Farm to Table Caucus Advances Local Food Movement
On a mission to advance the local food movement, a Democrat from Austin is finding common ground with Republicans and rural Texans.
When Republicans hear a Democrat saying there’s “too much regulation, their ears perk up,” state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, that Democrat, said with a smile. He founded the Farm to Table Caucus, the nation’s first bipartisan legislative caucus focused on advancing the local production of healthy food. Ultimately, Rodriguez says, the caucus could help address health issues in Texas like obesity and the scarcity of healthy food options in poor urban neighborhoods.
While their large-scale counterparts receive ...
Comments (1)
Adam Russell
Legislation to repeal poorly drafted laws to allow 'mom and pop' or community growers to bring better quality, more nutritional, better tasting, better in every sense of the word produce, to local markets would be a great move for everyone involved, except for mass producers who will fight it tooth and nail.
I think the public (if there is bad produce found) takes care of itself in local settings. They can tell teh wheat from the chaff. It's much better than having the USDA spend days and weeks trying to track down where contaminated food came from.
Legislators need to consider where most food contamination outbreaks come from - large scale producers, who have more lax controls and regulation than a guy with an acre garden who actually takes pride in what comes out of his garden.
It's good for local economies. Wal-Mart and conglomerate growers will survive. Heck, Wal-Mart might start snatching up local produce (if there are enough local producers) to cut down on shipping costs (which continue to rise).
I like it and I think the GOP and Dems should get behind the concept of leveling the playing field for 'local' businesses/entrepreneurs in general. Crazy concept.