Whatever did we do before the Internet? As a writer, it's obviously the first place I turn to start working on an article. And as a consumer, I rarely make an important purchase decision without doing a little research on the company, what others think of the product, and where I can buy it for the best price.

In a time when the food world is rapidly evolving in both good and bad ways, researching food issues is more important than ever. I thought I'd give you a peek inside my list of "bookmarks," so you can develop a set of resources of your own to find out everything from what's in season in your area to what to make for dinner tonight.

What's in Season
The National Resources Defense Council has a handy guide, searchable by state and season, for what's in season in your area, as well as what foods are culprits for racking up food miles.

Good Fish/Bad Fish
The Environmental Defense Fund's seafood selector and Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch can help you make smart choices when you're buying fish, either at a resaurant or at the supermarket fish counter. Good: Farmed rainbow trout, wild Alaskan salmon. Bad: Farmed Atlantic salmon, orange roughy.

Food Recalls
From the recent melamine scare to the latest recall on fresh produce, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service have the latest news on product recalls. It's a good place to keep up to date when big food recalls are going on, but it's also scarily addictive to scroll through all the minor food product recalls that don't make the news.

Pick Your Own
Especially this time of year, it's fun to go apple picking, while other times of year offer opportunities to pick blueberries, peaches, pumpkins and other goods. Not only is it a nice way to spend a weekend afternoon, but you'll be supporting local farmers. Find a pick-your-own farm near you on the Pick-Your-Own website.

Culinary Inspiration
Row after row of gorgeous, tempting food photos greet visitors to Tastespotting, a trophy case of food bloggers. Recent highlights include homemade, gluten-free twinkies, roasted butternut squash hummus, an interview with a farmer, and mixed berry vegan pancakes. Another source of inspiration is 101 Cookbooks, the blog of a food writer who cooks her way through recipes that are both her own and from cookbooks.

What are your favorite online food resources?

Image courtesy Ron1478.