Hundreds of bell peppers in shades of green, red, orange and yellow were on the chopping block today at the DC Central Kitchen. The peppers, personally delivered by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack from the USDA Farmer’s Market, were on their way into quesadillas as part of the lunch menu at the DC Central Kitchen.
Secretary Vilsack was at the DC Central Kitchen today as part of the Obama Administration's 'National Day of Service and Remembrance'. The Secretary, with sleeves rolled up and proper food safety procedures in place, jumped on the food production line and demonstrated his dicing skills as the peppers made their journey into quesadillas.
In addition to the cases of peppers, the Secretary delivered fresh green beans and other vegetables picked only an hour early from the People’s Garden at the USDA headquarters. Altogether, he People's Garden has produced 300 pounds of fresh produce that has been donated to DC Central Kitchen over the course of the summer.
Under the banner of President Obama’s 'United We Serve' initiative, the DC Central Kitchen was packed with volunteers eager to give back to the community. And what better way to give back than to help those members of the community that are underserved and the most vulnerable. The DC Central Kitchen represents the best of our community and has used their facility to recover unused food, prepare and deliver meals to partner social service agencies, train and employ homeless men and women for the food service industry, and intellectually engage volunteers.
The DC Central Kitchen takes their dedication to the local community a step further by reaching out to local farmers and producers for the food they use. From local gardens and farms to the dinner table on a large scale is quite a sight. As a community kitchen, they recycle over one ton of surplus food each day that would otherwise go to waste and turn it into 4,500 meals for the hungry in the greater Washington, D.C., region.
Thank you to those Americans that volunteered their time on this National Day of Service and Remembrance.
I see that you have a piece on know your farmer and know your food. What do you know about the plight of farmers and workers in Californias central valley? What are you doing to provide water so they can grow crops again? Is a 2" minnow more important than the food that can be provided by this area for the American people? Why are we importing more vegetables from Mexico and Chile when we can grow our own and provide jobs for the people of the Central Valley.
Posted by
Alfredo Gonzales
on September 18, 2009 at 02:30 PM EDT
#
Hi Mr Secretary I am taking a chance by posting this but it is okay. I Raymond Poole work here for the Department of Agriculture and need help, my problem is I would like to a farm not a Co-Op but a farm were the President can see it a good investment toward's helping folks out in times of need. The Farm I have in mind will be straight non-profit and the reason I said I am taking a chance is just like when a person has a good idea and doesn't get to try it someone else uses it. See I am not trying to politicize it just straight helping people in a food bank manner.Sir I am going to keep hoping for a break to do this but do realize that the President might take a liking to a out fit of this nature and since I work here already could use this to finish my tour of duty,I may not have what I need now but i have beenriding through certain country side's and know of plenty good land going to waste instead of going green. Mr Secretary we don't know how long your tour will be also but while here can we you and me help the First Lady and the President push for a real's people Garden and not one that sells to the people and maybe supply some schools with nutritional foods.So if you see this at least hear me out cause if ever I get a way to close to the President Staff or anybody who will hear me out or if I get a nice some of money to do this I want to be able to say with the help of --------, so now I poured half of my dreams out which like before some in the in take credit for the thing's the little people stand on, see everyone wants to help but nobody want to do the work and a lot want to take credit but plese don't tell me about Rural Development or the FSA see if it is able to be done you will have another agency which would require more higher grade with more stuffed shirt's or I will become just a person who had a idea
Posted by
Raymond T. Poole
on September 21, 2009 at 02:21 PM EDT
#
Hi Mr Secretary I am taking a chance by posting this but it is okay. I Raymond Poole work here for the Department of Agriculture and need help, my problem is I would like to a farm not a Co-Op but a farm were the President can see it a good investment toward's helping folks out in times of need. The Farm I have in mind will be straight non-profit and the reason I said I am taking a chance is just like when a person has a good idea and doesn't get to try it someone else uses it. See I am not trying to politicize it just straight helping people in a food bank manner.Sir I am going to keep hoping for a break to do this but do realize that the President might take a liking to a out fit of this nature and since I work here already could use this to finish my tour of duty,I may not have what I need now but i have beenriding through certain country side's and know of plenty good land going to waste instead of going green. Mr Secretary we don't know how long your tour will be also but while here can we you and me help the First Lady and the President push for a real's people Garden and not one that sells to the people and maybe supply some schools with nutritional foods.So if you see this at least hear me out cause if ever I get a way to close to the President Staff or anybody who will hear me out or if I get a nice some of money to do this I want to be able to say with the help of --------, so now I poured half of my dreams out which like before some in the in take credit for the thing's the little people stand on, see everyone wants to help but nobody want to do the work and a lot want to take credit but plese don't tell me about Rural Development or the FSA see if it is able to be done you will have another agency which would require more higher grade with more stuffed shirt's or I will become just a person who had a idea
Posted by
Raymond T. Poole
on September 21, 2009 at 02:22 PM EDT
#
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on January 25, 2010 at 12:13 PM EST
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Posted by
Marcu Vasile
on January 27, 2010 at 10:26 AM EST
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Friday Sep 11, 2009
Posted by Alfredo Gonzales on September 18, 2009 at 02:30 PM EDT #
Posted by Raymond T. Poole on September 21, 2009 at 02:21 PM EDT #
Posted by Raymond T. Poole on September 21, 2009 at 02:22 PM EDT #
Posted by Brandon L on January 25, 2010 at 12:13 PM EST #
Posted by Angela M on January 26, 2010 at 07:15 PM EST #
Posted by Zelda Mickel on January 27, 2010 at 08:05 AM EST #
Posted by Marcu Vasile on January 27, 2010 at 10:26 AM EST #