To borrow shamelessly from Benjamin Franklin, guacamole is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. The Agricultural and Natural Resources people at the University of California-Riverside would seem to agree. In this Web site devoted solely to the lovely avocado, readers can learn all about the history and horticulture of this subtropical fruit (that's right -- fruit). Features include...

In the midst of a precipitous decline in family farms and an industrious increase in large-scale agriculture, a back-to-basics farming movement is growing like a well-tended garden. Whether you are a supporter of local farmers at a farmers market, a member of a CSA farm, or you are simply worried about pesticides, going organic or going local has found many fans. And, while markedly more expensive...

Hey cheeseheads! Here's a serious Website for you. CheeseNet houses a world of information on characteristics of various cheeses, the history of cheese, facts about cheesemaking, cheese in poetry and fiction, plus much more. A major highlight of the site is the world cheese Index (WCI), an illustrated guide to the geography, ingredients, texture, and flavor of over 100 cheeses. The WCI, which has...

The Chocolate Archives: CHOCO was a read-only mailing list and an archive of recipes that contained chocolate. Each month on (or around) the sixth day, a compilation of chocolate recipes from around the net were posted to the group. These recipes are gathered from usenet newsgroups and various mailing lists.

Chicago's Field Museum invites educators to "use the enticing subject of chocolate to teach your class about the intriguing relationship between nature and culture." Click on Educators' Resources to access 12 downloadable lesson plans, 6 of which focus specifically on the relationship between chocolate and the environment. Not only do these lesson plans offer students a fun way to learn about...

Produced by CondeNet, this rather prodigious collection of culinary delights contains an archive of over 16,000 recipes. The database may be searched through the use of keywords, or through a number of more elaborate specifications, such as looking for recipes that are kid-friendly, low-fat, or meatless. Visitors can create their own customized online recipe box, view a list of the most popular...

Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger is "an international classroom for exploring the problems of hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity." Offered in eight languages, the website offers numerous resources for educators, providing adaptable lessons designed to introduce primary, intermediate, and secondary level students to world hunger issues. "Each lesson contains Objectives, Concepts and Activities...

The US Department of Agriculture offers this quick overview of food and nutrition research conducted at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The Web site features a dozen topics (including Blueberries -- A Brain Booster? and Good News for Chocolate Lovers!) with research summaries and photos. The material is interesting and easy-to-absorb, and for further information, readers may get in touch...

Food is both a necessity and "a topic of endless discussion." Readers interested in food production and selection, from agriculture to nutrition, may enjoy this resource. The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum's Food for Health portal is packed full of interesting content, from practical tips like how to read a food label to a historical look at the evolution of food safety. The portal is divided...

Since its feature in the 08-28-2015 Scout Report, Gastropod (now on its 14th season) continues to produce fascinating bi-weekly content, covering topics ranging from "the Queen of Kiwi" (see the December 17, 2019 episode) to the history of Gin and Tonics (see the February 11, 2020 episode). As the site notes, "Gastropod looks at food through the lens of science and history." In each episode of...