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  • From: "Alderspring" <alderspring AT salmoninternet.com>
  • To: <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [Market-farming] mad cow effects on direct market meat
  • Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 17:06:20 -0700

Greetings to the list

We direct market grass fed beef. Our processor is excellent (and
expensive!) and USDA inspected. This allows us to ship over state lines and
sell through some retail outlets.

My husband was visiting with him today and he was describing all the new
regulations that he is currently trying to comply with. Many of them have
been developed with larger facilities in mind, and are unworkable for small
processors. He was not sure he was going to be able to comply, and is
considering dropping his inspected status.

If he does, it will be the end of our direct market business as we know it,
and may end it altogether. There are already so few USDA inspected
processors. In addition, in some states, inspectors were going after small
direct marketers who marketed by quarter or half if they did not use a USDA
inspected facility.

I urge you all to talk to your processor, and if they have similar concerns,
to contact your representatives. You may also want to contact your patrons
and encourage them to contact their representatives. IMO, regulations
should encourage small processors rather than discourage them; our food
supply would be safer with fewer 400 animals/hour processing plants and more
family owned small facilities.

Caryl Elzinga






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