Food Policy in the United States: An Introduction (Earthscan Food and Agriculture)

Parke Wilde provides an indispensable introduction to U.S. food policy, and he helps shed much needed light on some of the complexities of the modern agriculture system and how it is affected by food and farm policy. Although I am less sanguine than Wilde about the ability of food policy to provide major fixes, he helps provide a solid foundation and framework for understanding the merits and demerits of food policy proposals. - Jayson Lusk, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, USA

Parke Wilde's new second edition provides an excellent foundation for my course in Agricultural and Food Policy. I greatly appreciate the diverse viewpoints considered and the broad range of topics covered. - Larry Lev, Professor and Extension Economist, Department of Applied Economics, Oregon State University, USA

Reviews of the first edition

Food Policy in the United States is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how our food system really works or to take action to change it. Professor Wilde provides a tough but balanced and decidedly nonpartisan overview of the facts behind the full range of policy areas - among them agricultural support, safety, dietary guidance - that affect food production and consumption. If you want to join the food movement to improve the system, here's how to find out where to start. - Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University and author of Food Politics

More than ever before, those of us who care about U.S. nutrition policy recognize that we need to pay attention to a whole wide world of policy and economic issues - including farm policy, food manufacturing, supermarkets, anti-hunger programs and more. For my students--and my colleagues--it can seem daunting! Without oversimplifying, Food Policy in the United States opens the doorway to these broader conversations and debates. - Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., Nutrition scientist, professor, and best-selling author of the Strong Women book series

This is a very engaging book on the key issues of the food systems and policies today. The topics and material make an excellent foundation for classroom discussion and learning. Parke Wilde asks provocative questions throughout that help to engage the reader and reinforce the importance of trying to understand the economic factors and policy process. I look forward to having this book available for students! - Helen H. Jensen, professor of economics and head of the Food and Nutrition Policy Division at the Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University

Substance beyond many populist food politics-type books which have surged over the past decade distinguishes Dr. Wilde's contribution. His knowledgeable approach to underlying market (and government) failure which motivates the food policy topic of concern comes from his own background and experience in academia, government and working with NGOs. Occasional notes on advocacy come as a refreshing so what for the reader. - Neal Hooker, Professor of Food Policy in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, Ohio State University