You probably had the same experience I did last Tuesday. There was one piece of news on the radio: President Obama was in Chicago asking the nation's doctors for their help on health care.

What you probably didn't hear, and I just got wind of recently, was that at that same conference, the American Medical Association approved a groundbreaking policy resolution. The AMA took action on sustainable food and farming and came out in support of practices and policies within health care systems that promote and model an ecologically sustainable food system.

The new AMA policy states:

    • That the AMA support[s] practices and policies in medical schools, hospitals, and other health care facilities that support and model a healthy and ecologically sustainable food system, which provides food and beverages of naturally high nutritional quality.

    • That the AMA encourage[s] the development of a healthier food system through the U.S. Farm Bill and other federal legislation.

    • That the AMA consider[s] working with other health care and public health organizations to educate the health care community and the public about the importance of healthy and ecologically sustainable food systems.

So, give the AMA a round of applause, and next time you're in for a check-up, talk this move up to your doctor: Urge her or him to get on board for building a better food system.