Stop 'n' Shop at Specialty Food Markets

Shopping at an outdoor or specialty food market, opposed to a cold, fluorescently lit space selling mostly packaged and frozen goods, can be uplifting.

They are quite a sight: The beautiful palette of seasonal fruits and vegetables, next to fresh flowers and jars of handmade jams, create a living painting. More importantly, most food markets support local farmers, ranchers and fishmongers.

As people grow more conscious of what they eat and how they affect the environment, they demand to know the provenance of food and how it is produced. ...