Real People Eat Local

When was the last time the average American concerned himself or herself with a new president's choice for Secretary of Agriculture? Maybe 100 years ago, when 35 percent of Americans were farmers, as noted in a New York Times op-ed piece this week. But times, they are a-changing. Just as folks like us got energized to make our voices heard during last year's Farm Bill process, there are grassroots movements afoot to let President-Elect Obama know that we want new, more sustainable thinking on US agriculture and food policies.

 

As of today, according to various sources, the field is still open -- which means there's till time for our voices to be heard.

 

At the website www.fooddemocracynow.org you can sign a petition supporting a more sustainable agriculture policy and putting forth the names of six candidates for Agriculture Secretary whose backgrounds make them highly qualified to lead a change in this direction. The top candidate is Gus Schumacher, known to many of us locally for his work with the USDA farmers market program, as well as programs to extend access to fresh and local food to underserved populations.

 

For a real departure, there is also a petition to have sustainable food journalist and guru Michael Pollan named to the position (www.pollanforsecretaryofagriculture.org/), although Pollan himself is a supporter of Schumacher and the other candidates put forth by Food Democracy Now.

 

You can also go to the new "Open for Questions" tool at President-Elect Obama's website and either ask your own food and agriculture question -- including queries about the Ag Secretary -- or vote on the ones already there at

http://change.gov/page/content/openforquestions.
 

Secretary of Agriculture in recent years has tended to be at the bottom of the list of presidential appointment priorities. But it is arguably the most important, given that food is, after all, critical to our existence. We all eat, and we can all have a voice in how the government influences our food choices. Now is the time to have your say!

If you'd like to cast a vote for your favorite  farmers, restaurants, artisans and organizations that are furthering the cause of local and sustainable food in our area, click here to vote for Edible Chesapeake Local Heroes. We'll recognize all your favorites in the spring 2009 issue of Edible Chesapeake magazine.

No matter what your budget, or how hard your giftee is to buy for, you're bound to find some kind of local food or beverage for everyone. So, don't forget to bring your gift list to the holiday markets and farmers markets this time of year.   

The Five Points Community Farm Market in Norfolk is holding a Pay-Off-the-Plumber Holiday Party on Sunday, December 14. The non-profit market is looking for donations to help retire debt connected to the build-out of its new location this year. Five Points, run by community organizer Bev Sell, is a unique operation that gathers produce, meats and other products from local farmers and sells it on their behalf from a permanent location that is open several days a week. The arrangement allows the farmers to concentrate on farming, while the community has access to fresh, local produce at affordable prices. 

Jim Coleman, economic development consultant for the town of Riverdale Park, MD, and market coordinator for the Riverdale Park Farmers Market, loves local food for many reasons:

 

"At heart, I love food. Because of the fact that I love food so much, I love local food. It is by far the freshest, tastiest and best food in every way. It's just a totally different scenario, compared to other food, whether produce, meat or dairy. A lot of us grew up going to the grocery store. (My mom used to shop at the Safeway regularly.) And if you didn't know any better, you'd think all beets taste awful, for example. But fresh, local beets taste sweet, fresh, and earthy. You'd think chicken had no taste and that tomatoes are hard on the outside and mealy on the inside. I just didn't know any better and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Yet fresh, seasonal foods are ripe, tender, and delicious.

"My dad had his own personal vegetable garden in Alexandria when I was growing up. You could always tell how great the tomatoes were. I have been going to farmers markets for many years. Therefore, I also have a strong appreciation for all the difficult work that goes into local food. I am a strong believer in conservation and appropriate land use for rural areas. I think rural areas are important from an environmental standpoint, and they give people food security.

"Because I love local food for all these reasons, I am doing everything I can to promote it, including through restaurants and through my work with farmers markets. I strongly encourage anyone in the area who has a restaurant to consider using local food first, because it's much higher quality."
 
To read more "Local Eater Profiles," click here.