What’s in season at your grocery store?

Local farmers have spent all year working in their fields, preparing the very best fruits and vegetables for you to enjoy during the autumn harvest. In the peak of this colourful, hearty season, their hard work is starting to surface, and it’s the perfect time to take advantage of everything nature has to offer. With so many options available in the produce section, it can be difficult to know what is ripe for the picking.

Whether you’re looking to spice up your cooking or just looking to take advantage of what the season has to offer - know your options and pick the freshest, best tasting ingredients for your kitchen. Foodnetwork.com has listed all the best fruits and vegetables for the fall season, and has included details on how to pick your produce - so you never get a bad apple (or any other bad fruit for that matter)! Here are the best in season fruits and vegetables for autumn: 

to read about the best of fall produce!

Welcome to Meet the Panelist - our new monthly feature designed to help you get to know your fellow panel members!  Each month we’ll feature a new panelist – and tell you a little bit about them.  It’s our way of giving all of our panelists a chance to get to know each other.

Meet Kate F. from Virginia !

More interesting questions we asked Kate:

Q: How many TVs do you have in your house?
A: 0
Q: If you could be any animal, what would you be?
A: A monkey, they're very human-like, seem like a lot of fun, and they are absolutely adorable.        
Q: Where’s the best place to go on a date?
A: Dinner
Q: What do you usually eat for breakfast?
A: Rice and last night's leftovers           
Q: When you were six years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A librarian
Q: What is your favourite website?
A: www.slickdeals.net   
Q: What do you like about answering surveys for i-Say?
A: Winning prizes/earnings rewards .
Q: What do you like about being an i-Say panelist?
A: It's easy, convenient, and I get rewarded for my time   

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Kate!

Want to be considered for a future
Meet the Panelist feature?
Drop us a note at meetthepanel@ipsos.com with your name and the primary email address you use for taking i-Say surveys!

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High Gas Prices and the Uncertain Economy Largely to Blame

A new telephone survey of 1,000 Americans, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of Access America Travel Insurance and Assistance, has found that fewer people are planning to have a summer vacation in 2008 than in 2007. One-third (33%) of those polled say they’re planning a summer vacation, a drop of 7 percentage points from the 40% who reported that they had a summer vacation in 2007.

Among those who took a vacation last year, only 57% say they plan to travel again this summer. Most of those who took a vacation last year, but do not plan to do so this year, cite economic reasons: High gas prices (20%), the fact that they just can’t afford it (20%), the uncertain economy (13%) and a weak dollar (2%).

Among those planning to take a vacation, the primary destinations are the Southern US (21%) and the Western US (19%). At the same time, 19% are planning to travel outside of the country with the top destinations being warm weather locations such as Mexico (5%) and the Caribbean (5%).

Although one-third (33%) of Americans are planning on taking a summer vacation in 2008, almost one-half of these people (48%) say their plans will be scaled-back due to the uncertain economy. The two most likely ways in which their plans will be scaled-back are eating out less (27%) and staying closer to home on their vacation (24%).

$25 Best Buy Gift Card

Barbara C. Glendale AZ
Kendra L. Harrison OH
Victoria N. Rock Hill SC
Barbara P. Citrus Heights CA
Jessica P. Kimball MI
Robert G. Kansas City MO
Heather W. Allentown PA
Kristen C. Rochester NY
Danielle W. Orange MA
Juan P. Philadelphia PA
Ilene P. Norfolk VA
Beverly M. Hutchinson KS
Nancy W. Pittston PA
Becky J. Irving TX
James H. Rock Falls IL

$10 Blockbuster Gift Card

Carolyn B. Baltimore MD
Kathryn M. Sterling Hts MI
Judi S. Boscawen NH
Marty M. Roundup MT
Nancy H. Wagoner OK
Rhonda W. Salt Lake City UT
Jack C. Pflugerville TX
Anna T. Las Vegas NV
Kelley M. Jacksonville FL
Nicole P. Shelley ID
Philip H. Scottdale PA
Chris B. Minneapolis MN

for more winners

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