Montana Ave. in Dillon
There was a lot of talk about Main Street last night at the debate. My Policy Advisor, Ulla Kjarval, asked in her blog entry, "Are they going to talk about food or farming?" They did not.
I came into this presidential race because I was tired of politicians remaining silent about food and farming. Consider what was addressed last night, time and time again: oil, the suffering economy, and the idea that oil independence is the answer to boosting the economy on Main Street.
I believe that boosting the economy on Main Street and reducing our total dependence on oil can be done simultaneously by changing the way we produce and distribute food. It’s very simple. Food production in the U.S. in the last 50 years has become heavily reliant upon oil in all stages of production and distribution. Many of our suffering Main Streets are surrounded by agricultural land, however much of this agricultural land is now owned by multi-national corporations which utilize processes, machinery, and chemicals that rely heavily on oil. Grass-fed ranchers, on the other hand, use minimal chemicals, minimal machinery, and are often able to sell their food directly to their communities. This is true for many independent produce farmers as well. Farmers benefit under this model by receiving a fair price for their products and by achieving a reduced dependence on oil and chemicals, which saves them money. Their surrounding communities (this where Main Street comes in) benefit because the farmer or rancher, and the people they employ, now have more money to spend at local businesses. Local people have greater access to fresh, healthy, locally produced foods, and increased business from the farmer. It is a more reciprocal relationship, with fewer middlemen and less oil used across the board.
This kind of Grass-fed Change is change we can really believe in. Connecting the dots between Main Street and what happens on our Farmland is essential to this debate, and it is essential that we, the people (and cows) of America support practices, legislation, and policy makers who understand the vital nature of this connection.
