- THE HISTORY OF OUR FOOD PRODUCTION

REALLY HAS BEEN THE HISTORY OF FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE

GROWING MORE AND MORE FOOD.

Vilsack: THE AMERICAN FARMER GIVES US

THIS EXTRAORDINARY DIVERSITY IN OUR GROCERY STORES.

WE HAVE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE FOOD.

IN FACT, IT'S SO AFFORDABLE

THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE OF OUR PAYCHECK

WHEN WE LEAVE THE GROCERY STORES IN PERCENTAGE

THAN MOST ANYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD.

Imhoff: CHEAP FOOD IS A BLESSING AND A CURSE.

IT'S MORE A CURSE THAN A BLESSING,

IS WHAT WE'RE FINDING OUT.

Lovera: THIS IS A BIG PICTURE, SOCIETAL-LEVEL CONVERSATION

THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

Vilsack: WE'RE FACED WITH A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY

TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE MORE FOOD

AS THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT 7 BILLION PEOPLE TODAY.

SOON WE'LL BE AT 9 BILLION.

WHO'S GONNA FEED THOSE FOLKS?

WELL, AMERICAN AGRICULTURE IS GONNA HELP.

- I'M SCARED OF BEING WITHOUT FOOD STAMPS.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

Imhoff: WHAT IS HOPEFUL

ARE THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

THAT ARE STARTING TO REALLY TUNE IN TO THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD.

Vilsack: MAYBE THIS COUNTRY WILL DEVELOP A GREATER APPRECIATION,

THAT IT ONCE HAD, FOR THE AMERICAN FARMER.

Imhoff: WE HAVE NO CHOICE AS CITIZENS

BUT TO REALLY TAKE THIS FARM BILL BACK.

male narrator: THIS IS THE STORY

OF FOOD AND FARMING IN AMERICA.

OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WERE REALLY FOUNDING FARMERS.

AS AMERICA GREW, SO DID OUR AGRICULTURE.

IN THE 1930s, TIMES WERE TOUGH.

FARMERS WERE ESPECIALLY HARD HIT.

THE SOIL HAD LITERALLY BLOWN AWAY.

THE GOVERNMENT CAME TO THE RESCUE.

THE PLAN CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE FARM BILL,

AND IT'S STILL GOING STRONG TODAY.

THE FARM BILL WAS LIKE A HELPFUL NEIGHBOR.

LET'S CALL HIM FARMER BILL.

FARMER BILL'S MAIN JOB WAS TO BUY SURPLUS CROPS FROM FARMERS

AND THEN FEED HUNGRY PEOPLE.

AFTER WORLD WAR II,

WE TURNED THE TOOLS OF WAR TOWARDS FARMING,

AND WE GOT REALLY GOOD AT IT,

ESPECIALLY WITH FARMER BILL'S HELP.

OVER THE YEARS, FARMER BILL BEGAN TO CHANGE.

FARMER BILL'S BOSS TOLD FARMERS TO GET BIG OR GET OUT.

A FEW FARMERS DID GET REALLY BIG,

BUT MANY MORE GOT OUT.

HE DIDN'T SEEM SO CONCERNED

ABOUT SMALL FAMILY FARMS ANYMORE.

INSTEAD HE GAVE MOST OF HIS HELP

TO BIG FARMERS WITH LOTS OF LAND,

FARMERS, WHO SOME BELIEVED, DIDN'T REALLY NEED HIS HELP.

FARMER BILL STILL DOES A LOT OF GOOD.

BUT WITH ALL THE POWER AND RESOURCES THAT HE HAS,

COULD HE DO BETTER?

AFTER ALL, THE MONEY HE'S SPENDING ISN'T HIS;

IT'S OURS.

Imhoff: I SEE AGRICULTURE AS A PUBLIC GOOD.

NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF FARMING SYSTEM WE HAVE,

WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH NATURAL RESOURCES.

