Michelle Obama takes flak for organic garden

Michelle Obama (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

It seems that Michelle Obama’s White House organic garden has alarmed the Mid America CropLife Association (MACA), so they took immediate action by sending the First Lady an email, Thursday, March 26th, 2009, defending chemical based agriculture, and urging her to use “crop protection products,” (i.e. pesticides) in the name of recognizing the importance of agriculture to the economy. Jill Richardson brought this to public attention on the Daily Kos, adding pointed commentary worth reading.

Here is MACA’s argument in a nutshell (paraphrased, of course):
 

• Mrs. Obama is to be congratulated for recognizing the importance of agriculture by having a garden planted.
• MACA has a network of “ambassadors” whose mission is to educate Americans (especially the children) about the importance of farmers and ranchers to our daily lives.
• Agriculture is the largest industry in America, employing 22 million people in farm-related jobs at all levels.
• The technological advances of the past century have enabled farmers to be much more productive, freeing the rest of us to go invent things and do research, etc.
• We Americans who are struggling at jobs, raising kids, and taking care of aging parents shouldn’t have to worry about tending a garden.
• Storage and preparation is to blame when food is “considered not wholesome or tasty,” not how the food was grown, and “conventional” agricultural methods produces food that is wholesome, tastes good, and is more economical.

In this letter, Bonnie McCarvel, Executive Director, and Janet Braun, Program Coordinator of the
Mid America CropLife Association sum it up for the First Lady this way:

“As you go about planning and planting the White House garden, we respectfully encourage you to recognize the role conventional agriculture plays in the U.S in feeding the ever-increasing population, contributing to the U.S. economy and providing a safe and economical food supply. America's farmers understand crop protection technologies are supported by sound scientific research and innovation.”

The email can be read in its entirety at La Vida Locavore.
 

White House chefs (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

 Apparently the best way that Michelle Obama can show her respect and support for the contributions of the U.S. agriculture industry is to forego organic gardening methods and use pesticides. I love the use of the word “conventional” in this statement. How many years has man organically grown his food and fibers? Thousands. And how many years have we been employing chemical pesticides and fertilizers? 100? So which is really “conventional?”

Food wars are waged daily in Washington, D.C. and the consumer is seldom aware of it, although the key to victory ultimately lies in the consumer’s hands. Can MACA be blamed for looking out for its own best interests? No. They have the same right everyone else does to attempt to persuade the government and the public to support their take on things.

But people who desire to eliminate chemicals and unnatural processed ingredients in their food and household products also have rights: the right to plant their own organic gardens; the right to support with their consumer dollars farmers who produce organic foods and products; the right to support research to find new ways to farm that increase productivity while preserving the purity of our food, soil, and water; the right to inform the public of alternate ways to protect and enhance health and well-being. That right even extends to the White House.

Consumers vote with their dollars. Be an informed voter.