Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Ken Hargesheimer <minifarms2@yahoo.com>]

This may be one or two days out of date.  I think an amendment was attahed to allow farmers to sell.

 

Ken Hargesheimer

 

Keep Up the Calls to Protect Local Farmers!
The Senate just voted in favor of cloture on the Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510).  Now, the Senators will move ahead with debating the bills and amendments.  The final vote on the bill could come as early as tomorrow, although nothing is certain at this time. 

If you have not yet called your Senators, please call them now, and urge them to support the Tester-Hagan amendment!

S.510 greatly expands FDA’s authority over both processed foods and fresh fruits and vegetables, and would give FDA authority to impose extensive, burdensome requirements on even the smallest processing facilities and farms that sell to local consumers.  The Tester-Hagan amendment is the only amendment under discussion that would provide clear, enforceable limits to the FDA's power to protect small local farmers and producers from being driven out of business.
TAKE ACTION:
Call both of your Senators.  You can find their contact information at www.Senate.gov, or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or toll-free at 877-210-5351. 

Tell your Senators that you want them to amend or oppose S. 510, and specifically to support the Tester-Hagan amendment to prevent the imposition of new federal regulations on small-scale, direct-marketing producers.
You can get more information on S510 and the Tester-Hagan amendment on our website
 
TALKING POINTS
1.  Although S. 510 includes some provisions that call for flexibility, the bill’s current language still imposes extensive new requirements on even the smallest farmers and food producers.  Small, local food producers have not contributed to the highly publicized foodborne illness outbreaks and should not be subjected to extensive new federal regulation.  State and local regulation have already proven to be enough for local food producers; we don’t need new federal regulations.
2. Increased regulations and record-keeping obligations could destroy small businesses that bring both jobs and food to local communities.  In this time of economic hardship, we need more local food businesses! Congress should work to reduce regulatory burdens on them, not increase them.
3. Food safety and security both come from a diversified, vibrant local food system.  Local foods give consumers the choice to buy from producers they know, creating a transparent, accountable food system without federal government oversight.
4. Additional FDA regulation is counterproductive.  FDA has not used its existing authority well.  Instead of focusing its resources on the problems posed by imported foods and large processing facilities, FDA has chosen to target small processors.  While approving unlabeled GMOs to enter our food supply, it has opposed raw milk and interfered with the free choice of informed adults who want access to this healthy food.  Simply giving FDA increased authority and power will not improve the food supply unless Congress requires the agency to focus on Agribusiness and not small, local producers.
Read our latest fact sheet to the Senators and some FAQs for more information