YOU CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH WITHOUT GIVING SOMETHING BACK.

HAPPY CHICKENS.

THE BEAUTY OF THE EGG-- IT'S SUCH A PURE PROTEIN.

YOU KNOW, I JUST CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER THING TO EAT REALLY.

I'M A SMALL-SCALE FARMER.

I'VE WRITTEN A FEW BOOKS ABOUT FOOD AND FARM POLICY.

LOOKING AT THE FARM BILL,

YOU'RE LOOKING AT A BASIC QUESTION:

AND THAT QUESTION IS,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY

TO FEED THE PEOPLE?

I THINK BACK TO THOSE EARLY FOUNDING FATHERS

AND HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAD TO SPEND

JUST WORRIED ABOUT PUTTING FOOD ON THEIR TABLE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FRANKLIN AND ADAMS

AND, OF COURSE, JEFFERSON,

WHO'S THE REAL AGRARIAN FOREFATHER THAT WE HAVE.

Vilsack: MOST OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS

AND MOST OF THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED

IN ESTABLISHING THIS COUNTRY

HAD STRONG RURAL ROOTS.

IF YOU WERE TO GO TO

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S HOME IN MOUNT VERNON,

WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IS A LARGE-SCALE FARMING OPERATION.

HE HAD A COMPANION IN FARMING, OBVIOUSLY, IN THOMAS JEFFERSON.

- YOU KNOW, THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS THE GUY

RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING LETTUCE TO THE UNITED STATES.

HE ALWAYS KEPT

SOME LETTUCE SEEDS IN HIS POCKET,

AND AS HE WALKED THROUGH HIS GARDEN,

HE WOULD PLANT LETTUCE EVERY WEEK.

AND HE SAID, "YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS GET A SURPRISE.

YOU ALWAYS GET A TREASURE FROM IT."

JEFFERSON HAD THIS INSATIABLE APPETITE

FOR FARMING AND AGRICULTURE.

AS PRESIDENT, THOUGH, HE NEVER LOST THAT ZEAL FOR,

"HOW DO WE MAKE AGRICULTURE BETTER?"

Vilsack: 151 YEARS AGO, PRESIDENT LINCOLN ESTABLISHED

THE USDA AS THE PEOPLE'S DEPARTMENT.

AND, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT,

IT REMAINS THE PEOPLE'S DEPARTMENT.

THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,

EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A CIVIL WAR,

FACED WITH SERIOUS BUDGET DIFFICULTIES,

PASSED THE MORRILL ACT,

WHICH ESTABLISHED THE LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM;

ALSO CREATED THE HOMESTEAD ACT,

WHICH ALLOWED FOR WESTERN EXPANSION.

male narrator: THEY PUSHED ACROSS THE ALLEGHENIES,

THE OHIO RIVER, THE MISSISSIPPI,

THE LAST FAR RANGE OF THE DISTANT ROCKIES.

HERE, HUMANITY WAS MAKING A CLEAN, FRESH START

FROM SCRATCH.

Imhoff: THESE SETTLERS WERE MOVING WEST.

THEY HAD TO HAVE THE SKILLS TO SURVIVE,

TO SET UP TOWNS, TO HAVE FARMS.

Vilsack: WE SAW EXPANSION OF LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS

IN THE WEST.

WE SAW OBVIOUSLY THE PLAINS GIVING RISE

TO A LOT OF GRAIN PRODUCTION.

Imhoff: AMERICA WAS ON THE MOVE.

WE HAD REALLY BECOME AN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY.

WE WERE STARTING TO HAVE REFRIGERATION,

THESE ABILITIES TO SHIP FOOD GREAT DISTANCES.

THE SMALL FARMS THAT RAISED LIVESTOCK ON PASTURES

AND THEY HAD ORCHARD CROPS AND GRAIN CROPS

AND THEY WERE VERY DIVERSIFIED,

THEY WERE STARTING TO BECOME ENDANGERED.

