The most important law determining what America eats is about to be voted on in the U.S. Senate.
With a $100 billion a year price tag, the Farm Bill dictates the types of crops that are grown, how farmers grow and sell the food you eat, and what food assistance programs are available.
The bill approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee cuts food assistance programs and underfunds programs that invest in local and healthy food. But, Senator Gillibrand (NY) is introducing an amendment to restore those cuts and redirect dollars to provide more support for local and healthy food programs and fruits and veggies in school.
We’ve signed a letter with over 70 like-minded food leaders, chefs, advocates and organizations, including Dan Imhoff, Anna Lappe, Marion Nestle, Michael Pollen, Eric Scholosser, Alice Waters and the CSPI, urging the Senate to provide more support for healthy food in the Farm Bill. You can take action too by letting your senators know you want a Farm Bill that supports healthy food too.
With less than 5% of adults eating the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, 1 in 3 American kids being overweight and diet related costs of chronic diseases in the US reaching an estimated $70 billion a year, things need to change.
In a national poll last year, 78% of Americans said that making nutritious and healthy foods more affordable and accessible should be a top priority in the Farm Bill. However, the bill approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee does not represent this.
With the proposed bill being debated this week, now is the time to ask your senators to support this amendment and stand up for local and healthy food.
Find out more here: http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/news-content/help-get-nutritious-amp-healthy-foods-in
AND, to TAKE ACTION you can go here: http://action.ewg.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=1977&tag=2012 to ask your senators to support the new amendment!
