Like it or not we are a starved country. Thanks to the pandemic along with the former administration's gaffes, our farmers are hurting as are our children. The Biden administration has a lot on its' plate - no pun intended, yet thanks to President Biden's beliefs and attitude, something can hopefully be done. There are solutions to helping America eat right again.
This was the subject of an article in yesterday's New York Times Food section.Regular contributor, Kim Severson delved into a variety of problems that the country is facing.There are so many , an d bills to be signed or considered are piling up on the new president's desk. Luckily Biden has nominated Tom Vilsack to be the Secretary of Agriculture as he was under the Obama administration. He has already sketched out his agenda due in part to the five major problems plaguing the US right now. At the top of the list is protecting his department and its' employees from the virus and figuring out which land-grant universities, governments labs and other department office might be able to store and administer vaccines. Of course hunger is an all pressing issue, especially now. along with promoting social justice and fighting climate change. The last is vastly important because farms are the first to suffer from extreme weather conditions. Mr. Vilsack also wants to prop up regional food systems and helping farmers.
Things changed during the Trump administration that had been dedicated to factory farming and agribusiness. Yet , thanks to a more thoughtful president, policies and protections will be restored to what President Obama had. Under him, and thanks to First Lady Michele Obama, child nutrition was at the forefront. That means more organic produce in children;s diet and in school meals. Many organic farmers feel hopeful with Mr. Vilsack back at the helm. Laura Batcha, the chief executive at the Organic Trade Association which represents a fifty billion dollar segment in the food industry , feels he will do good for organic farming. The Trump administration had no respect for organic or even sustainable agriculture, letting factory farms go wild in a deregulated atmosphere. Others consider him a retread, without a fresh progressive view to get them out of this pandemic and beyond. Many were hoping for former North Dakota senator, Heidi Heitkamp or Cleveland congress woman Marcia L. Fudge, the last Biden named as secretary of housing and urban development. Yet Vilsack has experience and wisdom and can lead this country into a better direction. He'll be able to turn around a food challenged country.
Our food and hunger crisis won't be over yet. It will end though, thanks to a new , more thoughtful administration. Our children won't starve, but will be cared for and fed with better food thanks to better policies.
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