LETTUCES FOR BREAKFAST.

I'M A BIG FAN.

AND I'M GOING FOR ARUGULA THIS MORNING.

DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF SPACE TO GROW A LOT OF FOOD.

IT'S THIS BEAUTIFUL LIFELONG SKILL

THAT YOU-- YOU NEVER GROW TIRED OF.

LITTLE BIT OF THYME.

IT'S LIKE GOLD.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME FENNEL--

GROWS WELL HERE IN THE WINTERTIME.

SUSTAINABILITY REALLY TAKES PLACE

WITH LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

BUT THE ROMANESCO, THIS BEAUTIFUL CAULIFLOWER,

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY M.C.

ESCHER.

IT'S THEIR TIME RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THIS WITH OUR BREAKFAST.

THE REAL TRAGEDY IS, AS WE TOOK OUR FARMERS OFF THE LAND,

WE ALSO TOOK OUR ANIMALS OFF THE FARMS.

IT'S OFTEN SAID

THAT HENRY FORD GOT HIS INSPIRATION

FOR THE ASSEMBLY LINE FROM THE BIG SLAUGHTERHOUSES

IN CHICAGO THAT UPTON SINCLAIR WROTE ABOUT IN THE JUNGLE.

male narrator: IT WAS WIDELY READ, THAT NOVEL.

AND THOSE WHO READ BECAME CONCERNED AND AROUSED.

- IT'S AN OUTRAGE!

man: A MAN ISN'T SAFE EVEN AT HIS OWN DINNER TABLE!

- SOMETHING OUGHT TO BE DONE ABOUT IT!

- WHY DOESN'T THE GOVERNMENT STEP IN?

Lovera: WE DIDN'T HAVE FOOD POLICY FOR A LONG TIME.

IT TOOK POLITICAL PRESSURE TO HAVE FOOD LAWS.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOOD SAFETY,

IT WAS SOME KIND OF SCANDAL

THAT CAUSED US TO HAVE THE LAWS, RIGHT?

SO WE HAVE MEAT INSPECTION

BECAUSE OF A LAW THAT WAS PASSED IN 1906.

THIS IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH.

WE NEED THE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS

'CAUSE WE DON'T TRUST THE COMPANIES

TO DO IT THEMSELVES.

THEY WEREN'T GONNA SLOW DOWN THE LINES.

THEY WEREN'T GONNA GET ANY SMALLER

UNTIL LAWS WERE PASSED TO SAY

YOU HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS A CERTAIN WAY.

Imhoff: BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE 1930s,

AMERICA IS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT COUNTRY.

[frenetic orchestral music]

♫♫

THE FARMERS TRIED TO KEEP UP,

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY COULD GET AHEAD AT THE TIME

WAS TO PLANT MORE.

BUT THE MORE THEY PLANTED,

THE LOWER THE PRICE FELL.

YOU KNOW, THE PLOWING OF THE PRAIRIES TURNED OUT TO BE

ONE OF THE GREATEST MISTAKES THAT WE'VE EVER MADE.

IT REALLY SET THEM UP FOR THE GREAT CATASTROPHE

WHEN THE DROUGHT HIT

AND CAUSED THE DUST BOWL IN THE EARLY 1930s.

THE SOIL WAS LITERALLY BLOWING AWAY,

AND WITHOUT SOIL,

YOU'VE GOT NO BASIS OF FOOD PRODUCTION.

AND IN CAME FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.

HE'S DEALING WITH UNBELIEVABLE UNEMPLOYMENT.

THE FARM ECONOMY IS JUST COMPLETELY SPIRALED DOWN.

THE PRICE OF CORN DROPS TO ZERO.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN BUYING ANY CORN THERE'S SO MUCH OF IT.

AND YET HE HAS HUNGRY PEOPLE.

WHEN WE THINK BACK TO THE DEPRESSION,

THE PROBLEM WASN'T

THAT WE HAD TOO LITTLE FOOD.

