Press Releases

March 2010

Farm to school efforts double in Minnesota: Demand from students, farmers and schools grows for farm to school programs

Posted March 9, 2010

Minneapolis – The number of Minnesota school districts purchasing fresh food from local farms has more than doubled in the last 15 months, according to a survey released today by the Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA) and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). Farm to school programs...

CFTC should impose tough limits on Wall Street speculators

Posted March 4, 2010

Minneapolis – The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) should act immediately to limit excessive speculation by Wall Street firms on energy derivatives trades, a move that will help address extreme volatility in both energy and agricultural markets, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) said in...

Agriculture and rural groups defend EPA’s ability to protect climate, public health

Posted March 3, 2010

Minneapolis – Over 25 organizations representing agriculture organizations and rural communities sent a letter to the Senate yesterday urging Senators to reject attempts to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s ability to enforce the Clean Air Act. The letter is in response to Senate Joint Resolution...

Cheap food policy contributing to childhood obesity

Posted March 2, 2010

Minneapolis – A decades-old “cheap food” policy has helped create a broken U.S. food system where unhealthy foods are both cheaper and more available to children than are healthy foods, writes the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s David Wallinga, M.D. in a new article in the March...

February 2010

USDA not the only federal agency influencing our food system, new paper reports

Posted February 4, 2010

Minneapolis – While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considered the most influential federal agency when it comes to our food system, many other government agencies combine to deeply affect what, and how, food is raised and consumed in the U.S., finds a new paper published by the Institute for Agriculture...

January 2010

IATP applauds first lady Michelle Obama’s initiative on childhood obesity

Posted January 22, 2010

Minneapolis– In a speech before the U.S. Conference of Mayors, first lady Michelle Obama cited Minneapolis mini farmers markets in underserved communities as an example of new local initiatives to combat obesity and connect children with healthier foods. The first lady announced that next month she will be...

IATP congratulates Wayzata Public Schools nutrition leader for national award

Posted January 11, 2010

Minneapolis – Mary Anderson, supervisor of Wayzata Public Schools’ Culinary Express foodservice program, was honored yesterday by the School Nutrition Association for her innovative leadership of Wayzata’s school nutrition program. “Mary’s work sets a gold standard for school nutrition around the state,” said JoAnne...

December 2009

Weak climate deal leaves hard choices for next year

Posted December 19, 2009

Copenhagen – A watered down political agreement reached this morning in Copenhagen lacks the firm commitments needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address global climate change, said the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP). Progress on agriculture within the climate talks was delayed as...