Dear Attorney General Holder and Secretary Vilsack,

I am writing to thank you for taking the concerns of family farmers, rural advocates and consumers seriously by holding workshops that address the lack of competition and excessive market concentration in our food and agricultural sectors. For too long, unchecked corporate mergers have been allowed to put the profits of a few agribusiness corporations above the interests of family farmers, rural Americans and our nation's 300 million citizens.

As a result of decades of increased consolidation of America's food system, our nation's food is less safe, more vulnerable to food safety outbreaks and our environment more polluted. Even worse is the destructive impact this corporate influence has had on the ability of our nation's family farmers to stay on the land and earn a living. Family farmers and rural America remain the backbone of our nation, but unfortunately, as a result of years of corporate influence over our food and agricultural polices, rural America has suffered depopulation and underemployment, burdensome debt and lack of real economic opportunity.

To renew our faith in America's justice system, create opportunities for family farmers and rebuild a healthy, fair and nutritious food system, then our nation's antitrust laws must be vigorously enforced without bias. I urge the Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Agriculture to thoroughly examine the control of our food system and take immediate action to address unfair practices.

Sincerely,

[Your name]