WASHINGTON (CNN) – With health care on the minds of Americans across the nation, Michelle Obama is continuing her efforts to make healthy food choices a priority amongst Americans.
The First Lady celebrated with a crowd of several hundred people who braved the rain for the opening of the Freshfarm Farmers' Market Thursday in Washington, D.C., a market that supports locally grown produce and encourages people to eat healthier.
"All right, I have to say, I have never seen so many people so excited about fruits and vegetables," Obama told the locals. "This is a very, very good thing."
The First Lady was joined by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Washington, D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty.
"As we look at tackling some of the biggest health problems that our nation faces, like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and related issues like access to primary care and preventative health services, I've realized that little things like a garden can actually play a role in all of these larger discussions," she said.
After her speech, the First Lady took some time to make a few purchases of her own, including cherry tomatoes, black kale, mixed hot peppers, cheese and chocolate milk.
From CNN Politics
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Nice to see that Mrs Obama isn't going after the green the last administration went after. The almighty greenback dollar.
who really cares what she does????? we have more important things to worry about than this or what she is wearing......
It only makes sense. She's been SEEING green all of these years.
I wonder how many trips she made to the Farmers Market when she lived in Chicago.
She is setting a great example – if we ate better, and grew more of our own vegetables, we'd be much healthier and WEALTHIER nation!
Great! Somehow though – you can bet this will really irritate the right wingnuts that love those fried pig chips!
Whoopie! Do we get a Farmer's Market CZAR now?
Go Michelle! America loves ya baby!
Yippee!! I'm going to run down the local farmer's market and get me some veggies and fruit- yum!!
Greetings First Lady from California! We are so proud of you. You are inspiring me to eat healthier as well.
Keep up the good work.
Michelle Obama always shows that she belongs in the group of all the First Ladies before her. We love all our First Ladies, they are so gracious.
What a great First Lady she is. She reflects America's kinder side with dedication and grace. She is a great national and international role model, who has successfully managed her First Lady stuff. Her well behaved young children stand as a good for other families. Kudos to Michelle Obama.
She was ALWAYS green CNN. No bias there. Nope.
Yep, with all those miles on AirForce1 (vacations) and all that carbon footprint from AirForce1.....yep, that's what I call going green.
The First Lady makes a wonderful appearance at occasions like this.
It is the kind of thing that the Obamas do best.
A beautiful lady doing a great job of making Americans aware of the need to be healthy! Gotta love it.
Lovely First Lady, God bless you, Mrs. Obama!
I love her! Such an amazing first lady,
Good for you! Keep up the good work. And it's also a positive way to get people to focus on the entire health care issue by talking about everything from exercise to eating right to issues of access and prevention.
I love Michelle Obama! She's a great first lady.
She's a wonderful woman. I wish some of the blue-eyed blondes in this country would take a lesson from her.
Less narcissism and more loving caring responsibility for children, family, and health.
You go Mrs. Obama - we admire you.
You go! That's a way to shine a different light on things that seem to be drenched in negativity.
You go girl! I grew up in farm country Indiana–and there is NOTHING to compare with homegrown tomatoes, sweet corn, asparagus, blueberries, rhubarb, pumpkin, melons, red cabbage, okra, morning gathered eggs and all the rest of what proud local farmers offer.....
AND....lab tests are showing these fresh local items have higher nutrients and fewer chemicals than all that big super market, looks great but tastes weak, commercially grown stuff...
American are waking up-and their hunger is changing the food scene in the good ole USA.
Good job Michelle! If only we all can be energized about healthy food choices, the world will be a better and healthier place.
I adore Michele Obama.
She is a wonderful First Lady and a role model to many.
It is "a very, very goog thing". I especially like it that she bought kale. It's so important that people eat in a healthy way. I hope Michelle can influence some parents to rear their children in a more healthy way.