October is National Seafood Month, and it's a great opportunity to promote the U.S. fishing industry and the seafood fishermen provide. For example, according to NMFS Director Eileen Sobeck's Leadership Message on the agency's website, NMFS will be featuring stories on the site this month that highlight sustainable fisheries and the health benefits of eating seafood regularly.

Alas, while we have a whole month to spread the seafood gospel to consumers, there are other food-related holidays vying for the public's attention in October. A quick Web search of October food holidays yielded the following goodies at foodstoriesblog.com — and these are only selected examples from a rather lengthy list. For example, Oct. 4 was both National Taco Day and National Vodka Day.

NMFS is promoting sustainable fisheries and the health benefits of eating seafood on its website. NMFS photoThis week, we get to observe National Fluffernutter Day (it's apparently the Massachusetts state sandwich) on Oct. 8, followed by National Moldy Cheese Day (I am not making this up) on Oct. 9.

Then next week, we can celebrate National Chocolate-Covered Insects Day on Oct. 14  and National Roast Pheasant Day on Oct. 15.

Rounding out the month are National Greasy Foods Day on Oct. 25, and Buy a Doughnut Day on Oct. 30 (not to be confused with National Doughnut Day, which occurs in June).

Quite a list, isn't it? I, for one, am glad all these food holidays occur during National Seafood Month. By the time people get done gorging on tacos, Fluffernutters, chocolate-covered insects, greasy foods and doughnuts, seafood is going to look awfully appealing to consumers. Certainly it's a wonderful source of protein, and omega-3 rich seafood offers a variety of health benefits.

But what sets seafood apart from other foods that are touted as being good for you? That's easy — it's delicious. You can have the carrot juice. Serve me up some scallops, shrimp or salmon, some haddock or halibut, heck, give me a nice tuna sandwich, just to name a few tasty choices. As tempting as it may be to savor some moldy cheese (and I fear we have some in the fridge at home), I think I'll stick with the seafood.