Don’t Got Milk?

Mark Bittman’s recent column in the New York Times, “Got Milk? You Don’t Need It,” mentions the fact that 90 percent of Asian Americans are lactose-intolerant and wonders whether the USDA’s recommendation of three cups of milk a day for every American man, woman and child is an up-to-date requirement. What do you think? How has this recommendation affected you?

Food and Farming is a Cultural Value

Many foods we eat, grow and catch have been enjoyed for thousands of years in Asia, and many of our families first came to the US as farmers or food workers. We want to continue to participate in food and farming and pass on our traditions to the next generation.

Protect the Land

Food For Health

Fair Prices

Self-Sufficiency

Fair Trade

No Waste

1. Disaster Protection

2. Language Access

In areas with high proportions of Asian American and Pacific Islander farmers or families needing food aid, there is often a lack of USDA staff and materials in their languages. Hire linguistically and culturally competent staff, and aggressively translate materials like loan applications and benefits updates. The face-to-face emphasis of agencies like the FSA particularly requires language-appropriate services.