Food during my early years was a very difficult issue for me. I grew up in an addictive family. My mother had serious problems with alcohol and prescription drugs. I was an overweight kid. I can remember back in those… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
Hillary Clinton was in rural America during the Iowa caucuses, but I think the nature of a campaign makes it more difficult once you become the candidate. There's a messaging opportunity here throughout, not just in the election season, but before the election, the opportunity to underscore what government is doing in a positive way in partnership with rural folks.… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share
To help producers serve larger institutional customers like schools and hospitals, USDA has helped fund new regional infrastructure like cold storage warehouses, commercial kitchens… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
The lack of access to proper nutrition is not only fueling obesity, it is leading to food insecurity and hunger among our children. — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
I can't give you a specific number today, in large part because the analysis upon which we would make that determination has not been… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
To amplify our efforts, USDA is joining with First Lady Michelle Obama in aggressively promoting the 'Let's Move' campaign, which will combat the epidemic… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
We're going to move from a commodity economy where you basically grow the same kind of crops - where a kernel of corn is… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
Although they are some of the hardest working folks I know, rural Americans earn, on average, $11,000 less than their urban counterparts each year.… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
President Obama has expressed his commitment to responsible stewardship of our land, water, and other natural resources. And one way of restoring the land… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
Strong communities ... embrace change. New discoveries require us to think differently and approach things differently, to think anew. — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
I don't know of a Democrat - whether they're a conservative, a centrist or a liberal Democrat - that doesn't think that it's important… — Tom Vilsack Copy Share Image
