Tom Vilsack picked for Secretary of Agriculture

On Wednesday, President-elect Obama named former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture for his new administration. This choice has disappointed many people interested in sustainable, fair, organic, and local food and agriculture, since Vilsack's past has shown that he is less progressive than other possible (not necessarily likely) candidates they would have rather seen in the position. He is a vocal proponent of ethanol and biofuels and genetically-modified crops. Some activists are trying to stay positive, hopeful that Vilsack will at least turn out to be better than some of the alternatives and will expand on his support of subsidy restrictions and conservation measures to include more significant change. Like others, Michael Pollan has responded with a mix of skepticism and faint hope - what else can we do?

Well, for one thing, we can continue to be informed, learn more about other positions in the USDA and their possible appointees, and keep pressuring our representatives to listen to our voices.