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THEY GREW TOO MUCH.

THERE WAS NO OTHER RECOURSE AT THE TIME

BUT FOR GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND RESCUE AGRICULTURE.

- I PLEDGE MYSELF

TO A NEW DEAL FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

- HENRY WALLACE CAME IN AS THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

AND ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND HELP

TO FARMERS SO THAT THEY WEREN'T

SOLELY AT THE MERCY OF THE MARKET.

Lovera: SO THE FIRST FARM BILLS WERE TALKING ABOUT,

HOW DO WE MANAGE THAT SUPPLY?

Imhoff: THE PLAN IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

MAKE SURE THE FARMERS GET A FAIR PRICE

AND THEY DON'T PLANT EVERY INCH,

AND THEN MAKE SURE WE TAKE THE SURPLUS FOOD

AND WE DISTRIBUTE IT TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT.

Vilsack: AND FROM THAT POINT FORWARD,

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP,

IF YOU WILL, WITH AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.

[whistling and explosions]

male narrator: WHILE AMERICA BUILDS STRENGTH

FOR DEFENSE IN THE SKIES,

7 MILLION FARMERS HAVE BUILT

STRONG DEFENSE ACROSS THE NATION,

BACKING UP THE PROMISE OF ABUNDANCE FOR ALL

THAT LIBERTY SPEAKS TO THE WORLD.

[My Country 'Tis of Thee playing]

♫♫

- AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II,

WE HAD A MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.

WE WERE VERY SOON ABOUT TO HAVE

AN AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.

male narrator: IT IS THE HOPE OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE:

BATTALIONS OF COMBINES, REGIMENTS OF TRUCKS,

DIVISIONS OF CORN PICKERS, POTATO DIGGERS,

PLANTING MACHINES, COLUMNS OF MILKING MACHINES.

AMERICAN HENS ARE BUSY TOO, LAYING 50 BILLION EGGS.

IF ALL THESE WERE MADE INTO ONE HUGE FRIED EGG,

IT WOULD COVER ALL THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

AND DON'T FORGET WE HAVE ENOUGH BACON TO GO AROUND IT.

AND HERE COME THE PIGS, 100 MILLION STRONG.

- USING THE TOOLS OF WAR,

USING HEAVY MACHINERY, PETROCHEMICALS,

AND AMAZING AMOUNTS OF FERTILIZERS

THAT THEY USED TO MAKE BOMBS--

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS ALSO THE AGE OF MONOCULTURE.

SO WE GO FROM THESE SMALL DIVERSIFIED FARMS

INTO A HUGE FACTORY MACHINE.

THEY JUST STARTED TO GROW AS MUCH CORN AND AS MUCH SOY

AND COMMODITIES THAT THEY COULD.

Lovera: U.S.

FARMERS

AND FARMERS ALL OVER THE WORLD,

THEY GROW WHAT THEY CAN SELL.

AND I DON'T GO TO THE STORE

AND BUY A 20-POUND SACK OF SOYBEANS, RIGHT?

BUT IF YOU EAT ANY PROCESSED FOOD,

YOU ARE EATING SOY.

SO WE GROW A LOT OF THESE COMMODITY CROPS

THAT YOU CAN STORE AND YOU CAN PUT ON A BOAT

AND YOU CAN SHIP TO ANOTHER COUNTRY.

AND WE'RE STARTING TO IMPORT THE STUFF

THAT YOU PICK BY HAND-- THE VEGETABLES, THE FRUIT.

- THE FARM BILL THAT USED TO TAKE CARE OF THE SMALL GUY

WITH LOANS AND CONSERVATION PLANS

SUDDENLY BECAME THIS PROGRAM TO CAPITALIZE

AN INDUSTRIAL FORM OF AGRICULTURE.

THE SECRET THAT I AM GIVING TO AMERICA NOW

IS HOW TO PRE-COOK THE EGG.

