Throughout our marriage, my wife and I have known a few elderly poor people who relied on commodities to make ends meet. 

We have shared meals with them, and I haven’t been impressed with some of the commodities given them. 

I would like to suggest a reality show with chefs who would: 

a) Teach folks how to use commodities & food subsidies to create good meals. 

b) Teach them how to shop wisely with the commodities available. 

c) Teach them how to connect with local gardens to improve their food supply and raise their children’s GPA. 

     Gardening increases a child’s ability to learn; by teaching cause and effect, planning and scheduling, investment and return. 

d) Provide a public review of the commodities to show us how our tax $$$ are being used. 

e) Help locals prepare a meal made of only commodities and meals-on-wheels products, to be shared at dinners with mayors, city council and other leaders to see what the elderly and poor really have to work with. 

Understand that I grew up on 10 acres and we grew or raised a lot of our our own food at different times. 

We raised our own meat, had a milk cow, a large vegetable garden, potato patch and fruit trees. 

We harvested, canned, froze, butchered or baked much of our food. I know good food in its raw form. 

Some of the government commodities I’ve sampled should have been composted and sent back to the soil from whence it came, 

not packaged for distribution. Not to say all by any means, but some.

Eric J. Rose