I’ve been entertained this weekend by blog reports of a purported letter sent by a Big Ag advocacy group, the Mid America CropLife Association, to Michelle Obama.
The letter, because of a related e-mail that’s being circulated, is being viewed as a protest of the Obamas’ new organic garden at the White House.
I’ll be interested to see if there’s any coverage of the letter and the e-mail, which, according to blogs including La Vida Locavore, was circulated to CropLife supporters after the letter was sent to the First Lady:
Did you hear the news? The White House is planning to have an “organic” garden on the grounds to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the Obama’s and their guests. While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made Janet Braun, CropLife Ambassador Coordinator and I shudder. As a result, we sent a letter encouraging them to consider using crop protection products and to recognize the importance of agriculture to the entire U.S. economy. Read below for the entire letter. [Emphasis added.]
It’s amazing to me that “organic” makes Big Ag interests shudder. I expect there is plenty of room for both traditional, local, organic food production AND modern, large-scale farming. Indeed, we’re all better off with diverse farming interests at play, especially if the small guys force the big boys to keep food safe, healthy and ethically produced. But for an organization to posit itself against the locavore movement is astonishing to me.
Read the letter being circulated here.
Virtual Farmgirl 