30 SECONDS IN THE SHELL

IN THE BOILING WATER.

HOPEFULLY, I WON'T PROVE MYSELF WRONG.

I'M GONNA USE THIS FANCY JAPANESE MANDOLINE HERE

ON THE FENNEL...

SOME CITRUS.

I HAVE A REAL CONCERN

ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FOOD

AND KEEPING FOOD

AND FOOD PRODUCTION

A TRULY DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE.

NOW SEE HOW HELD TOGETHER THAT IS?

WHY?

WHY IS THAT SO NICE

AND BALL-LIKE?

MAKE SURE IT BROWNS TOO.

WE WANT TO...

STILL HAVE...

THAT CRUNCHY ESSENCE.

THANK YOU, COWS.

OKAY.

KIND OF IN A TIME CRUNCH HERE.

HERE'S THE TWO DUCK EGGS.

A LITTLE HERB FROM THE GARDEN.

OLIVE OIL.

WHOA.

YOU GUYS HUNGRY?

BLOOD ORANGES FOR THAT.

[pepper grinder squeaks]

OKAY.

BON APPETIT.

Vilsack: OBVIOUSLY WE ARE OUT THERE TO HELP FARMERS,

BUT WE DO A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

WE HELP MANAGE AND ADMINISTER

MOST OF THE NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

IN THIS COUNTRY.

THOSE NUTRITION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT PART

OF THE RESPONSIBILITY HERE AT USDA

AND A VERY LARGE PART OF THE BUDGET

THAT WE ULTIMATELY SPEND.

Imhoff: ON A YEARLY BASIS,

THE FARM BILL AUTHORIZES ABOUT $100 BILLION

OF YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

IF WE TOOK THAT $100 BILLION

AND WE TURNED IT INTO A DOLLAR BILL,

75 TO 80 CENTS OF THAT DOLLAR

WOULD GO TO THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.

16 CENTS GOES TO CROP PRODUCTION.

THAT LEAVES 4 CENTS

FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS,

FOR RESEARCH, FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION.

WE FEED HUNGRY PEOPLE,

AND THEN WE ALSO FEED THIS AGRICULTURAL MACHINE,

AND THOSE ARE THE TWO KEY POLITICAL FORCES

THAT MAKE THIS FARM BILL WORK.

Vilsack: IN FARM BILL LEGISLATION

AND DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST,

IT HASN'T BEEN ABOUT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

IT'S REALLY BEEN ABOUT

REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN AGRICULTURE:

SOUTHERN VERSUS MIDWESTERN

OR MIDWESTERN VERSUS WESTERN DIFFERENCES.

Lovera: IT WAS HARDER AND HARDER TO HAVE A CONVERSATION

IN THE HOUSE ABOUT RURAL ISSUES

BECAUSE FEWER PEOPLE LIVED IN RURAL AMERICA.

THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE IN THE SENATE, RIGHT?

IN THE SENATE, NEBRASKA HAS THE SAME VOTES AS CALIFORNIA

OR NEW YORK, RIGHT?

I MEAN, SO AGRICULTURE TRADITIONALLY

HAS GOTTEN A MUCH BETTER DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE,

ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST 100 YEARS,

AS WE HAVE A MORE URBAN POPULATION.

Vilsack: THE DIFFERENCES ARE NOW MORE ABOUT IDEOLOGY.

THEY'RE MORE ABOUT, HOW MUCH SHOULD WE PROVIDE IN ASSISTANCE

AND WHO SHOULD WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR,

BOTH ON THE FARM SIDE, ON THE FARM POLICY SIDE,

AND ON THE FOOD SIDE.

THE REALITY IS, THE FARM BILL

ESSENTIALLY ADDRESSED MANY CHALLENGES.

BUT WE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T DO IT AS WELL AS WE SHOULD HAVE

BECAUSE WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH THE SAME CHALLENGES TODAY.

