With Friends like this.....

From MSNBC, US farm bill unlikely to aid good nutrition:

Collin Peterson, chairman of the House of Representatives agricultural committee, says the farm sector that raises organic produce and grass-fed beef for local consumers needs little federal help. "It is growing, and it has nothing to do with the government, and that is good," he told the FT. "For whatever reason, people are willing to pay two or three times as much for something that says 'organic' or 'local'. Far be it from me to understand what that's about, but that's reality. And if people are dumb enough to pay that much then hallelujah."”

Wow.
If you take Minnesota Representative Peterson's opinion, I guess 20% market share (and growing) the organic food sector has developed for it's self is compromised primarily of ignorant fools. With friends like this in government the organic industry should be grateful for the neglect offered to the organic ag industry from the federal government.

Is Representative Peterson truly this hostile toward the rural economic development opportunities offered by local and organic food production? Is it such a bad thing for farmers to retain some of the profits from their labor by adding value to their crops and livestock? By selling direct to consumers within their local communities, Minnesota farmers not only provide fresh and healthy food but circulate more money within their communities, contributing to strong vibrant communities. These farmers are not just sitting back and complaining about the decline of rural Minnesota, but they are out there in the fields and markets doing something to improve the communities where they live and work.

To refer to the customers of these farmers as dumb is insulting to farmers and consumers across the state of Minnesota as well as nation. These customers understand the “you get what you pay for” concept. They understand that if you want food harvested at its peak of ripeness and flavor, it likely won’t come from South America. These dumb customers understand they can be their own food inspectors by developing personal relationships and often friendships with the people that raise their food. They know how the animals that provide their meat were raised and they know what is in their food. Hopefully some of Representative Peterson’s constituents he refers to as dumb can explain some of these concepts to him.