USDA Fights for Local Farms
Monday, March 1st, 2010
On February 25, Merrigan discussed the importance of being responsible eaters and the role of the consumer in ensuring the stability of agricultural markets.
As the leader and the muscle behind the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative, Merrigan reminded The New School audience that getting the meat, cheese, and onions for a Papaya Dog is a complex process that is often obscured by the final product.
As it stands, local farmers are unable to compete with much larger companies that produce the same goods. Supporting local farms, however, will strengthen rural communities and protect our natural resources.
“Our goal is to remind people that we are connected to the land every time we buy a loaf of bread or go to a farmer's market, or when we dine at Applebee's or a white-cloth restaurant,” said Merrigan.
According to Merrigan, responsible eaters will not only support local farms and communities, they will become healthier too.
“Another challenge is the paradox of hunger and obesity,” Merrigan noted during the seminar. “They have the same root cause. Lack of access to good, healthy food.”
The New School may be nestled in downtown New York City, but the visiting bureaucrat argued that even New School students can be active participants in the local food movement.
“I don’t think [New School] students are at a disadvantage at all. The school has a lot of interest in environmental studies and food system planning. It’s got to be an exciting place to be,” said Merrigan in an interview with the *Free Press*.
Merrigan suggested that students get to know their local farms, most of which are in the Hudson Valley, north of the city. She also added that getting involved with organizations is an active way of supporting sustainable agriculture. Merrigan plans to visit colleges from around the country, as she sees the next generation of eaters as a vital ingredient in the future sustainability of American agriculture.
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