From Olivia on Mon, July 12, 2010

I don’t think the public understands how government subsidies lead to an overproduction of corn, leading to HFCS, leading to obesity related health problems. If the American public wants farmers to diversify their foods for healthier choices, it would be good to reduce these subsidies, which the farmers (according to this article) are wanting. ... See MoreThis is one way to bridge the gap.
Also I think the public needs to be more concerned about corn fed beef (again coming from the overproduction of corn). I don’t think they are aware (just as I wasn’t) that cows stomachs are unable to process corn which leads to them getting sick which leads to cows being pumped with antibiotics, which leads to antibiotic resistance for humans.
I think bridging the gap needs to start with educating the public about how government subsidies to big Ag are the driving force behind processed food and the downfall of American health. This is where health care reform needs to start!

From venessa johnson on Tue, July 13, 2010

A gap does not need to be bridged.  One needs to be built.  Our country, our world, our food, our farms, our process of getting food from the earth to our plate and into our bodies has reached such a level of disconnected vulgarity that there is no way to bridge this gap.  We need a visionary with the true power to affect change to tell implent policy that does not allow food manufacturers to poison us with chemical ingredients, that ends all factory farming, that ends government ties with food commodities and monetary subsidy programs.  SOMEONE needs to lead us to do what is right!  A bridge?  A bridge will not do!  Do you know how long it takes to impact peoples thoughts and opinions to bridge gaps?  We need real change now and a real leader to bring it. To design it. To implement it.  We are killing the earth, killing ourselves, killing our children, hurting animals, all in the name of convience.  My heart hurts.  Someone, with power END factory farming, tell farmers that they have to rotate their crops, stop feeding cows corn- hello, they naturally eat grass, it’s not rocket science to figure out that feeding an animal a food it doesn’t naturally eat is going to have consequences!  We feed ourselves processed foods which we don’t naturally eat and now we are a nation of obese people, it’s the same thing!  I am ashamed to be a human being.

From Deborah on Tue, July 13, 2010

And meanwhile there are things we all can do.  Shop for your veggies, eggs, milk and meat at your local farmer’s market or farm stand or join a farm share program.  Buy organic as much as possible. Put a coop in your backyard.  Chickens make fantastic pets and they will give you organic eggs with less cholesterol and fat if you feed them right.  Turn your lawn into a garden bed and grow tomatoes instead of grass, or start a community garden in your town.  Making these kinds of choices may cost more in terms of money, but if you are like most Americans (myself included), you can do with a little less food, especially if it is high quality.  Vote with your pocketbooks.  Support your small local food producers.

From Uncle B on Tue, July 13, 2010

In the next natural down cycle of the corporatist economy of the U.S.A., hiding in the troughs of this natural cyclical occurrence, is the Great Depression. Even China has it pegged, and have already notified Washington that they have no intention of loaning money to the American Government to ease the pain. Hard times will trim the American waste line. Shortages will change the diet, Trade with China has changed the employment patterns,As with every Empire, Americans of today when compared to those of the 1930’s, 40’s are fat bummed slack-jawed, slobs that can survive only in air-conditioned circumstances and have little value even as cannon fodder! Where our Grandparents were hewer’s of wood haulers of water, and red necked powerhouses, eating right from backyard gardens, loving liver and tripe, feasting on steak and kidney pies, the modern soul sits in air conditioned Mickey D’s slamming down more calories per meal than the smaller, faster, harder-muscled, folk of yesteryear got in a week! Harder times will remove the chaff, tighten up the survivors and make for a stronger breed, but as things stand today, great fatted calves of America stand out in any international crowd.

From Wenona Nutima on Tue, July 13, 2010

I think the late-adapter farmer are not interested in incentives for diversifying their crops because the price is not right. I would like to state that not enough farmers think like M&M potato growers in Idaho. In the end, they make more money per acre because they choose to diversity. In M&M’s case still in the potato family! Eat more diversity and less Burbank!