Planning and Community Health Research Center

First Lady Highlights Access to Healthy Food
at Opening of White House Farmers' Market

On September 17, 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama addressed a group of Washington, D.C., area residents, workers, and federal staff about the importance of providing physical and economic access to healthy, nutritious foods for all people.

The day marked a historic occasion for farmers, food security advocates, planners, and others working in the food systems field — the opening of the first ever White House Farmers' Market steps from the White House lawn on Vermont Ave NW between H and I Streets in the heart of the Nation's Capital.

Despite the cloudy, rainy weather, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, a certified organic dairy farmer, and a FRESHFARM Markets representative joined Mrs. Obama to celebrate the opening of the market.

Mayor Fenty reminisced about visits to the 18th Street & Columbia Road market as a child. Vilsack expressed the need to support our small farmers and announced the recently launched USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative. And, Mrs. Obama underscored the importance of the occasion, noting the need to feed our children nutritious, healthy, and tasty foods, like the ones sold at the newly minted marketplace. She also commended DC's FRESHFARM Markets for accepting federal nutrition program vouchers for low-income families at the market. At the close of the ceremony, Mrs. Obama, wicker basket in hand, opened the market by purchasing an assortment of vibrantly colored vegetables, including kale and heirloom tomatoes.

Kimberley Hodgson, manager of APA's Planning and Community Health Research Center, attended the event. "This is an exciting time for planners to support and enhance local food systems across the country," she said. "Never before have we seen such enthusiasm for rural and urban agriculture, community gardening, CSAs, and farmers' markets from the USDA and the White House. Not only do these important components of the food system improve access to healthy, affordable foods, but they play an important role for the creation of healthy, sustainable communities."

The White House event coincides with Planning magazine's focus on food systems and planning. The special August/September issue of Planning delves into food and health issues, urban farming, food deserts, big city vacant lot farms, edible front yards, and city chickens. APA members may read the entire issue online.

About the Center

The Planning and Community Health Research Center is dedicated to integrating community health issues into local and regional planning practices by advancing a program of research, outreach, education, and policy. From the preservation and development of sustainable rural and urban farms and agricultural practices to the provision of healthy, sustainable food in food stores, restaurants, farmers' markets, and community gardens, planners can help build stronger, ecologically sustainable, culturally diverse, equitable and more self-reliant community and regional food systems.

Photo: Michelle Obama (left) at the opening of the White House Farmers' Market. Photo by Kimberley Hodgson.