Eastern Europeans ae fruit and vegetable growers extraordinaire. Some have small gardens on their property, but more likely than not, they are huge affairs. Even apartment dwellers manage a way to grow a few pots of favorite herbs, berries and dwarf veggies.

Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, black berries, gooseberries, black currants, and so many others, all have a special place in the hearts of Eastern Europeans. They are turned into everything from soup to savory sauces to desserts to alcoholic beverages. Consider trying one of these Eastern European Raspberry Recipes.

There is no better flavor pairing than chocolate and raspberries and Bissinger's Chocolates has been using its European chocolate-making know-how on fresh and dried fruits for generations. They enrobe raspberries in fondant and then dip them into melted gourmet chocolate, in the same way they do their chocolate-covered cherries. But raspberry season is short, typically just the month of July, so grab them while you can.

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Some people claim salting watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, even grapefruit makes the fruit all the sweeter. Bulgarians love to combine watermelon with salty feta cheese in salads, so there may be something to this. After all, salted caramels are all the rage right now -- that wonderful contrast of sweet and salty.

Read more about watermelon and please take this poll and tell me what you think.

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Organic, fair trade and gluten-free are all food buzz words that have been around awhile, but do you know what they mean?

For a product to earn the "certified organic" label in the United States, it must be at least 95 percent organic. That means it is devoid of food additives like preservatives and flavorings, and artificial growing methods like pesticides, herbicides and genetic modification have not been used in its productions. Organic foods are in a purer form and offer consumers a little peace of mind about what exactly they eat.

For people with gluten intolerance like celiac disease or wheat allergies, the gluten-free products flooding the market are a boon. At present, a gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for celiacs. Surprisingly, at least 1 in 133 Americans have this genetic disorder, and now with clearly labeled products, celiacs don't have to spend hours researching foods they can eat that are wheat-free and delicious. Consider Pamela's Products and Dr. Lucy's products.

A product that is designated as Fair Trade means that it was created, grown or harvested under humane labor conditions, while empowering farmers and farm workers through community development, education and fair pricing. Fair Trade Certification protects the people behind the food.

Fair Trade Certification is available in the U.S. for coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice and vanilla. Just keep an eye out for the Fair Trade Certified (FTC) logo on products.

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Eastern Europeans love their sausages. Poles have literally hundreds, if not thousands, of varieties of kielbasa. Some are ideal for flavoring soups and stews, some are great for grilling and yet others are too noble to be eaten in any other way than at room temperature as-is.

Here are 15 Polish Sausages You Will love. If you decide to make your own, try my how to make white sausage recipe. For more involved sausages, the Marianskis' books are a great place to start. If you decide you'd rather buy, check out my list of Eastern European food brands you can trust.

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