Photo: meknits/Flickr

June marks the inauguration of a new food-related exhibit at the National Archives in Washington D.C. On view will be a cascade of original documents that help chronicle the federal government’s efforts to ensure that We, the People, have access to an “ample, safe, nutritious diet.”

Not that the government’s role in forming food policy is anything new. However, the “What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam?” exhibit chronicles those efforts over time in their various dress. Take, for example, Meyer lemons, the iconic food pyramid and French margarine. What might they all have in common? The hand of Uncle Sam, impacting the American diet in direct ways.

Eschewing a narrative based on a timeline (i.e,. ‘…during the late 1800s the US government decided THIS…’), the exhibit is organized around four fundamental, promising-sounding themes: Farm, Factory, Kitchen and Table. Folk songs, war posters, educational films and seed packets comprise some of the 100+ records included in the exhibit.

If you’re a foodie and a history buff, this take-in could be your dream. You’ve got six months to fulfill it. “What’s Cooking” runs from June 10, 2011, to January 3, 2012.

Get a taste here (you’ll dig the ’70s cartoon clips…):