Whenever you start talking about organic food and political affiliations, many people seem to think that organic food advocates are all Democrats. Yet, the answer is not that simple and is much more complex than one might think.
In “The Politics of Organic Farming: Populists, Evangelicals, and the Agriculture of the Middle” (once on the page, click on the link that says “PDF – 786KB”), the amazing food magazine Gastronomica delves into this question and explores the matter from a historical, geographical and cultural context.
As the article points out, organic food supporters have been incredibly betrayed by President Obama. So, does that mean that Republicans are now the big proponents of organic food? Well, yes and no.
While it seems that organic consumers are more likely to be Democrats while organic farmers are more likely to be Republicans, neither side wields that much influence within its respective party.
So, what needs to happen, as the article correctly suggests, is to have both sides come together and make organic food policy a much more important topic as the 2012 presidential election nears. It is essential that we, as both Democrats and Republicans, work across party lines to promote this cause. The safety and health of our food are at stake.
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If you have never heard of Gastronomica before, please read my review of it. It is incredible magazine that explores the history and culture of food in a fascinating way.
The magazine comes out quarterly and is truly a spectacular piece of work.
