I was fortunate to grow up regularly visiting the original Spice House in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. (The Spice House was owned by the parents of the people who went on to create Penzey's.) At a tender and impressionable age, I was imprinted with the sensual, magical experience of walking through their door and immediately being surrounded by a cacophony of smells and the promise of new discoveries. So needless to say, there's no way the Internet or a grocery store, no matter how convenient and practical, is going to be my go-to when it comes time to purchase my spices.

While it's great to buy specialty products in-person from the maker, sometimes it's just not possible. (We don't all live near a food or farmer's market.) So to appreciate the full scale and variety of today's artisanal offerings, you have to go online. These nine marketplaces have you covered: More

Looking for a way to cart your fruits and veggies that doesn't involve a handful of plastic bags? Reusable produce bags are your answer. Made from a variety of materials, from muslin to mesh, they're all durable, washable, and way better than the bags pulled from your grocery store's produce section. More

We're talking about farmers' markets this week on The Kitchn, so I was bummed that I missed my own market this past Saturday morning. But then — wait! I realized that this was the very first week of a new mid-week, Wednesday evening market in my neighborhood. I love mid-week markets — do you have one in your town?

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When I visit a new city, the first place I head for is the market. No matter where in the world I am, watching people take part in the everyday business of buying food for their next meal is both comforting and deeply fascinating, especially if the market is in a far-off locale. Thanks to Flickr, even if you can't take an international trip this summer, you can still get a glimpse of what market life is like from Sweden to Sudan. More

How do you haul your fruits and veggies from the market? Do you like the feeling of a basket nestled in the crook of your elbow, or do you prefer to swing a tote over your shoulder? The perfect market bag is a very personal thing, but whatever your preference, we think you'll find something to love in our roundup today. From simple canvas bags to fancier compartmentalized carry-alls, here are 10 bags we wouldn't mind carrying on our next market trip: More

Whenever I travel to a new city, I always plan a visit to the local farmers' markets. This may seem odd, especially if you're staying in a hotel room with no hope of cooking a meal, but there are many reasons why the farmers' market is a great stop for the out-of-town visitor! More

Washing your reusable shopping bags is a smart habit that keeps your bags looking like new, but what should you do with a bag that is torn, tattered or otherwise too far gone to wash? Quite by accident, I discovered why bringing it back to the store where you bought it is better than just throwing it away. More

I just moved and one of the main selling points of my new place is that the neighborhood farmers' market is just 2 blocks away. While there are several stalls featuring fruits and vegetables, I can also purchase cheese, milk and yogurt, meat, charcuterie, flowers, jam, bread and other baked goods, eggs, coffee, handmade soap, and olive oil. In other words, if I wanted to (and if my pocketbook could afford it, which it can't) I could theoretically skip the grocery store completely! More

My city recently approved a plastic bag ban, which won't change much for me, as I've been using reusable grocery bags for years. Wait. I've been using reusable grocery bags for...years. And when was the last time I washed them? Uh... More