Food and technology

Couldn't think of a different title that quite captured what I am hoping this thread becomes, so I went with Food and Technology.  I am thinking about two types of technology as it relates to food - different gadgets and tools used to prepare or preserve food and which types, brands, items folks use or recommend.  And new, cool technology that is changing the way we eat and where we eat. 

For example, the back of a cooking magazine my wife and I get had an ad for Iphone Apps that relate to food.  One was a locavore app that told you where to get local food in any given city.
One was a menu planning app that had a database of cool recipes and then listed what and where to buy the food. 
There was another one too, but I've forgotten.  Does anyone know of any other apps like this, either for iphones or other smart phones?

As far as gadgets,
I think a dehydrator, chest freezer, and basic canning equipment are some of my favorite and most used kitchen gadgets.  When we lived at Purple Frog Gardens in Whitefish, we used the dehydrator to preserve "seconds" and other unmarketable food that we didn't feed the chickens.  Dried veggies are great for winter soups, or lightweight dehydrated camping dishes.

Others that people can't live without?

My Mom has one of those seal-a-meal gadgets, and she uses it all the time.  We have found that the items will keep in the freezer a lot longer than if you just put them in a plastic bag.  She even uses it for freezing leftover homemade soup.

OLD TIME TECH
Do you remember "the meat crock"?

I was a care giver for a 99ysr old man & in his basement he had a big crock whith about 6in of lard floating on cooked broth with cooked meat in it, he used to reheat meat from the crock for weeks & he never go sick from it.

We are thinking of building a sprout cabinet, anyone have one??
Got any advice on this subject?