Ag Chair makes a stupid comment

Collin Peterson, chairman of the House of Representatives agricultural committee, made a stupid comment to the Financial Times about how "dumb" he thinks people who pay extra for local and organic are, and how he just doesn't understand them. The article is here, his quote at the end.

The fact that Representative Peterson, a Democrat from Minnesota, thinks that is a good thing to say publicly seems to speak volumes. Doesn't he remember the write in campaign about the National Organic Standards? Organic eaters are a politically powerful bunch. Representative Peterson certainly seems willing to risk waiting that sleeping tiger.

Maybe his comment is a good one though, if it helps energize people like me to push for a Farm Bill that is responsive to the interests of eaters.

On the other hand, here's a link to a piece by the CEO of Vermont Foodbank saying we should stop "dithering" over the Farm Bill and the problems posed by the crop subsidy system and simply pass the Farm Bill because it also includes money for food stamps and nutrition assistance. I know that this is the classic political bargain of the farm bill -- food stamps for the hungry in exchange for corporate welfare for agribusiness. I certainly support food stamps and nutrition assistance, I just am not sure we really need to support corporate welfare to get that. But I am definitely still getting up to speed on all this, and I printed out some more stuff to read as I go to sleep.

Tomorrow is the first Fall CSA pickup!!