Spark: Michelle Obama, Budding Locavore.
Posted by John on February 27th, 2009 at 8:44 am · 6 Comments
Good news for Jana and my other favorite food activists out there: the Obamas are bringing on Sam Kass, a Chicago chef with a demonstrated commitment to preparing local, organic food.
Mr. Kass’s appointment should please chefs like Alice Waters, who have lobbied the Obamas to set an example for the rest of the country by emphasizing food that is healthy, local and sustainable. It further suggests that a vegetable garden on the White House grounds, another of Ms. Waters’s dreams, could be on the horizon.
Mr. Kass, one of the new breed of chefs who are concerned about the environment and about poor eating habits in this country, has been quoted as saying people in his profession should take the lead in tackling public health issues.
Before a recent state dinner, the First Lady invited students from a top culinary school and pitched the fresh flavor of local produce:
When food is grown locally, she said, “oftentimes it tastes really good, and when you’re dealing with kids, you want to get them to try that carrot.”
“If it tastes like a real carrot, and it’s really sweet, they’re going to think that it’s a piece of candy,” she continued. “So my kids are more inclined to try different vegetables if they are fresh and local and delicious.”
Someone want to disrespect Barack’s affinity for arugula now? (fyi: arugular is an easy to grow and hardy, cool weather plant that can be grown all over the continental US)
Tags: Health · Michelle Obama · Politics
