Photo by aliciagriffinCheck this out, farmers market fans: President Obama yesterday told a gaggle of health care reporters that he and his family would like to see about putting a farmers market in right outside the White House.
One of the things that we’re trying to do now is to figure out, can we get a little farmers’ market — outside of the White House — I’m not going to have all of you all just tromping around inside — (laughter) — but right outside the White House — (laughter) — so that — so that we can — and — and — and that is a win-win situation.
It gives suddenly D.C. more access to good, fresh food, but it also is this enormous potential revenue-maker for local farmers in the area. And — and that — those kinds of connections can be made all throughout the country, and — and has to be part of how we think about health.
There’s certainly room for more farmers markets in D.C., and opening one by the White House sounds like a cool idea. There’s something to be said for the first family setting a national example of buying local, fresh ingredients.
But I’m not sure I’m convinced about “enormous” revenues or that D.C. is somehow not already getting access to the fresh vegetables it wants. We have a lot of existing, high quality farmers markets that are located in neighborhoods where people actually live. How many of you would be willing to traipse all the way down to the White House for your fruit and veggies every week anyway? Or maybe the Obamas are hoping to sell apples to tourists? Good luck with that.
