Who Will Be the Next Secretary of Agriculture?

December 5, 2008

Important Info to keep tabs on:

ORGANIC CONSUMERS NEWSLETTER today 12/5/08

Washington Update of the Week:

It's one of the most powerful positions in DC. The Secretary of Agriculture

oversees the safety of the U.S. food supply, domestic farming policies, food

stamp programs, and the nation's 297,000 square miles of forest. Obama was

initially considering the pro-biotech Iowa governor Tom Vilsack for the

position, but then thousands of organic consumers raised their voices in

response to an OCA alert that apparently stopped that plan in its tracks (Learn

more).

According to press reports, Obama is now considering Rep. Collin

(D-Minn.) to head the USDA. , like Vilsack, is a strong biotech

supporter, head of the House Agriculture Committee, and a man who categorized

organic consumers as " dumb " last year. Organic Bytes readers sent

several thousand irate letters in response to his putdown of organic food and

farming. You can read some of these letters here.

Last week OCA delivered a petition with 10,000 signatures to Obama's Transition

Team in Washington, asking him to take a strong stand in support of organic food

and farming and to move beyond " business as usual " by appointing visionaries

like Pollan to top USDA positions. We also posted on our website a list

of other progressive candidates for high-level USDA positions, including Jim

Riddle, a national organic farmer leader, Texas populist Jim Hightower, Tom Buis

from the National Farmers Union, and Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

You can read the profiles of some of these possible USDA appointees here.

The Obama Transition Team has set-up an innovative website to facilitate public

input for policy initiatives in the new Obama Administration. Please take the

time to share your insights and opinions: http://change.gov/

Recommended Posts