In this update:

* Montgomery County Primiere of "FRESH," Sunday, Septmber 20th!
* DVD's Available for "FRESH" House Parties
* Big Food Vs. Big Insurance - Op-ed by Michael Pollan
* Beware Corporate "LocalWashing!"


 
Montgomery County Premiere of "FRESH," Sunday, Septmber 20th!

"We all know about the problems with the American food system, but what about the solutions? FRESH is a bracing, even exhilarating look at the whole range of efforts underway to renovate the way we grow food and feed ourselves."  - Michael Pollan, bestselling author, The Omnivore's Dilemma

Please join us for the Montgomery County premier of the dazzling new independent food movie, "FRESH," on Sunday, September 20 from 7-9pm. The screening is at the beautiful Seekers Church in Takoma Park at 276 Carroll St., a half block from the Takoma Metro. Admission is free, with donations welcome. You are also welcome to bring a beverage or dessert to share if you wish. The screening is sponsored by Transition Takoma, and discussion will follow the film.

Trust me, this film is everything these reviews say, and more. If you are into changing the way we eat, "FRESH" is an inspiring film you will not want to miss! You can check out trailers for the movie here.

"We all just watched FRESH... and we were mesmerized and empowered. Every American needs to see this... it is absolutely masterful."  - Joel Salatin, Sustainable Farmer, Swoope, Virginia
 


DVD's Available for "FRESH" House Parties

If you can't make it to the screening on the 20th, or would like to share this great independent film with even more folks in your neighborhood, not to worry! We have extra copies of the DVD available for a small license fee, and will be happy to help you set up your own house party or other public screening. Just get in touch with us at info@montgomeryvictorygardens.org

 

Big Food Vs. Big Insurance - Op-ed by Michael Pollan

In response to President Obama's much anticipated speech on health care last night, food author Michael Pollan penned this strong caution in the New York Times: unless you also reform our current food system, our health care system will never be able to cope, no matter how much or well it's reformed.

That's because we spend a majority of our health care dollars dealing with diet-related illnesses such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, illnesses which are all by and large a product of our high sugar, high carbohydrate, high industrial meat national diet - and all of it government subsidized. As Pollan notes, "One of the leading products of the American food industry has become patients for the American health care industry."

Read Michael Pollan's full New York Times op-ed here.

While Pollan is hopeful that the health care industry will join the battle against the food industry to save its own future profits, it's also helpful to be clear just how entrenched the corporate food industry is. Yes, President Obama has made several positive allusions to local food while First Lady Michelle Obama planted a veggie garden at the White House. But at the same time Mr. Obama picked inveterate agribusiness supporter Tom Vilsack as his Secretary of Agriculture, and even appointed Michael Taylor, former VP and chief lobbyist of the food industry's bete noire Monsanto, as his food safety "czar."

So clearly there is a long battle ahead of us, but Mr. Pollan does, as usual, point us eloquently in the right direction - which is the direction of Montgomery Victory Gardens!
 


Beware Corporate "LocalWashing!"

Leave it to corporations to take every new trend and spin it into marketing gold - even if the trend is a condemnation of corporate behavior.

Check out these bizarre/funny photos of corporations (such as Starbucks and Frito-Lay) as they pretend to be "local." (And yes, in keeping with the trend in this update, Michael Pollan is quoted in the intro to the photos!)

When it comes to local food, however, accept no substitutes....


As always, please send us your questions and ideas! Montgomery Victory Gardens is a new community, and we'd love your participation - what local food issues should we be promoting? Email any and all ideas to us at info@montgomeryvictorygardens.org

Thanks!

Gordon Clark,
Project Director