Not a real victory for the petition signers and Michael Pollan advocates … Tom Vilsack, former Iowa governor. In the words of Jill Richardson: “After his own presidential campaign floundered, Vilsack backed Hillary Clinton in the primary, but has recently been campaigning for Obama. One of Obama’s top campaign strategists, David Axelrod, also ran Vilsack’s … More BREAKING: Vilsack is the New Agriculture Secretary
The Associated Press released the following names on December 16, 2008 as contenders for President Barack Obama’s Secretary of Agriculture. For more about each of these people, see my post with biographical blurbs. Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvania agriculture secretary. Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union. Former Rep. Charles Stenholm, D-Texas. Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, D-S.D. Former … More Secretary of Agriculture: Still moot but …
Alice Waters. Chef. Restaurateur. Cookbook author. Agricultural activist. Now add political activist to the list, too. Stir well. See what cooks up. Since 1971, Ms. Waters has overseen the stove and tables at her celebrated and innovative Berkeley, California restaurant, Chez Panisse. She’s the force behind the Edible Schoolyard program that “demonstrates the transformative power … More Alice Waters: The Woman Behind the Throne? (Or, Um, The Push for White House Chef)
In the his December 10, 2008 column in The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof states that the name of the department responsible for food and agriculture in the United States should be called the Department of Food. His reasoning is that only 2 percent of the American population actually farms, but 100 percent eats. Good … More Obama’s “Secretary of Food”: An Idea Whose Time has Come, Thanks to Nicholas Kristof
John Salazar? Is a potato farmer. With strong ties to corporate agriculture. The blogging world, at least those interested in who might take over the reins at the USDA (see Mark Bittman of the New York Times on this issue), think that maybe John Salazar of Colorado might be the pick. La Vida Locavore, in … More Obama’s Secretary of Agriculture: The Saga Continues
The short list of three names includes Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Charles Stenholm, and Dennis Wolff. See an earlier post of this topic: Obama’s Agriculture Secretary: Who Should It Be? According to an announcement in The Washington Post, each of the candidates has numerous strengths and weaknesses. These names do not make the sustainable agriculture … More BREAKING: Short List for Obama’s Agriculture Secretary
I knew it would happen. An Obama cookbook, or rather, an Obama Foodie book. After all, a guy’s got to eat, right? Even if he is the President of the United States. Steven Black is writing a book about Obama food. Who is Steven Black? Let him tell his own story: Stephen Black has worked … More Obama, the Cookbook
There’s No Place Like Home … ~~ Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz Kansas is flat, real flat. Yes. And President Barack Obama’s green leaf of choice, arugula, clocks in pretty low on Kansans’ list of comestibles. But none of this means that President Obama doesn’t love Kansas and especially its wholesome, comforting food. That said, … More In the Kitchen in Kansas … The Food of Obama’s Mother’s Childhood