Thought-provoking column (under the header ‘Arugula Politics’) in this morning’s Washington Post: Go Slow, Foodies. It’s the Way to Win.
Shorter version: The problem with transforming the food system is that it takes a holistic approach. And that has movers and shakers thinking that foodies lack focus. How can politicians get behind foodies when their issues are all over the map, from tilling up the White House lawn for a garden to reducing cow flatulence?
I’ve long been a fan of the Thom Harmann view of politics: We, the people, are a parade. And when we get enough marchers all headed in the right direction, politicians will quickly jump in front and declare themselves the drum majors.
The good news is, the local foods band is growing by leaps and bounds. Witness the article Good Eats in Cornell Alumni Magazine. The feature details how faculty, educators, students and alumni-turned-farmers aren’t waiting for the policy changes. They’re plowing ahead and laying the groundwork for local foods now.
Join the march.
I just spent the weekend with friends and we discussed foods and plastics and it was a hot debate. I would love to buy more local foods but it gets difficult in a bigger city, imo.