Michael Pollan

And the unhealthiest calories are the cheapest calories in our food system. And that is what has to change. And that won't change until you have policy. So I think building, you know, a caucus of people who care John Tester is another one who has – he's a farmer himself, an organic farmer in Montana. Very popular despite the fact he's in a – Yeah, he is a great guy. And he gets it.

He understands this industry. He sees what they're doing to farmers. And, you know, I also think the Democrats have to do a better job talking to farmers. I mean, they've completely lost that register, that vocabulary. And rural America has turned against Democrats. Yeah, it's true. We forget that Obama won Iowa twice. That is unimaginable today. Yeah.

He understands this industry. He sees what they're doing to farmers. And, you know, I also think the Democrats have to do a better job talking to farmers. I mean, they've completely lost that register, that vocabulary. And rural America has turned against Democrats. Yeah, it's true. We forget that Obama won Iowa twice. That is unimaginable today. Yeah.

He understands this industry. He sees what they're doing to farmers. And, you know, I also think the Democrats have to do a better job talking to farmers. I mean, they've completely lost that register, that vocabulary. And rural America has turned against Democrats. Yeah, it's true. We forget that Obama won Iowa twice. That is unimaginable today. Yeah.

Although I think one of the reasons that the Democrats lost it is because he disappointed expectations that he had created that he was going to be more helpful to farmers. So anyway, it's political organizing. It's hard work. And there is not a natural business constituency in favor of reform. You do have all these great small farmers and small food companies.

Although I think one of the reasons that the Democrats lost it is because he disappointed expectations that he had created that he was going to be more helpful to farmers. So anyway, it's political organizing. It's hard work. And there is not a natural business constituency in favor of reform. You do have all these great small farmers and small food companies.

Although I think one of the reasons that the Democrats lost it is because he disappointed expectations that he had created that he was going to be more helpful to farmers. So anyway, it's political organizing. It's hard work. And there is not a natural business constituency in favor of reform. You do have all these great small farmers and small food companies.

But the food companies, the only exit for them is to sell to a big company. And that's how you do it. The returns on food are not very high compared to other parts of the economy.

But the food companies, the only exit for them is to sell to a big company. And that's how you do it. The returns on food are not very high compared to other parts of the economy.

But the food companies, the only exit for them is to sell to a big company. And that's how you do it. The returns on food are not very high compared to other parts of the economy.

Well, you know, it's interesting you bring that up, Mark. I always thought that the natural ally of the food industry were health insurers. Because if you can prevent, you know, for every case of type 2 diabetes you prevent, I remember seeing a number, and this is 10 or 15 years old, they saved half a million dollars over the life of that person.

Well, you know, it's interesting you bring that up, Mark. I always thought that the natural ally of the food industry were health insurers. Because if you can prevent, you know, for every case of type 2 diabetes you prevent, I remember seeing a number, and this is 10 or 15 years old, they saved half a million dollars over the life of that person.

Well, you know, it's interesting you bring that up, Mark. I always thought that the natural ally of the food industry were health insurers. Because if you can prevent, you know, for every case of type 2 diabetes you prevent, I remember seeing a number, and this is 10 or 15 years old, they saved half a million dollars over the life of that person.

And I was invited to give a speech in Scottsdale, Arizona, to a group of presidents of health insurance companies. And I got up there and I gave a stem winder about how they should be allies of the food movement and how preventing chronic disease could make them money. And that, you know, they should really be in there fighting for a farm bill that privileged health over productivity.

And I was invited to give a speech in Scottsdale, Arizona, to a group of presidents of health insurance companies. And I got up there and I gave a stem winder about how they should be allies of the food movement and how preventing chronic disease could make them money. And that, you know, they should really be in there fighting for a farm bill that privileged health over productivity.

And I was invited to give a speech in Scottsdale, Arizona, to a group of presidents of health insurance companies. And I got up there and I gave a stem winder about how they should be allies of the food movement and how preventing chronic disease could make them money. And that, you know, they should really be in there fighting for a farm bill that privileged health over productivity.

And this president of a health insurance company comes up to me after and he says, you know, with all due respect, you don't understand our business. Really? We have so much churn. We anticipate holding on to a customer for one year. So we don't make any money with prevention. And if the contracts were five years, that would change everything. So there is a lever you could pull, right?

And this president of a health insurance company comes up to me after and he says, you know, with all due respect, you don't understand our business. Really? We have so much churn. We anticipate holding on to a customer for one year. So we don't make any money with prevention. And if the contracts were five years, that would change everything. So there is a lever you could pull, right?

And this president of a health insurance company comes up to me after and he says, you know, with all due respect, you don't understand our business. Really? We have so much churn. We anticipate holding on to a customer for one year. So we don't make any money with prevention. And if the contracts were five years, that would change everything. So there is a lever you could pull, right?

Longer contracts for health insurance. Try three years.