Check out some specials

Wine Enthusiast Mother's Day specials, good through May 11.

Sur La Table is a great place to look for those Mother's Day gifts. These specials go through May 10. May 4th is the last day for ground shipping. Also check out their Taste of Summer specials.

At Harry and David, shop for Mom now and receive FREE delivery on select gifts.

Organic Bouquet also going strong for Mother's Day:

10% off Organic Bouquet Mother's Day Bouquets starting at $29.95! Offer expires 05/31/09.

Free Chocolate gift with Organic Bouquet Mother's Day Roses Starting at $29.95! Offer expires 05/31/09.

Can't decide? Get up to $10 off Organic and Eco-Certified Mother's Day Bouquets! Check their Grower's Specials weekly for updated offers.

Wineries delve deeper into Earth-friendly practices

As the green movement gains momentum, more wine drinkers are seeking out wines that are made from producers that are using Earth-friendly farming practices. The topic is very intricate, so in the spirit of Earth Day, which falls on Wednesday, here's a basic overview of important farming practices in the wine industry.

If a wine is made from certified organic grapes, the label will read "organically grown," "organically farmed," or "made with organically grown grapes." The fundamental idea behind organic farming is to harvest grapes that have been grown without pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers or any other synthetic chemicals.

Cost vs. Quality: Is Organic Food Really Better?

It seems all the nation is abuzz with organic fever. The number of farmers markets has increased dramatically in the past several years, sales of organic products have more than doubled and even the new First Family has jumped on the organic bandwagon.

But in uncertain economic times, some people are asking if the higher cost of organic foods is worth the benefit. And when it comes down to it, what benefit are we really talking about anyway?
When discussing organic food, most people are referring to food that complies with and has been accepted as “Certified Organic” by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA’s Organic Standards were set in 2002, twelve years after the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.
In order for a food to become Certified Organic, the grower of the food must be inspected for compliance with the USDA’s “Organic Standards” by an accredited state or private agency.