I do not do a lot of political posts even though I feel food is a very very political thing and I am fairly politically active (I write/email my reps and I vote).
So I was incredibly disappointed and even disillusioned by Barak Obama's pick of Tom Vilsick for Secy of the USDA. I know I did my best to suggest far better people to head the USDA and be leaders of real change, people such as Jim Hightower. I was encouraged several weeks ago to learn that Vilsack had been deleted from the short list (or so the Obama people told the Organic Consumers Association and the organic food and farming community. Was that his first big lie to us foodies?) The Obama people said they were intersted in appointing someone who would change the USDA and make it much more firendly to eaters and farmers and not so friendly with Big farma, corporations and biotech farming.
Well Obama, you have nominated a man who is in lock step with everything that has made our national food and farming system so unsustainable and dangerous. You have shown me that, at least as far as the very very important sector of food, (far more important to our collective well being than energy-that we can live without but we cannot go more than a few days without food before nasty riots break out and no more than a few weeks before the riots die down becuase of all the starvation that is killing off anyone who was not killed in the food riots) you will be doing business as usual which is not good for the eaters and farmers of this great nation. But this will be wonderful for Monsanto, Cargill, ADM etc..
I voted for change and so far have seen very little indication there will be any. I had faith that Obama would at least listen to his constituants but I don't think he is listening to we the people and the websites that allow us to put in our thoughts and opinions are simply ruses. Something to keep us busy and thinking we are making a difference. I hope I am wrong and this is an anomaly but it is not looking good from where I stand.
I should have voted for Nader. This appoujntment soo pisses me off
Marilou Suszko wants to get the public interested in homegrown produce and the farmers who grow it.
In her first book, ''Farms and Foods of Ohio: From Garden Gate to Dinner Plate,'' Suszko, a culinary instructor at Laurel Run in Amherst and a free-lance food writer, said there is a growing trend among consumers to support the local farmer in their community.
"What this book is showing is that there is a return to supporting the farmer in your community who feeds us. As (noted chef) Emeril Lagasse said, '(Today's) farmers are really hot.' People love to hear stories about farmers. They've become very popular,'' said Suszko, a Vermilion resident.
''It focuses on produce you can get close to home. When you look at the book, it's representative of all of Ohio. Not every single thing grown in Ohio is in this book. We're one of the leading agricultural states in the nation,'' said Suszko.
''It gets you thinking about locally grown food, who your farmer is and what they're doing for you,'' said Suszko.
Suszko calls Richard Aufdenkampe of Amherst, ''my local farmer of choice.''
Aufdenkampe's family-owned farm on North Ridge Road uses 32 acres to grow an abundance of vegetables, including winter squash, pumpkins, corn, cabbage, white cauliflower, beets, turnips and hearty beefsteak tomatoes.
The farm was begun by his father and his uncle in 1946. ''My motto is everything at my roadside stand I raise myself. The major advantage is freshness and getting it ripe,'' said Aufdenkampe.
The difference between a supermarket tomato and one grown on a local farm is like day and night, said Aufdenkampe.
''About 80 percent of grocery tomatoes are picked green and shipped to a warehouse where they are 'gassed' to hasten the ripening process,'' said Aufdenkampe.
''That's why, when you go to the supermarket, most tomatoes don't have much flavor to them. Typically, farm markets, where you're buying locally, don't pick the tomatoes off the vine until they're red,'' said Aufdenkampe.
The question, said Aufdenkampe, that consumers should ask of those operating farmer's markets and roadside stands, is ''Where's it coming from?''
In her book, Suszko estimated there are about 77,000 farms in Ohio.
''Some of the smaller farms are growing specialty items, like heirloom tomatoes. These are the farmers that bring specialty items to our table. These are the farmers that feed us,'' said Suszko.
Specialty items like heirloom tomatoes require diligence and care on the part of the farmer growing them.
''They're fragile and harder to grow,'' said Suszko. ''They take dedication on the part of the farmer wanting to grow them.
''There's lots of care involved. The old world varieties are not as disease and pest-resistant and require more attention,'' said Suszko.
''I'm primarily a food writer; an independent contractor,'' said Suszko.
''In the book, there are stories of more than 40 family farms and chefs throughout the state who support locally grown food and feature them in their menus. There are 123 recipes as well,'' said Suszko.
She said many of today's farms function as a full time farm but often, the farmer has a second job to make ends meet.
''There's no such thing as a part-time farm. You can garden part time, but you can't farm part time,'' said Suszko.
One satisfying moment for Suszko occurred when she was at Aufdenkampe's farm and overheard people talking about her book.
''I stood there for a minute or two. Three people pulled in to the driveway. All of whom were there because they had read my book and were thinking about buying locally,'' said Suszko.
The book is available at Brummer's in Vermilion, at Barnes and Noble and at www.amazon.com.