IN URBAN CENTERS, WE'RE VERY CONCERNED

ABOUT THE ISSUE OF FOOD DESERTS,

THE FACT THAT THERE IS A LACK OF ACCESS

TO FULL-SCALE GROCERY STORES.

Imhoff: POVERTY IS STILL REAL ACROSS AMERICA.

ONE OUT OF SIX PEOPLE IS ELIGIBLE.

Alvarado: I AM A SINGLE MOTHER.

I HAVE BEEN A SINGLE MOTHER FOREVER.

I'M WORKING,

BUT IT'S ONLY FOR THE RENT AND THE BILLS.

GETTING PAID 600 A MONTH,

IT DOESN'T--IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH AT ALL.

THERE'S NOTHING LEFT FOR FOOD.

I'M SCARED OF BEING WITHOUT FOOD STAMPS.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

- WE NEED TO INVEST IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS

BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY CAN BE A COMMERCIAL-SIZED PRODUCER.

NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE.

BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO FARM FOR A LIVING.

Imhoff: AND THE ONLY WAY IT'S GONNA WORK

IS IF PEOPLE START TO WAKE UP AND "A," SAY IT'S THEIR MONEY

AND THEY CARE ABOUT THESE LAWS

THAT GOVERN THEIR FOOD SYSTEM.

- AND HOW WILL YOU BE PAYING TODAY?

- EBT.

- WITH EBT?

- YES.

- RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM

WHERE IF YOU SPEND $10 ON PRODUCE,

YOU GET A $10 REWARD CARD FROM MICHIGAN PRODUCE,

SO YOU CAN PAY FOR SOME OF OUR MICHIGAN PRODUCE WITH THAT.

Alvarado: SOUNDS GREAT.

woman: PERFECT.

Bair: DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS PROVIDES INCENTIVES

SO THAT FAMILIES WHO SHOP WITH SNAP BENEFITS,

WHICH MOST OF US KNOW AS FOOD STAMPS,

CAN SPEND THOSE BENEFITS ON MORE HEALTHY FOODS

FROM MICHIGAN FARMERS.

WE WORK WITH LOCAL FARMERS' MARKETS.

WE WORK WITH INDEPENDENT GROCERY STORES

THAT ARE HERE SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

IF THEY HAVE AT LEAST $10 WORTH

OF ANY PRODUCE IN THEIR CART,

THEY QUALIFY TO RECEIVE $10 IN DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS.

Alvarado: I BOUGHT MY CORN.

I BOUGHT SOME EXTRA TOMATOES,

SOME CUCUMBERS.

I MEAN, WHAT MORE CAN I ASK?

MAYBE WE CAN HAVE MORE FARMERS IN MICHIGAN.

MAYBE MORE PEOPLE CAN GET DEDICATED TO THAT

WITH THIS PROGRAM.

Bair: IT'S NOT ABOUT EDUCATION.

IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED AND WANT TO EAT.

IT'S ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY.

Alvarado: IT'S GOOD FOR US AND GOOD FOR THEM.

GOOD FOR OUR POCKETS, GOOD FOR THEIR POCKETS.

WHY NOT?

I AM FROM PUERTO RICO,

BUT I AM ALSO FROM SOUTHWEST DETROIT,

SO I KIND OF LEARNED

TO MIX THE PUERTO RICAN

AND THE MEXICAN AND EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

FOR THE RICE, I HAVE PEPPERS, ONION,

AND TOMATOES.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE A PASTA SAUCE.

NOW I'M GONNA THROW THE RICE.

IT'S ALREADY COLORFUL.

AND JUST MIX IT A LITTLE BIT AGAIN.

THOSE BEANS ARE READY.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE GUACAMOLE.

SO NOW I'M MAKING THE GUACAMOLE FOR REAL:

ADDING THE AVOCADOS.

AND IT'S GOOD THAT IT'S MORE AVOCADO

THAN THE FLAVORING

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MAKE PICO DE GALLO WITH AVOCADO.

