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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/business/22food.html?ref=health
Due to the growing obesity epidemic, and the demand for fresh, local foods, the White House is considering a plan to award farmers that engage in sustainable and diversified agriculture as part of the farming subsidy. Argicultural as a whole will still be subsidized and consumers will make the choices, but the idea is to reward farmers that are not damaging the environment and who engage in more local business ties.
Article said:AS tens of thousands of people recently strolled among booths of the nation’s largest organic and natural foods show here, munching on fair-trade chocolate and sipping organic wine, a few dozen pioneers of the industry sneaked off to an out-of-the-way conference room.
Although unit sales of organic food have leveled off and even declined lately, versus a year earlier, the mood among those crowded into the conference room was upbeat as they awaited a private screening of a documentary called “Food Inc.” — a withering critique of agribusiness and industrially produced food.
They also gathered to relish their changing political fortunes, courtesy of the Obama administration.
“This has never been just about business,” said Gary Hirshberg, chief executive of Stonyfield Farm, the maker of organic yogurt. “We are here to change the world. We dreamt for decades of having this moment.”
After being largely ignored for years by Washington, advocates of organic and locally grown food have found a receptive ear in the White House, which has vowed to encourage a more nutritious and sustainable food supply.
Due to the growing obesity epidemic, and the demand for fresh, local foods, the White House is considering a plan to award farmers that engage in sustainable and diversified agriculture as part of the farming subsidy. Argicultural as a whole will still be subsidized and consumers will make the choices, but the idea is to reward farmers that are not damaging the environment and who engage in more local business ties.
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