Complete Index

Make your house a favorite of trick-or-treaters with information about and links to suppliers of the most popular fruit-flavored and chocolate Halloween candies. You’ll also find resources for retro favorites and candy recipes. Put those treats in your bowl and get ready to answer the doorbell.

Chef Ann Cooper is leading the movement for healthier school lunches, launching a Web site devoted to the cause and lobbying on Capitol Hill.

Keep your meals fresh and your heart healthy by incorporating eggplant into your diet. Eggplant is at peak ripeness right now, so fill your fridge before pumpkins and gourds take over the market stands.

The refreshing flavor and texture of cucumbers will remind you of summer as you transition into fall. Adding the vegetable to your diet can also help rid your body of common toxins. Cucumbers are coming into season in early September, so take advantage and stock up.

Let the flavors of sun-ripened Asian pears linger on your taste buds as you prepare for autumn’s chill. Asian pears are at peak ripeness in early September.

Farm-to-school and other local food programs are sprouting up across the U.S., as Illinois looks to local farms to boost the economy and fill vacant lots in Chicago.

As summer starts to wind down, green beans make for light, healthy dishes with bright colors and crunchy textures. Many people also cure green beans in order to eat them year round.

Napa cabbage is ready for harvest just as the summer begins to wind down, so head out to your local farmers market to bag some before it is too late, and once it's home, we've got a few ideas for how to prepare it.

Watermelon is a summertime staple, the perfect refreshing treat after a long, hot day in the sun. In mid-August you'll find watermelon at its juiciest. Discover new ways to prepare this seasonal favorite.

Late blight, which caused the Irish potato famine, has wreaked havoc on U.S. tomatoes since June. Can late blight be contained before farmers lose even more crops?  

What better time to take advantage of summer’s natural treasures than during the hot, lazy days of August? Lucky for you, one of summer's most refreshing fruits is ripe in the first days of August: cantaloupe.

A summer barbecue or picnic staple, corn is one of the vegetables that will be ripe in early August. Relatively inexpensive and refreshing on a hot summer day, corn can be made into many meals and eaten in more ways than just on the cob.

One of the tasty fruits that is ripe in early August is the small tomatillo. Known in Mexico as tomates verdes or fresadillas, tomatillos are characterized by their papery outer husk. The tart and healthy fruit is a staple in many Mexican and Central American dishes.

A review by London researchers found that organic food is no healthier than conventionally grown food, fueling more speculation about the true value of organic farming.

Cold soup can be made with virtually anything: almonds, melon, hearts of palm. Served chilled, soup is a perfect summer option, either pre- or post-meal. More versatile than its warmer equivalent, both savory and sweet cold soup recipes abound.

As the recession continues and urban gardening gains popularity among the masses, one study finds that gardening may be the key to a long life.

July 23 marks the official birthday of the ice cream cone, and what better time to celebrate this coolest of desserts? In honor of the occasion, snack on some fascinating frozen facts. What causes the ice cream headache? What legends surround the banana split? Learn about ice cream in the news, or find recipes to make your own treats, from gelato to granitas.

The craft of artisanal cheesemaking is alive and thriving in the United States, producing a huge variety of top-notch cheeses that rival their European forebears. We'll take you on a tour of artisanal cheeses and show you how to make them and where to buy them.

Tempt your taste buds and prepare your stomach for the big meal to follow with a traditional Italian dish: antipasto. With its lively combination of tastes, both savory and sweet, antipasto closely resembles other popular hors d’oeuvres, but brings a distinctly Italian flair and aesthetic. Originating in the 16th century, antipasto literally means “before the pasta,” and is the perfect prelude to either a casual or an elegant meal.

The Obama administration plans to ban certain antibiotics in farm animals in order to reduce dangerous bacteria in humans. But some experts say the ban could be detrimental to the food supply.

If the brilliant hues of July’s fruits and vegetables don’t draw you in, then learning about their health benefits should. Before long, you’ll be rushing to your local market to stock up on cherries, summer squash and nectarines to brighten up your diet and your dinner table.

Food safety concerns have prompted the U.S. and China to ban imports of each other’s chicken, calling attention to the case for locally grown food.

Organic farming isn’t a perfect practice free of chemicals or questionable animal treatment. Some believe that getting to know your local farmers may be the healthiest strategy.

The days are longer, the evenings warmer and the moods brighter—summer is fully upon us and what better way to celebrate long afternoons with friends and sunsets on the beach than to raise a glass and hear the music of tinkling ice cubes? While cocktails are a year-round pleasure, the scorching days of August demand a particular approach to mixology. The ingredients should be fresher, the portions larger and the effect more bracing to counteract the heat, the haze and the lazy days. So stock up the bar and celebrate the season of summer cocktails—get mixing.

July 4th weekend is almost here. When you start lighting a fire in your backyard and spending quality time with slabs of raw meat, you need to be cautious. Here are some tips for safe and fun grilling.

Barbecue is a summer staple for virtually every American, but for some dedicated enthusiasts, life is a full-time cook-off. Take a look at American barbecue and the devotees who keep the grill flame lit from July to June.

The Napa Valley is by and large the most well-known and beloved wine region in the United States, enticing oenophiles and foodies with gorgeous vineyards and bountiful restaurants. Web sites with itineraries and official winery portals can enhance your trip. 

Summer means casual gatherings and lighter meals served outdoors. Unfortunately, it can also mean the same old potato salad. Looking for some new ideas to bring to the picnic table? Add flair to your summer menus with an abundance of fresh produce, and some unlikely combinations and ingredients.

A trip to Oregon Wine Country in the Willamette Valley is a worthwhile excursion for any traveler. The area’s winding roads take you through culturally rich small towns where you’ll find covered bridges, farmer’s markets and vineyards galore.

Residential farming and gardening services are taking hold in some American cities, furthering the homegrown food craze and helping people save money in the process.