I am not exactly a "foodie", but I play one on TV.

My palate isn't discriminating enough to be like a gourmet or anything, but lord knows, I do love food. And I love recipes, and I love restaurant reviews, and I love learning about how things are made and going to see orchards and farms.

I've gotten a reputation here for being like an "organic-o-phile" because I do try to buy organic milk and get a box of local and organic produce delivered once every two weeks.

And yes I put wheat germ in my cookies. But, still. As I said, I am not a gourmet person because I also really love Burger King onion rings, and chili cheese dogs, and Campbell's cream of mushroom soup.

Anyway, living in Portland is letting me get it on with all kinds of fresh foods that are affordable. I was in berry heaven for the past two months. We went berry picking at least five times. I tried berries I didn't even know existed before moving here.

And now, now is the beginning of the apple season. Okay, I got this one covered. I mean, my father is from a family of apple farmers, right?

So today Maika and I drove fifteen minutes down the major road near our house into the farmlands of Sherwood and stopped at the Oregon Heritage Farms . Their country store had like five different kinds of apples, asian pears, monster zuchinni, apple cider, etc. etc.

And I almost felt like crying because it was so beautiful and fresh and memories-from-my-childhood and delicious and NOT EXPENSIVE or FRICKIN' FAR AWAY like it would have been if it were Japan.

And all I have to say is (in the words of Carlos Mencia): That's America, bitch!