Preliminary Match: Topple King Corn
Corn is everywhere, especially in the form of high fructose corn syrup. If you decide to take on King Corn as your arch-enemy, you will have Fair Food Fight's utmost respect. Because this is one tough opponent.
To fight King Corn, we'd recommend the following:
* Throw a King Corn party -- King Corn is one of the better food documentaries to come along in recent years, and it's a perfect film for describing the power and omnipresence of corn in America. Have a party, show the movie, and post pics. Serve pretzels.
* Blog about Taking the King Corn Corn-Free Challenge -- Attempt a diet free of high fructose corn syrup and other corn ingredients, and let us cheer you one here while you do. This challenge is NOT for the faint of heart.
* Organize a Ban of HFCS -- Get a co-op or local natural foods store to agree to a ban on products containing high fructose corn syrup, and use your Fair Food Fight blog as a rallying place, an internet bullhorn, and an information hub for your compatriots. The upside: Your store will get press like the article above. The downside: No real downside except...the Wrath of King Corn!
House Ag Chair and King Corn lackey Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN7) is well-known in Minnesota for shooting his mouth off in the press. In the local/organic world, for example, he's often remembered for his quote to the Financial Times:
"For whatever reason, people are willing to pay two or three times as much for something that says 'organic' or 'local'. Far be it from me to understand what that's about, but that's reality. And if people are dumb enough to pay that much then hallelujah." Read more...
It's a hoot when Goliaths start warring, ain't it? Makes the job of Fair Food Fighters soooo much easier when, say, Starbucks decides to rework bakery recipes to exclude high fructose corn syrup (LA Times). Read more...
Grab yer popcorn, kids!
Conservative wonkmeister George Will is rolling up his sleeves and taking on Michael Pollan!
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Oh wait.
He digs Michael Pollan? He agrees with him??
El Dragón is loving the gnashing of teeth and beating of breast in the ag sector over Pres. Obama's plan to slash welfare payments to captains of farm industry. It's music, I tell you, music to my ears.
Take Rep. Frank Lucas (R - OK), the ranking Republican on the House ag committee (please). He was a good little tool this week by firing off a letter asking Obama to reverse his position on direct welfare payments to rich farmers. Read more...
Dude. Listen to this smack-talk from our corn-fed Iowan USDA Secretary! He's serving notice to the wealthiest recipients of Farm Bill welfare that their days of bathing in subsidies are numbered.
This is big, coming from Tom Vilsack. His home state (Iowa) sucks up more of the Farm Bill's direct payments than most. Read more...
