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Just in case you're not certain that Obama is loved by foodies and farmers, read articles from food critics and writers, such as Ruth Reichl and David Kamp. Better yet, check out the blog Obama Foodorama. An article from the New York Times explains that the Obama family is viewed by many as one that cares about eating organic. Kim Severson states: "Mr. Obama looks like the first foodie president since Thomas Jefferson."Tell me your national food concerns and I'll tell you why you're for Obama. Despite Obama's recent choice of Secretary of Agriculture, former Iowa governor Tom Vilsak, foodies around the nation view Obama as someone who will deliver change for both small farmers and ubran gastronomes alike. Yes, Vilsak supports alternative fuels like corn-based ethanol and is a proponent of biotechnology. Nevertheless, we can forgive Obama for not choosing someone like Alice Waters or Michael Pollen. With the current state of affairs(an ongoing war and the economic crisis), he has bigger fish to fry at the moment.
After the jump, find out specific requests from food critics, reformers, and chefs.
The Times article explains that food reformers are hoping that Obama's focus on climate change will inevitably force him to deal with issues regarding the national food system. Several gastronomes, including renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer, believe Obama can make an impact by his very own diet. For this reason, Meyer, along with Reichl and Waters, sent a letter to Obama offering to help him select someone to head the White House kitchen. Can something as simple as how the president eats truly initiate change in the national diet?
Ann Cooper, the chef who works on improving school food programs, understands that food may not be at the top of Obama's list, but she still has certain requests in mind. In particular, she would like him to move the responsibility for school food programs from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education or the Department of Health and Human Services. She believes this would help create school menus that take into consideration the health and development of the children. Cooper created the school food program for the Berkeley Unified School District in California, and she's currently working on one in Boulder, Colorado.
To me, it seems that transforming school food programs is crucial to prevent the rise of obesity among America's youth. I'm skeptical about how the White House kitchen would make much of a difference. What are some of your food related requests for Obama?
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12-24-2008 @5:19PM MM said... Frankly I'm glad Obama didn't appoint someone who would wage a war on biotechnology. Obama (and Vilsack) both seem to care about the agricultural issues I see as truly important: sustainability and health of the food supply, and reducing the waste and corporate welfare of agricultural subsidies. These are issues ALMOST everyone can agree on, so we're more likely to made real progress rather than tilting at the windmill of genetic engineering.
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12-25-2008 @7:50AM Gobo said... Obama has read Michael Pollan and has referenced his ideas in speeches. It blows my mind that Pollan's theories and ideas might actually be put to use by a president.
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