California

In a world where 16,000 children die of hunger-related diseases every day—five September 11 holocausts every day, almost unnoticed—we Americans have ample reason to be grateful for the bounty of food we take for granted.  Indeed, while hunger in America is increasing due to the elimination of food stamp benefits and greater inequality, we are more likely to die in America from the complications of eating too much.  But we show precious little gratitude for our cornucopia and even less for the people who produce it.  From Jefferson to Tocqueville to Bryan and well beyond, farming was once an honored profession in America.  It is no more, but it can be again.