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A Sustainable Choice for Secretary of Agriculture |
December 11, 2008
Though the short list for Secretary of Agriculture seems to change daily, one thing has remained the same. According to Agriculture Online , the majority of names being bandied about for head of the USDA come from the traditional pool of mainstream agriculture.
Given the lack of suitable prospects, advocates of sustainable ag opted to nominate a few of their own candidates for the job. Thousands are taking advantage of this rare chance to influence the future of food and agriculture policy in the USA.
While one group promotes Michael Pollan for the post, he has elected to endorse Food Democracy Now’s slate of candidates —and he’s not the only one. Over 25,000 people have signed their petition encouraging President Elect Obama to appoint a leader with a demonstrated commitment to changing the food system (see list of candidates after the jump).
“The politicking around the nomination for a new Secretary of Agriculture are heating up...Now is the moment to press the case for reform,” wrote Pollan. The issue continues to gain traction in the pages of the New York Times. Today, Nicholas Kristof’s Op-Ed “Obama’s ‘Secretary of Food” ranked as one of the most popular articles viewed online.
To add your name to the growing chorus of voices calling for change, visit www.fooddemocracynow.org.
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USDA Seeks Public Comment on Deregulation of Genetically Engineered Corn |
November 25, 2008
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comment on a petition to deregulate corn genetically engineered (GE) to produce a microbial enzyme that facilitates ethanol production. APHIS has regulated the corn through its notification and permitting process since 2002.
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Slow Food Russian River Transforms Heritage Turkeys |
November 25, 2008
"Four years ago, as part of Slow Food's efforts to save endangered food
species, members of the Russian River Slow Food convivium began efforts
to raise heritage breed turkeys. Immediately they were faced with the
reality that the poultry industry had disappeared from Sonoma County.
Their solution: team up with the local 4H club, which was working on
saving another endangered species--young farmers. With Thanksgiving as
their inspiration, the two groups have collaborated to build a sort of
“turkey CSA": the kids raise the birds, and members pledge in advance
both to buy the birds and to pay a generous price per pound. Organizers
are optimistic that what begins as a summer job raising turkeys might
in some cases lead to something bigger. "It might not happen this year
or next, but someday we hope we’ll find a kid who wants to take this on
and run with it." -- Lisa M. Hamilton
Please follow the link to Lisa's slideshow of photographs from the transformation.
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Governor Schwarzenegger Names Organic Walnut Company Winner of Top Environmental Leadership Award |
November 25, 2008
Congratulations to 2007 ROC Fellow Jenny Lester Moffit and the rest of the Dixon Ridge Farms family!
Dixon Ridge Farm’s wins Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for climate change and sustainable practices
SACRAMENTO, CA – Governor Schwarzenegger announced Tuesday that Dixon Ridge Farms of Winters, California has won the 2008 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for its sustainable practices and work to reduce the effects of climate change. The award is California’s highest and most prestigious environmental honor.
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40,000 Swarm to Gather Free Food |
November 25, 2008
Monday's Washington Post featured an intriguing news brief about a family farm in Platteville, Colorado. After hearing reports of food being stolen from churches, the Millers invited their community into their fields to collect the vegetables left after the harvest. Imagine their surprise when over 40,000 people showed up. Read the full article here...
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