#051: Organic farmer and Maine congresswoman Chellie Pingree shares her insights as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Agriculture about what she calls "a dereliction of duty" by the USDA in its regulation of the National Organic Program. She also discusses the cancellation of organic dairy farming contracts by Horizon/ Danone, the inaction of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a number of issues, the powerful lobbies that work to influence our food systems' regulations, and a handful of important solutions to problems plaguing small family farmers, such as the need for regional processing plants and improved infrastructure.
Chellie Pingree moved to Maine and became an organic farmer after reading Helen and Scott Nearing's book "The Good Life." In 1992 she was elected to the Maine State Senate and has served in the US House of Representatives since 2008. She currently sits on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, chairing the Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, and Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. She also sits on the House Agriculture Committee.
To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit:
https://www.realorganicproject.org/congresswoman-chellie-pingree-us-agriculture-failures-opportunities-episode-fifty-one
The Real Organic Podcast is hosted by Dave Chapman and Linley Dixon, engineered by Brandon StCyr, and edited and produced by Jenny Prince.
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