Some Breaking News
Sonny Perdue is President-Elect Trump’s pick for ag secretary.
The former Georgia governor has significant agricultural experience and is likely to be a popular pick with many in the agricultural community. His nomination, however, has already drawn ire from some environmentalists. Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Maggie Haberman for the New York Times.
Thoughts on Food Movement in Trump Era
In November 2014, the Washington Post published a remarkable op-ed co-authored by Mark Bittman, Michael Pollan, Ricardo Salvador and Olivier De Schutter. The piece, accessible by clicking on the Washington Post link here, advocated for the creation of a national food policy.
This week, the four authors of that op-ed published a piece in Civil Eats, entitled Food and More: Expanding the Movement for the Trump Era. The authors suggest, “It’s time to apply the energy of the food movement to preserving our democracy.” This piece recounts election-day victories (including the passage of soda tax and animal welfare measures)…and issues a call to action.
Editor’s Note. From the UC Food Observer archives, some suggested reading: A Q&A with Ricardo Salvador that tackles a range of issues, including race and food justice; a chat with Michael Pollan; and an interview with Hilal Elver, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food.
A Series You Will Want to Read
I’m a huge fan of Jane Black. If you’re not familiar with her work, she’s an award-winning writer who focuses on food (politics) and sustainability. I met Jane when she was in a later class of a Fellows program we both participated in. I’ve followed her work closely over the ensuing years.
She’s now guest writing a series for Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. Her latest piece – An (In)convenient Truth – explores “the role of convenience foods in American culture.” You’ll want to go back and read the other pieces, which explore topics such as the microbiome, the future of flavor and more.
Related: Read the UC Food Observer Q&A with Sophie Egan, in which we discuss her recent book, Devoured: From Chicken Wings to Kale Smoothies – How What We Eat Defines Who We Are. In it, she answers this question: What unites us as eaters in America?
A Sweet Podcast
I love listening to podcasts while I work, drive and do chores around the house. My new favorite is Simran Sethi’s latest offering, The Slow Melt. It’s a podcast about chocolate. (And really, much more).
Read the UC Food Observer Q&A with Simran; we discuss her book. It’s a great read to pair with the podcast.
Have a great day!