Fresh, local tomatoes stop D.C. traffic. First Lady Michelle Obama's visits to the Vermont Avenue Farmers Market also helped draw foot traffic and actual sales for the 19 vendors at the seasonal market.
     The market is the fifth in the city run by Freshfarm Markets. The nonprofit group had permission to close off a block of Vermont Avenue in the heart of the city from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursdays. 
     When the market opened for the first time in September, Mrs. Obama addressed the crowd of shoppers and vendors, and told them she had never seen so many people so excited about fruits and vegetables. She didn't say whether or not any of the produce had come from the White House garden. Before heading back home, she filled a basket with local produce, cheese and chocolate milk.
     If you'd like to pick up a few things for your fridge, better hurry. The market closes down for the season tomorrow. To read more, and to see a video of shoppers' reactions, click here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2009/09/17/VI2009091703565.html?sid=ST2009091704578
     

     This delectable confection looks like another inch on the waist, but it's actually a healthy pumpkin-cranberry spice bundt cake made with just a third cup of oil. You'll find the recipe - along with a whole batch of whole-grain recipes - in this coming Saturday's edition of Lancaster Farming. It's in the Food and Family section.



And you think American TV is bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYXObIS5_AM