Am I missing something? If so, don't hesitate to send me anything interesting and new. Also, I'd love to hear about what you found or sell at the farmer's market. My e-mail is mmcewen2 @ uiuc.edu

@ The Urbana Farmer's Market This Week

• Tomato season is upon us. I saw at least ten varieties ranging from tiny golden cherry tomatoes to plump juicy brandywine giants. Prairie Fruits Farm has their seasonal goat cheese speckled with heirloom tomatoes.
  
• Peter Piper picked a purple pepper...and you can too at the Market. Don't worry, there a red, green, and yellow peppers too if purple just isn't your color.
• Summer squash remains prolific. The magda variety, shown at left, has a nutty flavor with a creamy texture. Winter squash is also starting to make a showing, with acorn and kabocha and even pumpkins.
• Peaches, melons, and raspberries are still available and watch out for local apples soon.
  
• Honey galore! Three stands are now selling honey, all with unique flavors.
  

In the Media

September is Eat Local Month, check out the essay Eating Locally as a Spiritual Practice

How College Students Can Eat Locally When Held Captive To A Meal Plan
Alisa Smith and James MacKinnon, authors of Plenty, blog about ways college students can enjoy local food and efforts to get it into dormitory cafeterias. See also, their blog about Illinois local.

Central Illinois Farmers put Local Food on Shelves
Local food is slowly reaching grocery stores and restaurants, where many consumers are learning to appreciate its unique and often superior qualities, but many obstacles remain.

Virus is Seen as Suspect in Death of Honeybees
While it's unlikely to be the only culprit in the mystery Colony Collapse Disorder, researchers have pinpointed Israeli acute paralysis virus as a major cause.

Antibiotic Resistance Tracked From Hog Farms to Groundwater
Researcher here at UIUC have found that antibiotics used routinely in large-scale swine farming are leaking into groundwater, which is often used as drinking water.

Is Our Food Getting Less Nutritious?
As farms produce for higher production, the nutritional value of our food may be declining. Is organic farming the answer to this problem?

Fighting to Keep Organic Foods Pure
Time profiles the Cornucopia Institute and their complaints against lax organic standards.

Foreign Meat to Carry Labels Soon
Country of Origin Labeling is coming to a store near you...

FAO Promotes Organic Agriculture
An FAO report says that organic agriculture could be an ideal way to deal with environmental and food security challenges.