Tell Congress To Make Local Food , Small Farmers and Sustainable Agriculture Part of National Policy

By Wendy Wasserman, Edible Iowa River Valley
 
As you know, this summer, Congress is considering the Farm Bill under Iowa's own Senator Harkin's leadership. As Iowans, this gives us a unique and powerful opportunity to make our voices heard on Capitol Hill on behalf of our nation's small and mid-size farms, sustainable agriculture and local farming.  

The Farm Bill comes up every 5 years for review. Recently, Senator Harkin recognized the opportunity before us. "There's a growing awareness in America of the value of locally produced and marketed food”, he said in a press statement. “Not only do local markets ensure the livelihood of our small farmers, but they can also promote public health by increasing the availability and consumption of local produce.  The pending farm bill is an excellent opportunity to build on the work we did in the previous bill and enact reforms that will promote the success of family farms around the country."

www.healthyfarmbill.org  is a national, non-partisan, e-campaign urging Congress to make local food, small farmers and sustainable agriculture part of national policy.  Each person registered at  www.healthyfarmbill.org, is another person who supports farm and food polices for an equitable and sustainable food system which will benefit local markets, family farmers, the environment and the health of all Americans.    At  www.healthyfarmbill.org, you can tell Congress you believe that policies supporting local and healthy food belong in the Farm Bill so that local and healthy food is available to everyone in Iowa as well as the rest of the country. 

We at Edible Iowa River Valley, Eastern and Central Iowa's only magazine specifically dedicated to Iowa's local and artisanal food and food producers, are delighted to support www.healthyfarmbill.org, and we encourage all Iowans who care about local and sustainable food and food producers to do the same.

Wendy Wasserman
Publisher, Edible Iowa River Valley