I WANT TO MAKE GUACAMOLE.

YELLOW RICE, MEXICAN/PUERTO RICAN STYLE,

REFRIED BEANS,

AND GUACAMOLE ON TOP OF OUR TOSTADA,

CHICKEN TOSTADA WITH CHEESE.

- GUACAMOLE THAT'S NOT HOT.

Alvarado: SINCE THEY WERE LITTLE KIDS,

I ALWAYS WANTED THEM TO BE PART OF THE KITCHEN.

I WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN EAT MEXICAN FOOD.

YOU CAN MAKE ARABIC FOOD.

YOU CAN MAKE AFRICAN FOOD.

YOU CAN MAKE ALL TYPES OF FOOD IF YOU WANT.

AND EVERY DAY YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT RESTAURANT AT HOME.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT I'M ENJOYING THIS.

rapper:♫I DON'T MOVE WITH THE TREND♫

♫EVERY MOVE FROM WITHIN♫

♫I DON'T MOVE WITH THE TREND♫

♫EVERY MOVE FROM WITHIN♫

♫WATCHING THE CITY MOVE UP♫

♫NEW PROGRAMS TO DOUBLE UP YOUR FOOD BUCKS♫

♫WITH EBT AND SNAP♫

♫WHAT YOU SPEND THEY'LL MATCH♫

♫SUPPORT MICHIGAN FARMERS PRODUCE FRESH FROM THE PATCH♫

♫NEW INCENTIVES FOR BETTER LIVING♫

♫GOT ME FEELING ATTACHED♫

♫LOCALLY GROWN VEGGIES AND FRUITS♫

♫SUMMER SALADS AND JUICE♫

♫WINTER SANDWICH AND SOUP♫

♫YOUR HEALTH IS THE PROOF♫

♫TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY♫

♫REALLY GIVES YOU A DIFFERENT FEEL♫

♫CULTIVATE YOUR KITCHEN SKILLS, PREPARE A NUTRITIOUS MEAL♫

Imhoff: WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH THIS NEW IDEA

THAT AGRICULTURE HAS TO BE SUSTAINABLE.

Vilsack: I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US MAKE A REAL COMMITMENT

TO REVITALIZING AND REBUILDING THE RURAL ECONOMY.

THAT REQUIRES A FARM BILL THAT COMMITS TO CONSERVATION.

Imhoff: WITHOUT CHANGING THE FARM BILL,

WE CAN'T CHANGE THE PROBLEMS

THAT WE HAVE IN THE FOOD SECTOR.

Lovera: AS MANY CALLS AS CONGRESS GETS ABOUT

THE WAR OR THE DEFICIT OR SOCIAL SECURITY,

THEY'RE NOT GETTING THAT MANY CALLS ABOUT FOOD--

YET.

rapper:♫I DON'T MOVE WITH THE TREND♫

♫EVERY MOVE FROM WITHIN♫

♫JUST THE BAD AND THE BEND♫

♫POWER MOVE IN THE WIND♫

♫I DON'T MOVE WITH THE TREND, EVERY MOVE FROM WITHIN♫

♫JUST THE BAD AND THE BEND, POWER MOVE IN THE WIND♫

- IF I COULD BE ANY VEGETABLE, WHAT WOULD I BE?

HMM.

A CUCUMBER.

I LIKE THE IDEA THAT THAT VEGETABLE

HAS MULTIPLE PURPOSES AND USES.

IT CAN BE A PICKLE.

IT CAN BE A GREAT ADDITION TO A SALAD.

IT'S CRISP.

IT'S SORT OF TOUGH ON THE OUTSIDE

BUT KIND OF SOFT ON THE INSIDE.

AND I THINK IT'S JUST FUNDAMENTALLY DELICIOUS.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7sa7SZ6arn1%2BrtqWxzmidqKeUYrOwvtaaqZ1lpJ2ybsHSZqafZZGcv6qv1KWrrqqVZA%3D%3D