Re: USDA Leafy Greens Proposal

**"* S* <m*@gmail.com>**

Jeff,

Yep--it's all true. Very few people grow their own vegetables right now.
However, more legislation like this and we might see a resurgence. I STILL
know lots of young people who want to be assured that their food is
nutritious and free of as many contaminants as possible. But hey, I know
young people who want to be farmers, so that shows how narrow my circle of
acquaintance is.

Also, I think there is regional variation in vegetable consumption. I am
fortunate enough to live in a small Florida town with a thriving year-round
farmer's market. Collards are sometimes the only greens available in July
and August, but other than that, we are lucky enough to have farmers in the
area who grow a huge variety of greens for most of the year. And people buy
them--every week, the market has lots and lots of customers and they leave
with big bags of greens and heavy boxes of whatever else is in season. I
suspect a lot of the greens are cooked in bacon fat and other pan
juices--the way they were on my mother's stove--but judging from the places
where I've had dinner in the area, many are steamed.

As for the insanity--I agree totally. Maybe I am showing my age or maybe
it's just my perpetual discontent with the American food system, but very
little of it makes much sense to me any more. It's clear to me that buying
locally is the only rational way to shop--not out of some abstract value
connected to supporting local economies, but out of a simple desire to
survive. If you know the folks who are growing the food and their kids look
relatively healthy, you can feel OK about serving it to your kids. Mind you,
if their kids are pale and listless, you might want to find another farmer!

Miranda
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