When Michelle Obama began digging into the White House backyard, hoe in hand, many lauded her garden as a way to bring fresh organic fruits and vegetables into her own home, and to inspire other Americans to do the same. “Michelle Obama's White House garden symbolizes much more than dreams of a few plump tomatoes or juicy snap peas,” reported USA Today. But, the Mid America Croplife Association (MACA) begs to differ. The agricultural association wrote an open letter to Mrs. Obama congratulating her on “recognizing the importance of agriculture in America” while touting the use of “crop protection products,” otherwise known as pesticides. The letter goes on to say:

As you go about planning and planting the White House garden, we respectfully encourage you to recognize the role conventional agriculture plays in the U.S in feeding the ever-increasing population, contributing to the U.S. economy and providing a safe and economical food supply.

This letter is living proof of the lengths big agriculture will go to push their products. We’ve been talking about the risks of pesticides of some conventionally grown foods for years, and in a recent Consumer Reports poll*, respondents put “harmful bacteria or chemicals in food” at the top of their list of food-safety concerns.

Are you concerned about exposure to chemicals in your food like our poll respondents? Tell us what you think!

—Ginger Skinner

Read more about the letter on NotInMyFood.org. Going organic is a great way to reduce your exposure to harmful pesticides. Read more on when to buy organic fruits and vegetables, test your organic IQ, and find out what the Organic label really means at GreenerChoices.org.

*links to PDF