The James Beard Foundation announced six winners of its Leadership Award this year, saying they are “pioneers in their areas of work, including reducing food waste, environmental protection, local and national advocacy, and workplace safety.” The winners are Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, chef Dan Barber, author Joan Gussow, food advocate Olivier De Schutter, and the directors of the Food Chain Alliance, Joann Lo and Jose Oliva.
The awards will be presented at the foundation’s Food Summit, “Consuming Power,” Oct. 23-24 in New York City. This year’s winners were selected by vote by previous winners. Named for the cookbook author and champion of American cuisine, the James Beard Foundation says it “celebrates, nurtures, and honors chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone.”
Pingree, a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees USDA and FDA, honored for support of policies that promote healthy food and organic agriculture. She is the second lawmaker to win the award. The other is food-stamp advocate Rep. Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat.