Today: 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll Program And Talent Line-Up

President Obama and First Lady Obama will greet the guests at the 134th annual White House Easter Egg Roll today at 10:30 AM. Though it's not *officially* an Egg Roll until the First Lady appears with the Easter Bunny, guests will already have been playing on the very decorated South Lawn for more than three hours. This year’s theme, “Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move!,” spotlights the Let's Move! campaign, focusing "on promoting health and wellness and encouraging children to lead healthy and active lives." The White House will livestream performances and events all day at whitehouse.gov/live.  Follow the action on Twitter with @LetsMove and @ObamaFoodorama with the hashtag #EasterEggRoll. 

There will be celebrity entertainers and celebrity chefs giving cooking demonstrations in the Play With Your Food area, which surrounds the Kitchen Garden and features a mini-farmers market, and fooducation booths. Sports stars leading fitness activities in the Eggtivity Zone, singers will perform on the Rockin' Egg Roll Stage (Janelle Monae, Cody Simpson, Zendaya, China Ann McClain and the McClain Sisters), and A-list actors will read kids books on the Storytime Stage (Julianne Moore, Forest Whitaker, Bella Thorne).

About 35,000 guests will fill the South Lawn for the biggest and longest Roll in White House history, the fourth of the Administration. Tickets have been distributed to guests from all 50 states, and they will attend in 5 different groups of 6,000. They will be allowed to spend two full hours on the South Lawn; the White House has extended the Roll timing "even further than previous years," with a start time of 7:30 AM and an end time of 6:20 PM. Check out the Easter Egg Roll Fact Sheet. [PDF]

From the White House, the official Easter Egg Roll announcement:


The White House announces the program, activities, and talent line-up for the 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll, a tradition in its 134th year.

This year’s theme is “Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move!” The theme focuses on promoting health and wellness and encouraging children to lead healthy and active lives. This is a central part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity.

The Easter Egg Roll is the largest annual public event at the White House.

30,000 people from all 50 states and the District of Columbia have received tickets to the event.
For the third year in a row, tickets were distributed online. Members of the public from all over the country had the opportunity to enter an online lottery for a chance to win tickets to the event. Over 200,000 tickets were requested via the online lottery, and guests from all 50 states and the District of Columbia were selected as winners.

The timing for this year’s event has been extended even further than previous years, with a start time of 7:30 AM and an end time of 6:20 PM. 30,000 tickets have been distributed in 5 different groups. Each group of 6,000 guests will be able to spend two full hours on the South Lawn.
The Ellipse will have an entertainment pavilion. Guests are able to enjoy musical acts and games as they prepare to enter the South Lawn. DJs and the official Emcee of the Easter Egg Roll will be on the Ellipse welcoming guests in, spinning music, and getting the guests excited about their two hours on the South Lawn!

The entire Easter Egg Roll event, including all of the headliner music acts and Storytime Stage readers, will be broadcast live on WhiteHouse.gov/live. A full schedule will be posted on the morning of April 25th so people from across the country will be able to participate in the event.
With the “Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move!” theme, all of the activities on the South Lawn promote healthy and active living. The activities include obstacle courses, dancing, playing sports with professional athletes, and of course, the traditional egg roll. The full list of events is below:

*An Easter egg hunt & the traditional Easter egg roll

*Rockin’ Egg Roll Stage - Live musical performances for all ages.

*Storytime Stage - Celebrities bring books to life.

*Hop To It! - An instructional dance party on the South Lawn! Get up and go jump rope, hula hoop, dance and more.

*Eggtivity Zone Obstacle Course - A series of obstacles and drills, including soccer, football and baseball obstacle courses.

*Basketball and Tennis- Get hands-on training from basketball and tennis pros on the President’s court!

*Yoga Garden- Come try yoga with professional instructors.

*Eggspress Yourself - An arts and crafts workshop filled with egg dying, egg decorating, face painting and more.

*Play with your Food - Kids’ Kitchen, Make-your-own Garden, Family Farmer’s Market, Buzzing about Bees, and more led by the White House chefs and celebrity guest chefs. This activity center is built around the White House Kitchen Garden.

Talent Line-Up

Janelle Monae, Cody Simpson, Rachel Crow, Sesame Street, Zendaya, China Ann McClain and the McClain Sisters will perform on the Rockin’ Egg Roll Stage. Rachel Crow will sing the National Anthem.

Reading on the Storytime Stage will be Robin Roberts, Julianne Moore, Jeff Kinney from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Etan Thomas, Forest Whitaker and Bella Thorne.

Chefs Andrew Zimmern; Richard Blais; Marcus Samuelsson; Paul Qui; Carla Hall; Pat and Gina Neely; Bryan Voltaggio and the White House Chefs will prepare healthy eating demonstrations in the Play with your Food station.

In the Eggtivity Zone, professional players and coaches from professional sports teams will teach kids how to play sports and show kids easy, fun ways to stay active and fit.

Athletes participating in the Eggtivity Zone include Chanda Rubin and Vania King of the Women’s Tennis Association; Dedreck Etan Thomas, Bruce Bowen and Nick Young of the National Basketball Association; US Olympian gymnast Dominique Dawes; US Olympian figure skater Michelle Kwan; the National Football League’s Brian Orakpo, Ovie Mughelli, Qadry Ismail, Lorenzo Alexander, Derrick Dockery and Antwaan Randle El; Tamika Catchings, Swin Cash, Alana Beard and Crystal Langstrom of the Women’s National Basketball Association; Dr. Jayne Greenberg, Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, Cornell McClellan, Curtis Pride, and Donna Richardson Joyner of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; Angela Hucles, Becky Sauerbrunn and Lori Lindsey of the US Women’s National Soccer Team; Sheanon Williams, Zac MacMath, Ben Olsen, Chris Pontius and Robbie Russell of Major League Soccer; former NBA players Mitch Richmond and Daryll Dawkins and the Harlem Globertrotters’ Herb Lang, Fatima Maddox, Jacob Tucker and Wun Versher, and star trainer of the The Biggest Loser, Bob Harper.

USTA Quick Start Courts will feature tennis greats, Chandra Rubin, Vania King, Katrina Adams, Taylor Dent, Bethanie Mattek-Sand and Christina McHale.

Michael Chang who was the youngest ever male to win a Grand Slam singles title at the age of 17 will also be teaching kids the fundamentals of tennis along with 2010 men's junior US Open champion Jack Sock, former Grand Slam singles champion Andy Roddick and former Number 1 ranked in the world and winner of 18 Grand Slam championships, Chris Evert.

Yoga Garden will feature long-time professional Yoga instructor, Leah Cullis.

The Hop To It Stage offers a variety of interactive dance, sports, and other physical fun, including Choreographer Rosero McCoy and Perry the Platypus/Agent P, Kidtribe , Hip Hop Public, Health with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Chicago Ultimate Tumblers.

Ballou Senior High School Marching Band and Drum Corps will perform on the South Lawn, as well as help guide the visitors on and off of the South Lawn. The United States Marine Corps Band will perform again this year.

DJ Willy WOW! And Little Beat, the #1 Chinchilla! & Washington Sports Club's Zumba Team will perform on the ellipse. The official Emcee of the 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll is Tommy McFly. He will introduce acts on the music stage and get everyone excited about the different Egg Roll activities to make for another wonderful Easter Egg Roll.

This Year’s Costume Characters

Fairy Twinkle Toes – AbraKidabra – Big Green Rabbit – Captain Planet – Bugs Bunny – Daffy Duck

Finn & Jake – Scooby Doo – Alex the Lion from Madagascar 3 – Penguins of Madagascar – Po the Panda Miffy the Bunny – Katsuma and Poppet from Mushi Monsters – Wow Wow Wubbsy

Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street – Arthur – Buddy from Dinosaur Train – Cat in the Hat

Clifford the Big Red Dog – Curious George – Elmo – Hooper from PBS Kids – Martha from Martha Speaks Princess Presto from Super WHY! – Ruff Ruffman from Fetch! – Sid the Science Kid – Super WHY! Wonder Red from Super WHY! – Word Girl – Woofster from Super WHY! – The Smurfs

Charlie Brown and Snoopy – Power Panther – Slapshot and Air Slapshot

George, Tom, Abe and Teddy from the Racing Presidents – Screech – Topspin and Slice

Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head – Witzy Duck from Suzy’s Zoo – Power Rangers – Smokey Bear

Babar and Badou – Doki the Dog – Papa, Mama and Junior Bunny – Peter Rabbit – Spot – Maisy Nutbrown Hare – Sponge Bob – Dora the Explorer – Diego – Spider-Man – Iron Man – Thor

Captain America – Yoohoo & Chewoo from Yoohoo and Friends – Alvin and the Chipmunks – Clicky

To learn more about the Easter Egg Roll visit www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll. Tune in for live streams from the South Lawn all day on April 9th, 2012 on WhiteHouse.gov/live. You can also join the conversation online using the hashtag #EasterEggRoll and get the latest updates by visiting Let’s Move! on Twitter and Facebook.
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*Photo by Chuck Kennedy/White House

Sam Kass Stars In The Spring Issue Of ChopChop

Joined by a gang of kids and Sesame Street's Grover, the Senior Policy Advisor gives a White House cooking lesson...
The White House is loving ChopChop, The Fun Cooking Magazine for Families. The colorful quarterly offers the exact messages about healthy foods and the importance of cooking that First Lady Michelle Obama has spent so much time promoting with the Let's Move! campaign. The Spring issue stars Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass on the cover, and it's the second time a White House chef has been featured.  He's joined in the presidential kitchen by Sesame Street's lovable blue monster Grover and a gang of kids as they create a "Rad Radish Salad" for the cover story.  There's also a fun "co-interview" with Kass and Grover, which kids will love. (The cover, above)

ChopChop is published by the non-profit foundation ChopChopKids, Inc. Sally Sampson, president and founder, calls the magazine, aimed at kids ages 5-14, a "public health initiative," and indeed it is: The project is entirely in service to preventing obesity through teaching skills that were once-upon-a-time a regular part of family life. And though the mission statement is very serious--educating kids to cook and to "be nutritionally literate, empower them to actively participate as health partners with their families and help establish and support better eating habits for a lifetime of good nutrition"--the magazine does it with a big dose of fun.

"Our message is positive – no finger wagging," said Sampson.

She's a James Beard Award-nominated author of 20 cookbooks, and a frequent contributor to America's top food magazines. Sampson notes that parents and kids cooking together not only builds relationships and leads to better health, but it also teaches math, science, and cultural literacy. Each issue of ChopChop contains a wealth of information on cooking and growing food, with detailed instructions in kid-friendly but no condescending text.

And--something that will thrill parents--the magazine is free of advertisements. That means kids aren't staring at glossy promos for junkfood while trying to learn about nutritious foods.

Since the magazine launched in March of 2010, Sampson said that over 3 million copies have been distributed to more than 10,000 pediatricians, children's hospitals, and youth-based community organizations, as well as to schools and to after school programs, food banks, farmers markets, and grocery stores in every state and twelve countries. The Foundation's Advisory Board is made up of prominent child health, nutrition and education experts.

"We are currently in almost 50% of all pediatricians offices in the United States," Sampson said.

The publication is also available through subscription at Chopchopmag.com. It's $14.95 per year.

Kass and Grover...furry fun
During the photo shoot in the White House kitchen, Sampson said she was amazed that the kids featured with Kass and Grover completely ignored the adult puppeteer who was operating Grover, instead speaking to the puppet as if he was a real live being. (Above: Kass and Grover in their "co-interview)

"Just talking away to Grover a mile a minute, as if the puppet man was invisible," Sampson said.

Kass and Grover's co-interview in ChopChop is a perfect example of messaging dressed up in fun:

"I love to snack on healthy fruits and vegetables," Grover says. "Fresh carrots are especially fun since they make a super crunch sound, which perfectly complements my theme of being super."

"I love eating any kind of fruit, especially apples and bananas," Kass says. "I also love nuts: Peanuts, almonds or cashews!"

Kass has hosted a Muppet in the White House kitchen before: He was joined by Elmo for a video introducing healthier school lunch standards. Grover was chosen to join Kass for ChopChop because he's a "cooler" character for older kids, Sampson said, noting that Elmo is most beloved by the kindergarten and pre-school set.

The radish salad recipe was selected to introduce kids to a vegetable they might think twice about trying, and it is billed in the magazine as "a fab salad" that's "a little crunchy, a little spicy, a little sweet, and a lot delicious." Radishes are, of course, grown in the White House Kitchen Garden, and there's a page in the issue devoted to radish facts. It includes instructions for growing them at home in containers. It's a terrific example of the magazine's devotion to every aspect of nutrition literacy, from dirt to dining.

Rad Radish Salad

Ingredients
3 Cups Spring Mix Salad Greens (Green Oak Leaf lettuce, Red Leaf lettuce, Mizuna, Romaine, Spinach)

3-4 radishes, thinly sliced

1 small orange or tangerine, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced

1/2 Cucumber, peeled or washed well, and thinly sliced

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 Tsp salt

Method
1. Put the Spring Mix, radishes, orange or tangerine and cucumber in a large bowl and toss well

2. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, and salt, and toss again

3. Serve right away

*Check out ChopChopmag.com for more from the issue.

*Photos courtesy of ChopChop magazine

Video Preview: First Lady Michelle Obama On 'The Biggest Loser'

First Lady Michelle Obama appears for the first time tonight on a two-part episode of NBC's competition weight-loss show The Biggest Loser. Above, the video promo from the network. Click here to read all about the two episodes.

Michelle Obama Talks Let's Move! & African American Health: Russ Parr Radio Interview

First Lady spotlights Presidential Collard Greens...
First Lady Michelle Obama spoke about the challenges of obesity in the African American community, her Let's Move! campaign and the importance of her Kitchen Garden in an "exclusive" interview with Russ Parr, host of the Russ Parr Morning Show on Black Planet Radio. The 8-minute call-in was taped the day after the First Lady replanted her Kitchen Garden for Spring, and Mrs. Obama said the vegetable plot is the educational "platform" on which her child health efforts are built. She touted the positive response to her campaign, which marked its second anniversary in February.

"The conversation has really...changed since...we've come into office," Mrs. Obama said.

The First Lady emphasized that the black community must be aware of the risk of obesity, and noted that she got her own heads-up on her daughters' potential for becoming obese from her pediatrician. The Chicago-area doctor was not only African American himself, but also served clients who were 90% working-class African Americans, Mrs. Obama said, and thus he was aware of the issue.



Presidential Collard Greens...
On his website, Parr enticed listeners with this blurb: "Michelle Obama also talks about a soul food dish that President Barack Obama enjoys." During his interview, Parr asked the First Lady if the President actually eats things grown in her Kitchen Garden, and then said he'd heard that Collard Greens are being grown on the South Lawn.

"We eat from our garden almost daily. We have a very healthy diet and generally we've got something green on the plate that comes from the garden," Mrs. Obama said. "So yes he eats from the garden whether he knows it or not...he's got collards out there."

"We've got a whole mess of greens out there."

Collard Greens have been growing in the Kitchen Garden since Mrs. Obama first planted it in 2009. Potatoes are the newest vegetable to be grown; Mrs. Obama recently planted five varieties. The First Lady also discussed how black churches are participating in Let's Move! through the subcomponent, Let's Move Faith and Communities. Mrs. Obama gave the keynote address for the second anniversary of her campaign at Northland, a Church Distributed, in Longwood, Florida. She spoke to more than 3,000 people after a gospel concert.

*Photo by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama. Audio from the Russ Parr show.

Sam Kass: School Chefs Are Heroes

A visit to Ole Miss...
Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass traveled to Oxford, Miss., on Wednesday to bring the Let's Move! campaign to the University of Mississippi. He spoke at the school's National Food Service Management Institute's "Major Cities Training Symposium." Kass discussed the National School Lunch Program and the Chefs Move to Schools project, and hailed school chefs as heroes for overcoming budget, equipment and time challenges.

"There is not a school chef that doesn't have very limited resources, a very limited kitchen, very little time to serve a lot of kids," Kass told Ole Miss News. "I think that they're heroes."

Click here to watch the video interview.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack: 'Pink Slime' Is Crucial To Combating Child Obesity

Secretary travels to Iowa for press conference to affirm safety of lean, finely textured beef; notes that it's in the National School Lunch Program because it's cheap; and says product doesn't require labeling because it's "safe"...
Though the White House does not serve it on its menus, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled to Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday to join Governor Terry Branstad for a special press conference to defend the safety of "lean, finely textured beef," aka "Pink Slime." The subject of a national firestorm of negative media attention, Vilsack and Branstad reaffirmed the safety of the cheap, chemically treated ground beef filler, following the Monday announcement by the producer, Beef Products Inc. (BPI), that it is closing three of its four production facilities due to a drop in demand. (Above: Vilsack and Branstad at the presser)

Vilsack made the argument that the product is crucial to fighting childhood obesity, the signature initiative of First Lady Michelle Obama.

"This product is safe," Vilsack said. "There's no question about it. We've said that hundreds of times and we'll continue to say it."

"We're here today to stand together to clear up some misinformation that's been circulated in the media about lean, finely textured beef produced by BPI," said Branstad, a Republican who has received much attention from the White House. He branded media coverage as "a smear campaign."

"Concern over the safety of this product is simply unfounded," Branstad said.

Let's Move! and beef filler...
Vilsack himself helped fuel consumer fears and the media frenzy over the product by announcing last week that USDA will make it possible for school districts to opt out of purchasing ground beef containing the product. But he said on Wednesday that USDA would never have allowed the product in the school lunch program if it were not safe, and said it is a "leaner product" than regular ground beef, and crucial for the battle to end childhood obesity.

"That's one of the reasons we've made it a staple of the school lunch program," Vilsack said.

"We are...concerned about obesity levels, and this is an opportunity for us to ensure that youngsters are receiving a product that is lean and contains less fat."

He also noted that "historically" the product is less expensive than other products.

"For that reason it's been part of the school lunch program," Vilsack said.

He defended his opt-out program decision, noting that USDA had received “hundreds” of messages from school districts, and adding that the Agency believes in "consumer choice." 32 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program.  About 17% of American children are obese.



An impact on all of US agriculture....
Both Vilsack and Branstad said meat buyers should make their decisions based on science, noting that the product is safe, low in fat and a cheap ingredient. Branstad and his family have eaten the product for more than three decades, he said, and noted that it is “100 percent beef.” It's safer than beef that's not treated with ammonia, Branstad said, something critics dispute. Indeed, "Pink Slime" may be 100 percent beef, but it is made of beef fat and trimmings, and treated with ammonia gas designed to kill harmful bacteria, including E. Coli and salmonella.

Branstad blamed a “poisonous tone” in the media for consumer rejection of the product, which has included major supermarket chains, including Safeway and Hy-Vee announcing they will not carry meat containing the product. Hy-Vee has now revesred its decision, Branstad said.

He warned that Americans rejecting lean, finely textured beef will "effect all of Agriculture," by causing a decline in sales of corn and soy. "There's a ripple effect," Branstad said.

Vilsack agreed, warning that exports could be impacted. The US Ag sector is currently one of the strongest parts of the economy.

No labeling is necessary, and a plant visit by FSIS chief...
Today, Vilsack is sending Agriculture Undersecretary for Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen to tour the Beef Products Inc. plant in South Sioux City, Neb., with Branstad and other governors, to again affirm the safety of the product.

"She's an MD," Vilsack said of Hagen, adding that "she's a mother of two small children, too."

Vilsack also said that lean, finely textured beef doesn't have to be labeled when it is included in ground beef because "it is safe."

Vilsack's last effort to defend a specific American food product came in 2009, during the outbreak of swine flu, when Americans stopped eating pork amidst worries that it would make them ill with the fatal virus, and the swine industry saw a rapid decline in sales. Vilsack assured the nation that he was consuming plenty of pork, and urged media to stop using the term "swine flu," instead demanding that it be called by its clinical name, H1N1 flu. He noted this effort during the press conference.

Somewhat disappointingly, the Secretary's efforts to defend lean, finely textured beef did not include him digging into a plate of the product and eating it on camera.

*Photo by Darin Leach/USDA

Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses Will Speak At New York 'Chefs Move To Schools' Event

IACP hosts day-long workshop on Sunday, April 1; tickets still available...
First Lady Michelle Obama's Chefs Move to Schools project, which pairs professional chefs with public schools, now has more than 3,200 schools and chefs participating. As of February, the project is being run by a collective of partners, including The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses will speak this Sunday, April 1st, at a day-long Chefs Move workshop in New York City, hosted by IACP's foundation The Culinary Trust. (Above: Yosses and Assistant Pastry Chef Susie Morrison at Monday's Kitchen Garden planting event)

Tickets for the events at 82 Mercer Street are still available; there is a morning and afternoon session, as well as a luncheon. CLICK HERE FOR INFO & TICKETS.

Yosses will speak at the morning session. He has personal experience with Chefs Move: At the First Lady's behest, Yosses and Executive Chef Cris Comerford and Assistant Chef Sam Kass have adopted DC's Harriet Tubman Elementary School, and have worked with kids, parents, staff and administration.

Also participating on Sunday will be Food Network's Ellie Krieger; Cornell Food Brand Labs' Brian Wansink; Pew Charitable Trust's Megan Lott; Chef Bobo aka Robert Surles and others. Acclaimed NY chef Bill Telepan, the executive chef for the city's Wellness In The Schools foundation, will cook lunch for participants.

*Websites: Visit ChefsMovetoSchools.org for more info on the project. Visit LetsMove.gov for more information on Mrs. Obama's childhood obesity initiative.

Let's Plant: Potatoes And Politics As First Lady Michelle Obama Preps Kitchen Garden For Spring

On the heels of school lunch battle, the National Potato Council is thrilled that spuds are now growing at the White House; regional TV outlets invited to interview First Lady and her swing-state helpers...
Washington was gloriously sunny on Monday as First Lady Michelle Obama refurbished the White House Kitchen Garden for the fourth time since breaking ground in 2009 for the project she has hailed as "the most important achievement of my life."
For the last Spring planting of President Obama's first term, Mrs. Obama was joined by the largest number of groups--six--that have ever participated at one time in a garden event: 31 kids selected from New York, Iowa, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and the District joined Mrs. Obama as she hit her crop rows in mid-afternoon. (Above: Planting Mustard Greens with helpers)

White House chefs including Executive Chef Cris Comerford, Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass were on hand, as was the First Lady's chief of staff, Tina Tchen.

Mrs. Obama arrived gardenside just after 2:15 PM, striding down from the residence as heavily armed security agents ducked into the surrounding trees and bushes to keep watch. The First Lady, greeted with cheers and applause, was clad in black slacks, a black cardigan, a "vintage" orange J. Crew t-shirt, and blue Superga low-tops, her hair rolled back. Minutes before, the guests had been put through a dress rehearsal for their planting duties by Kass. Clad in a chefs jacket and jeans, he stood to the side, beaming, as Mrs. Obama welcomed all.

"Yay! It's so exciting!" Mrs. Obama said. The garden, she explained, is part of her Let's Move! campaign, and "an important way to have a good conversation about your health."

Although building supermarkets in areas identified as food deserts is a pillar of the Let's Move! campaign, Mrs. Obama expressed little faith in store-bought crops.

"A lot of times when you grow your own vegetables and fruits, they taste really good," Mrs. Obama said. "They taste better than a lot of stuff you’ll get in a grocery store -- trust me."

She kicked off the action simply: "Let's plant!"

Potatoes and controversy...
Cold-season crops were the order for the day, in case of late frost: Before an hour had passed, Mrs. Obama and her crew had installed spinach, lettuces, radish, bok choy, broccoli, chard, rappini, carrots, and onions in the boxed beds in the 1,500 square-foot garden. Mrs. Obama personally planted Mustard Greens--"Southern Giant Curled"--and Dill seed, and five varieties of potatoes, which was something of an historic and controversial moment. (Above: Mrs. Obama slices seed potatoes with helpers)

"These are the first potatoes we've had," Mrs. Obama told her three Girl Scout helpers, who came from Troop 60325 in Fairport, NY. "I can't wait to see what happens."

Mrs. Obama knelt and sliced seed potatoes in half, handing these to the Scouts, who dug them into a boxed bed at the front of the garden, situated directly in front of the huge crowd of media covering the event. The varieties included red Sangre, purple fingerlings from Peru called Purple Sion; Mountain Rose, Red Thumb and Canola Russet. Controversy: Last year, Congress passed a law mandating that servings of white potatoes and other starchy vegetables could not be restricted under the US Department of Agriculture's upgraded nutritional guidelines for the National School Lunch Program, legislation Mrs. Obama vocally championed.

The measure followed an aggressive PR campaign from potato state lawmakers and the National Potato Council (NPC), which included a special website and a petition urging Congress to keep spuds on lunchtrays; USDA wanted to restrict servings to make more room on menus for other vegetables. An East Wing spokesman said the First Lady's potato planting had nothing to do with the controversy, though previously only Sweet Potatoes were grown in the Kitchen Garden. (Above: Bed markers for two kinds of potato varieties)

Still, Mrs. Obama had hardly finished planting when the National Potato Council issued a press release, alerted through social media that their product was front and center in the White House garden: "America's potato growers are excited the first lady is helping educate children that healthy eating includes nutrient-rich potatoes," said NPC Executive Vice President and CEO John Keeling.

For their school lunch campaign, the NPC had made much of Mrs. Obama's declaration that French fries are her favorite food. She'll have heady gourmet fries when the new potatoes come in.

Mrs. Obama and her helpers were of course unaware of any controversy as they continued on with young Mustard Greens, and scattered Dill seed. The First Lady poured the seeds into the kids' hands, and watched as they worked these into the dirt. (Above: With Kass and helpers by a Dill bed)

"If we don't get a ton of dill from that, I'll be surprised," Mrs. Obama said.

She chatted easily with the girls as they worked; ages 10 and 11, they quizzed Mrs. Obama about daughters Malia, 13, and Sasha, 10. Mrs. Obama admitted that getting both to enjoy their vegetables has sometimes been a challenge.

Swing state helpers...and special TV interviews with Mrs. Obama...
Politics were in the air for reasons other than potatoes, too: Some of the invited kids just happen to be from battleground states critical for President Obama's 2012 re-election: Iowa (students from Mitchell Elementary School in Ames); North Carolina (Sumner Elementary in Greensboro); and Pennsylvania (Stetser Elementary in Chester). They were accompanied on their White House visit by local-market TV crews from their home states. (Above: The First Lady pours Dill seed into the hands of a helper)

The Let's Move! campaign, which now has a huge national audience, has been a terrific way to spread President Obama's message about "winning the future," and revitalizing communities. The White House has previously invited local TV stations to visit for "media days" for the President, and the crews on hand for Monday's planting were given the rare opportunity to interview the First Lady. --Rare for local outlets; Mrs. Obama has become an almost weekly staple on the talk show circuit as the 2012 Campaign has ramped up. There's more to come shortly, when she appears in NBC's The Biggest Loser, in scenes filmed at the White House.

Mrs. Obama's second anniversary tour for the campaign in February also included stops in battleground states: She kicked off the tour in Des Moines, Iowa, and had four different events in Florida. The East Wing said the children were invited to the White House because they'd written to the First Lady about their own healthy eating projects, including school gardens.

"You guys wrote some really nice letters telling us about stories of the work that you're doing in your schools, in your communities," Mrs. Obama said as she welcomed the kids.

Junior gardeners from DC's Bancroft and Harriet Tubman Elementary Schools also helped. The two schools have previously supplied students to work in the Kitchen Garden, and Tubman has been adopted by the White House chefs as part of the Chefs Move to Schools program.

An international garden...
The Kitchen garden contains two beds that pay homage to President Thomas Jefferson's kitchen garden at his plantation home of Monticello, located in Albemarle County, VA. Peter J. Hatch (l) the master gardener who oversees it, and who ran the decades-long historic re-build, brought a wide variety of starter plants for the Kitchen Garden, as he has each year since 2009. Hatch and his wife Lou brought Brown Dutch and Tennis Ball lettuce, Sea Kale, Brussels Sprouts, and Caracalla and tree onions. These are also called "walking onions," Hatch said, because bulbs grow at the top and the bottom, and the top bulbs fall over and re-plant themselves in the earth.

"Brown Dutch and Tennis Ball were Jefferson's favorite lettuces," Hatch said. The Sea Kale, he said, is an heirloom British variety, grown in seaside areas, and relatively rare.

"Jefferson harvested it early, and prepared it like asparagus shoots," Hatch said.

With this Spring planting, Mrs. Obama's garden is very international, Hatch added: The five varieties of potatoes are the only crop that originate in the New World, the only vegetables that weren't originally imported from Europe and other continents. Yale University Press has just published Hatch's beautiful new book about Jefferson's garden, A Rich Spot of Earth, and it includes descriptions of his work with Mrs. Obama.

The Kitchen Garden, while not certified organic, does not use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. The soil is "seething with life," Hatch said, rich with earthworms and beneficial insects. A special composter, called a biocycler, sits at the back of the garden, and food scraps from the kitchen are used. (Above: A long view of the planting action)

After forty minutes of planting, Mrs. Obama and her helpers were done. As she gathered the kids for farewells, she autographed the shoulders of their t-shirts before handing out hugs.

Mrs. Obama's forthcoming book about her garden, American Grown, will be published at the end of May. A combination Kitchen Garden memoir and how-to guide, the $30 hardcover will include instructions for all kinds of gardens, from windowsill herb gardens to back-yard plots. Though Mrs. Obama has been encouraging gardening for three years, the White House has never put out its own set of instructions on how citizens can participate. The book will include recipes, too. (The book jacket, above)

CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the event. The transcript of Mrs. Obama's remarks.



*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama; book jacket photo courtesy of Crown Publishing Group

White House Kitchen Garden, Before & After 2012 Spring Planting

First Lady Michelle Obama replanted the Kitchen Garden for Spring on Monday afternoon, joined by the White House chefs and 31 kids invited from four states and DC. Above: The garden before the planting. Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass is center left. Click on the photo to view it in larger form.

The young plants and seeds that were dug into the planting boxes in the 1,500 square-foot garden included spinach, lettuces, radish, bok choy, broccoli, chard, rappini, carrots, and onions in the boxed beds in the 1,500 square-foot garden.

Mrs. Obama personally planted Mustard Greens, Dill seed, and five varieties of potatoes, including red Sangre, purple fingerlings from Peru called Purple Sion; Mountain Rose, Red Thumb and Canola Russet. Above: The garden after the planting.

*Photos by Obama Foodorama

Kitchen Garden Autographs...

First Lady Michelle Obama autographed the t-shirts of the 31 kids who joined her on Monday for the fourth Spring planting of the Kitchen Garden, inscribing her name on the shoulder of each. Above, Mrs. Obama's signature is visible on one of her helpers as he watches her.

The kids, invited from four states and the District, helped Mrs. Obama plant cold-season crops that can withstand late frosts, including lettuces, root vegetables, and a special selection from President Thomas Jefferson's kitchen Garden at his restored plantation home, Monticello, in Albemarle County, VA.

The First Lady's helpers came from Mitchell Elementary School in Ames, Iowa; Stetser Elementary School in Chester, Pennsylvania; and Sumner Elementary School in Greensboro, North Carolina. Girl Scouts from Troop 60325 in Fairport, New York, and kids from DC's Harriet Tubman and Bancroft Elementary Schools also helped. (Above: Mrs. Obama autographing a helper's t-shirt)

CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the event.

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden Fashion

Spring 2012 planting: Superga low-tops, J. Crew top...
First Lady Michelle Obama was clad in a black cardigan, black slacks, a bright orange J. Crew t-shirt with a faded paisley design, and some extra spiffy sneakers on Monday afternoon as she replanted her Kitchen Garden for Spring. Mrs. Obama was joined by 31 young helpers from four states and DC. (At top: Mrs. Obama with helpers and assistant chef Sam Kass; in inset, giving Dill seed to a helper)

Mrs. Obama knelt among the boxed beds of vegetables wearing a pair of overdyed blue canvas Superga low-tops. They're a special edition, from the Cotu series, and retail from the Italian shoemaker for between $100 and $200, depending on where they're sold.

Supergas are popular among fashionistas, and sell at places such as Barney's New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. The First Lady has been credited with giving J. Crew a hefty boost in sales since 2008. Her J. Crew t-shirt retails for $49.99.

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

Waiting For The First Lady...

Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass (l) and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses look toward the White House, awaiting the arrival of First Lady Michelle Obama to begin Monday's Spring planting of the Kitchen Garden.

This well-armed fellow ducked into the bushes beside the garden moments before Mrs. Obama walked down to the South Lawn from the residence:

Transcript & Video: First Lady Michelle Obama's Remarks, 2012 Kitchen Garden Spring Planting

Let's Plant: First Lady joined by 31 kids from Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and DC...
First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed 31 kids from four states and DC to the South Lawn of the White House on Monday as she re-planted her Kitchen Garden for Spring. The kids came from Mitchell Elementary School in Ames, Iowa; Stetser Elementary School in Chester, Pennsylvania; and Sumner Elementary School in Greensboro, North Carolina. Girl Scouts from Troop 60325 in Fairport, New York, and kids from DC's Harriet Tubman and Bancroft Elementary Schools also joined Mrs. Obama for the planting. (Above: Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass chats with Mrs. Obama and her three Scout helpers)



It was a bright and sunny day, and a little windy. Mrs. Obama wore black pants, a black cardigan, an orange patterned t-shirt from J. Crew, and blue suede Superga tennis shoes as she worked.

Potatoes were the big news: Mrs. Obama, joined by three Girl Scouts, planted five different kinds, the first to be planted in the Kitchen Garden other than Sweet Potatoes. The First Family will soon be enjoying Sangre, Purple Peruvian Fingerlings, Mountain Rose, Red Thumb and and Canola Russet potatoes.  (Above: Mrs. Obama cutting potatoes to be planted)

Mrs. Obama also planted Dill seed and Mustard Greens with her helpers. The visiting children were all followed by TV news crews from their hometown markets. (Above: Mrs. Obama poses with her helpers after the planting, which took about 40 minutes for the 1,500 square-foot plot)

Mrs. Obama's remarks before the digging began:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady
_________________________

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2012

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY
AT WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN GARDEN PLANTING

South Lawn

2:20 P.M. EDT


MRS. OBAMA: How are you guys doing?

AUDIENCE: Good.

MRS. OBAMA: Welcome to the White House. What are these? Are they good?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Looks good. And you've got some apples. Yes. What's going on?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Do you like living here?

MRS. OBAMA: Do I like living here? Yes, it's fun to live here. It's fun, especially on a day like this because you guys are going to help us plant the garden, right?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Yay! It's so exciting! All right.

Well, we have a lot of special guests here. Because every year we do this -- and what year is this? This is our fourth planting. This is the fourth time we've planted the White House garden.

So we're here again. And we've got students from Tubman and Bancroft. Yes, where are our Tubman and Bancroft students who are here? But we also have special guests from all over the country. We've got some Girl Scouts who are here. (Applause.) Woo for the Girl Scouts! We've got students from Iowa. (Applause.) Woo! We've got students from New York.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: That’s us.

MRS. OBAMA: You guys, the Girl Scouts from New York. We've got students from Pennsylvania. (Applause.) Woo! And North Carolina. (Applause.) Woo hoo! Very good.

Well, you guys, the students from around the country, you guys wrote some really nice letters telling us about stories of the work that you're doing in your schools, in your communities. And your letters were so wonderful, I thought, why not come and see me at the White House and help me plant my garden? And you made it! Welcome. It's good to have you. (Applause.)

Well, I don’t know if you know, one of the reasons why we plant the garden is that it's an important way to have a good conversation about your health. Because one of the things that I've been trying to do as First Lady is work on an initiative that I call Let’s Move. Have you guys heard about Let’s Move?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: And what’s it all about, Let’s Move? All right just yell it out -- exercise, good eating, getting healthy. That’s right, because we guys want you to grow up healthy. And the garden is a good way to start the conversation, because vegetables and fruits are a big part of a healthy diet.

And a lot of times when you grow your own vegetables and fruits, they taste really good. They taste better than a lot of stuff you’ll get in a grocery store -- trust me. My kids have done it. They’re not big fans of all vegetables, but if they help to work on it they’re much more excited about trying it out. And we found that with the students here.

Yes?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Do you have Just Dance?

MRS. OBAMA: Do I have Just Dance? What is that?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: A video game.

MRS. OBAMA: I don’t have Just Dance. We might have it, but I don’t play it. Is it a good exercise game?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: Does it make you dance? Is it like Dance, Dance Revolution? We have Dance, Dance Revolution. Do you guys know what that is?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: I don’t know about Just Dance, though. I can’t say I can vouch for that. But I’m sure the Just Dance people are happy that you brought it up. (Laughter.) Should give her some commission or something. (Laughter.)

But we get a chance to talk about your health. And you guys, I know you’re doing it at your schools and in the Girl Scouts. You’re talking about planting tomatoes and planting vegetables, incorporating that kind of food into your diet, and talking to your families about doing good, healthy food? Are you guys doing some of that at home?

AUDIENCE: Yes.

MRS. OBAMA: That’s excellent. So I’m very proud of you all and I’m happy to have you here. We get this done so fast because you all are here. It would take us forever to plant this garden if we didn’t have your help, so it’s really special to have you all here. So are you ready to do some work?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

MRS. OBAMA: All right, so I’m going to turn it over -- back over to Sam. Sam? All right, let’s plant!

END 2:23 P.M. EDT
##

*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama

White House Announces A Let's Move! Tweetup During The 2012 Easter Egg Roll; Apply Now

Applications accepted through March 27...
There will be a special Let's Move! Tweetup on Monday, April 9th during President Obama and First Lady Obama's annual Easter Egg Roll, the White House announced today. This year's theme, “Let's Go, Let's Play, Let's Move," is pegged to Mrs. Obama's childhood obesity campaign, and @LetsMove Twitter and Facebook followers--and their kids--who missed out on getting tickets during the original lottery now have a chance to apply for the huge, fun eggstravaganza on the South Lawn. It's the second Let's Move! Tweetup. (Above: The President encourages two young egg rollers at last year's party)

Those interested in applying to attend must follow @LetsMove on Twitter or Facebook, and have children between the ages of five to thirteen. Registration is now open, and closes on Tuesday, March 27^th at 11:59 PM EST. Registration is for children ages five to thirteen and one to two parents or legal guardians. Tickets are non-transferable. To apply: http://www.wh.gov/tweetup. Applicants will be notified by e-mail no later than Wednesday, March 28th, and must pay all costs associated with travel and attendance.

"The day's activities--which will include sports and cooking demonstrations--will help educate families on smart ways to incorporate healthy eating and exercise choices into their daily routines, key pillars of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let's Move! initiative," the White House said.

The President and Mrs. Obama will host more than 35,000 guests from all fifty states at this year's event, which marks the 134th anniversary of the Easter Egg Roll tradition.

First Do Bo stars in this White House video announcing the 2012 theme:



CLICK HERE for information on purchasing the collectible souvenir wooden Easter eggs for the 2012 Easter Egg Roll, which also star Bo. Visit Letsmove.gov for more information on the First Lady's initiative.

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

Let's Move!: Michelle Obama To Appear On NBC's "The Biggest Loser"

The weightloss show films for the second time at the White House: "The Biggest Makeover Episode Yet"...
First Lady Michelle Obama was happy to beat celebs Jimmy Fallon and Ellen DeGeneres in fitness challenges on national TV, but will she be so gleeful about trumping the regular (but supersized) folks who compete on The Biggest Loser? America will find out on April 3rd and April 10th, when Mrs. Obama brings the Let's Move! campaign to the airwaves with a star turn on not one but TWO episodes of NBC's weightloss competition show. The cast, including hosts Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince, visited the White House to film on Feb. 16th. In the photo above, they perform a workout with Mrs. Obama in the East Room. (Dolcett is in red at left; Harper stands in the background) Update: This photo has now been scrubbed by the WH; see note at bottom of post

The two-parter is billed as "The Biggest Makeover Episode Yet." Mrs. Obama first appears onscreen in a special video and invites the six contestants to the White House. They then get makeovers from celeb fashionista Jeannie Mai, who helps "find stylish new clothes to flatter their slimmer selves," while celeb hairstylist Ken Paves "crafts stylish new looks."

In part two, the Losers have "heartwarming, emotional reunions" with their own families before meeting the First Lady in person at the White House. "The First Lady talks to the contestants about how adult behavior impacts kid behavior, congratulates the contestants on being good examples of health and fitness, and visits with each player and their family members," according to NBC. Then they hit the East Room for what the show bills as the "first ever White House workout."

Mrs. Obama also challenges the contestants with a competition to get more Americans healthy and active. There's more workout action, minus Mrs. Obama, in the Nation's Capitol before a contestant is kicked off the show.

The Biggest Loser seems a peculiar choice for a First Lady who has spent a lot of time promoting "balance and moderation" and encouraging Americans to make "small changes," because the show advocates extreme weightloss over a short period of time and the kind of workouts that would flatten an Olympian. But it's the second time the White House has welcomed the show to film at the mansion. Just days before the February visit, host Harper joined Mrs. Obama in Des Moines, Iowa to kick off the second anniversary celebration for Let's Move!.

The first White House visit...
Waaaay back in November of 2009, before Mrs. Obama launched Let's Move!, Loser cast members, including Harper, co-hosts Allison Sweeney and co-host Jillian Michaels (now departed), visited the White House and plucked vegetables from the Kitchen Garden. The First Lady did not appear onscreen; instead, the contestants "cooked" The Biggest Loser Salad in the kitchen with Executive Chef Cris Comerford and Assistant Chef Sam Kass. (Above: Kass is center; Harper kneels beside Michaels, and Sweeney is in yellow)

Since moving into the White House, Mrs. Obama has joined Jay Leno, Rachael Ray, Oprah Winfrey, Cory Condry, and David Letterman on their shows, and appeared on iCarly, Extrwme Makeover: Home Edition, The Nate Berkus Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, multiple Barbara Walters specials, HGTV Christmas specials, BET Honors, The Kennedy Center Honors, the PBS series In Performance At The White House, to name just some of her TV outings. She's also done plenty of network and cable newscasts and feature segments.

The show airs on Tuesdays at 8:00/7:00 Central. Check your local listings.

*Top photo by Sonya N. Hebert/White House; second courtesy of NBC.

UPDATE note on photo: When this blogpost was written, neither the White House nor NBC had yet announced Mrs. Obama's appearance on the show. The photo at top of Mrs. Obama and the cast appeared on the White House Flickr as part of a set for February, posted on March 21, and then was removed by March 23. Mrs. Obama's Director of Communications did not respond to a query about why.

March 26th: First Lady Michelle Obama Will Replant White House Kitchen Garden For Spring

Children from four states invited to the White House... 
UPDATE: CLICK HERE for the post about the event
Inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden, so many children have written to the Gardener in Chief about their own projects that last year the White House created a special memento to send out, a portrait of the First Lady seated in the lush crops rows with First Dog Bo (above). This Monday, March 26th, some of those junior gardeners will visit the White House. The East Wing has announced that children from Iowa, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New York, as well as students from the District of Columbia have been invited to join the First Lady as she replants the garden for Spring.

"All wrote to her about their own gardening experiences," the East Wing said about Mrs. Obama's out-of-state guests, noting that the kids included descriptions about their healthy eating and food access projects.

Mrs. Obama has been assisted by young helpers for each of her harvest and planting events, but never by so many different groups at one time. About 34 kids will join the First Lady for the digging party, which comes ahead of the publication in late May of American Grown, Mrs. Obama's book about her signature project.

Mrs. Obama has invited second graders from Mitchell Elementary School in Ames, Iowa; the school offers each grade "their own raised bed plot" in a vegetable garden, which is also open to community members, according to the East Wing. The students invited from Stetser Elementary School in Chester, Pennsylvania include two former students who wrote to the First Lady about their experiences with their school garden and three current fourth graders. Students invited from Sumner Elementary School in Greensboro, North Carolina are hoping to start a garden. Third graders wrote to Mrs. Obama for advice, the East Wing said. (Above: Mrs. Obama and a helper at last summer's Three Sisters planting, which spotlighted Native Americans)

All three of these states happen to be battlegrounds for President Obama's re-election effort, and have gotten plenty of the First Lady's attention recently. Last week she was in New York to fundraise, and she visited North Carolina, home to the upcoming 2012 Democratic National Convention, earlier this month. She traveled to Iowa in February for a stadium-sized event to kickoff her national tour for the second anniversary of the Let's Move! campaign. With its focus on community revitalization and job creation through food access projects, Mrs. Obama's childhood obesity initiative is a swell calling card for the President's re-election effort.

Members of Girl Scouts of Western New York Troop 60325 from Fairport, New York have also been invited to Monday's planting; they told Mrs. Obama about the 100 tomato plants they'd grown to give to members of their community. Mrs. Obama is National Honorary President of the Girl Scouts. Kids from DC's Harriet Tubman and Bancroft Elementary Schools, longtime partners in the project, will also be on hand.

Bancroft students--who have their own school garden that Mrs. Obama has visited--have worked in the Kitchen Garden since it was first planted in 2009. The Tubman kids have also been at a number of garden events; White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass and Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses have adopted the school through the Chefs Move to Schools program, which marries professional chefs to public schools.

The planting...and Thomas Jefferson...and no, the garden is not organic
On Monday, Mrs. Obama and her junior helpers will plant a wide variety of crops, including seeds and seedlings sourced from President Thomas Jefferson's historic restored kitchen garden at his plantation home Monticello, in Albemarle County, VA. It is overseen by master horticulturalist Peter Hatch, who has served as an advisor for the White House project, and donated seeds and starts each year. The Kitchen Garden is now 1,500 square feet, expanded in 2010 from its original size of 1,100 square feet at the First Lady's behest. With boxed beds, it grows through all four seasons with the use of protective hoop houses. The plastic covering were removed last weekend thanks to very warm weather. (Above: The Kitchen Garden earlier this week, with the uncovered hoops still in place)

Though not certified organic, no chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used in the Kitchen Garden. Fresh vegetables, including Brussels sprouts, micro cabbage sprouts, kale and winter lettuces were used last week when the President and Mrs. Obama hosted the State Dinner honoring British Prime Minister David Cameron, for more than 320 guests. (Above: Chefs harvesting greens for the State Dinner, with the hoop houses visible in the background)

The Kitchen Garden is visible daily to the thousands of tourists who gather outside the South Lawn fence line to view the White House, and is meticulously cared for by the White House chefs, employees of the National Park Service who maintain the historic grounds, and volunteers. During the annual Garden and Grounds tours at the White House, visitors wait in long lines to get a first-hand look at the project.

As exclusively reported here today, on May 29, Crown Publishing Group will release Mrs. Obama's book about the Kitchen Garden, American Grown. The date is the second delay for the book, Mrs. Obama's first effort as an author. Subtitled "The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America," the book is a combination memoir and how-to guide, richly photographed. It includes details for how to plant all kinds of gardens, as well as recipes. The 256-page hardcover edition will sell for $30 in the US market. (Above, the book jacket)

*Check the sidebar of the blog for a complete listing of White House recipes inspired by the Kitchen Garden.

Related: The White House Beehive is ready for Spring, too.

*Top photo by Lawrence Jackson/White House; hoop house photo by Chuck Kennedy/White House; book cover photo by Crown Publishing Group; other photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama