Stepping up and saying "organic food is the way to go" used to be a radical step. Now it would seem that organic food is very hip.
After all, the line of people to see Alice Waters (above) at a book signing at a Chicago farmers market Saturday should have been an indicator that organic food is very popular.
And we have the First Lady of the United States celebrating its praises in the White House garden.
But there are groups that aren't happy with all this publicity toward organic food. But of course, these groups feel threatened by organic food.
These groups should realize that it's virtually impossible for the entire country to go organic. So letting some people, including the First Lady, have an organic slice seems too much for them.
The Mid America CropLife Association isn't the only organization to go after Mrs. Obama, but they have received the bulk of the backlash.
The organization wanted the First Lady to exemplify the role pesticides have placed in our food supply. Stephen Colbert did a beautiful job of taking the MACA to task.
Organic food isn't the end-all to America's food woes. But despite its enhanced reputation, it isn't a threat to the regular food system. Many people love organic vegetables, but don't care if their milk is organic. Others thrive with organic meat and dairy, but aren't concerned about vegetables.
But choice — organic or the regular system — is what we need. For those who want to choose organic, they should have that option. And Alice Waters and Michelle Obama aren't leading the revolution but they are cheerleading the revolution. The people who think organic is the best way to go — they are leading the revolution.
There will still be plenty of food grown in the traditional fashion. And there's plenty of room in our grocery stores and on our dinner plates for organic food — if we want it.
photo credit: me
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