Organic Chemistry on the White House Lawn?

Ruth Dobsevage, editor

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First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Chef Sam Kass show students from the Bancroft Elementary how to plant a garden. The garden was officially planted on April 9.

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Everything is political in Washington, D.C., and the Obamas' organic vegetable garden on the White House Lawn is apparently no exception. It's organic food, it's a hands-on project with kids, it's setting an example for the entire country in tough economic times. What's not to like, unless you're in the business of promoting conventional American agricultural practices?

Bonnie McCarvel, executive director of the Mid-America CropLife Association, an industry trade group, and Janet Braun, the group's Ambassador coordinator, wrote First Lady Michelle Obama a letter, encouraging her to consider using "crop protection products" and to recognize the importance of agriculture to the entire U.S. economy.

Crop protection products? Folks, they are talking pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and big agribiz practices...well, you get the idea.

I don't know about you, but one of the main reasons I garden is to have tasty, fresh, and chemical-free vegetables and fruit to eat without paying "organic" prices at the store.

I hope the Obamas have a good laugh over this letter. I know I did.

Read the full text of the letter here. And post your comments below.

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Comments (1)

sbreckenridge writes: Impressive how they attempt to disdain organics without ever using the word "organic"
Posted: 9:42 am on April 16th

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