That's right, folks -- the White House is open for business. The much-talked-about White House farmers' market is officially debuting today at 810 Vermont Avenue, right in front of the presidential grounds. It's open Thursday afternoons through the end of October, according to the Freshfarm Market site, and will sell "pasture-raised meats, artisan cheeses, milk and yogurt" along with fruits, veggies, baked goods, preserves and more. Sounds great! Even better, the market accepts food stamps, WIC and senior farmers' market nutrition coupons, making all this fresh food more accesible to all.

"We applaud the opening of the new White House farmers market and for the First Lady's support of increasing opportunities for local farmers and community access to fresh, healthy, local food," said Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust, in a press release.

Unfortunately, you can't buy produce directly grown in the White House garden (there's been a lot of media controversy over the safety of the soil there), so no zucchini planted by Michelle Obama or heirloom tomatoes from Thomas Jefferson's original garden. But this is a huge step forward in the fight to bring nutritious, un-processed, real food to everyone and emphasize the importance of local farms. Way to go, White House! 

--Maggie

photo: r. schmuck/getty images