Farming organization chief on Pollina: 'NOFA was almost used to make a point'

Progressive Party candidate Anthony Pollina: Politicker PhotoAt a press conference Wednesday, Progressive Party gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina of Middlesex highlighted concerns that Republican Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury) has been "inflating his own record" regarding agricultural issues.

Standing in front of the Agency of Agriculture in Montpeilier, Pollina accused Douglas of "taking credit for work done by citizens and others and staking out positions that serve short-term political goals but are not in keeping with his record."

Throughout his remarks, Pollina made reference to "the Northeast Organic Farmers Association," a Richmond-based non-profit group that he once served as a board member. NOFA, which changed its name five years ago to the Northeast Organic Farming Association, is dedicated to promoting access of local organic food to all Vermonters.

The group's executive director Enid Wonnacott said that she wasn't informed of Pollina's statements until after the press conference had already ended. "I felt as if NOFA was almost used to make a point," she said. "We don't seek division, it's not good for the state."

In his statement, Pollina said NOFA was Douglas' most recent victim of credit claiming. Pollina cited the latest issue of "Vermont Harvest," a seasonal publication of the Vermont Department of Agriculture, in which a column about buying local reads: "Initiated by Governor Douglas in 2003, the Buy Local movement is stronger than ever and Vermont is leading the way."

While Pollina equates Douglas starting the buy local movement to Al Gore inventing the Internet, Wonnacott called the reference simply "wrong terminology". She added that the publication likely was referring to Douglas' 2003 authorization of the Buy Local Program." [The program] was the first of its kind," she said, touting that it has been a great success.

"I understand that this is a political campaign and the goal is to raise conflict, but I see this with a much different message," she said. "I think about how exciting it is and how strong this program is that the governor would want to take credit for it."

While Pollina chastised Douglas for stealing praise on the expansion of debit and food stamp cards at farmers markets, Wonnacott sees the governors' gloating as somewhat justified. "The state was a collaborate partner in this effort," she said, referring to NOFA's efforts to increase accessibility to locally grown products. "The Agency of Agriculture has a massive promotional arm that was incredibly helpful," she said.

Wonnacott said that it "is a severe exaggeration," to say Douglas stole the spotlight from NOFA. She added, "I've never experienced that."

Wonnacott is quick to note that NOFA's Electronic Benefits Transfer/Debit pilot project has been spearheaded with the help of other grassroots organizations. And though the state aided its promotional activities, the program has run largely on federal grants.

Pollina also warned listeners that despite assurances of state agencies buying local, "a visit to state institutions will find hamburgers from the Midwest and milk from Massachusetts." A call to statehouse cafeteria manager Ray Wood yesterday afternoon painted a different picture. "We try to buy as much Vermont products as possible," he said, rattling off the names of local producers from which the cafeteria acquires its food.

In a timely response, Douglas issued a press release urging Vermonters to buy local for their July Fourth celebrations and other summer events. Since 2005 the governor has released the same statement each summer.

Having been thrown into the political mix during yesterday's speech, PolitickerVT.com asked Wonnacott if she considered NOFA to be political. She quickly responded: "No."

"I've been [NOFA's] director for 20 years, and we do have an important voice, and we do advocate for some legislation, but I don't want to get in the middle of Douglas and Pollina," she said, adding. "We won't be endorsing Anthony, we won't be endorsing Jim Douglas, and we won't [endorse] any other candidate for governor."