!

-Jess