North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Road's End Farm <organic87@frontiernet.net>]

We had a considerable go-round on this some time ago on this list, didn't we? The proposed legislation that I think you're referring to was never that drastic in the first place, though it did have some dubious language; and the "foodies" are indeed lobbying to get it improved, have been for quite some time now.

For a decent overview on this go to the NOFA-NY website.

http://nofany.org/index.html

on the left of the page click on "topics of interest"

and then on that page click on the big red "Food Safety or Safe Food? Pending Legislation".

Or come to think of it you could just go to that page directly.

http://nofany.org/hottopics/food_safety.htm

If you read the whole page through, you'll have a lot better idea of what's actually going on. I'd recommend actually reading the proposed bill, also, (there's a link on the page) before contacting your legislators. They are much more likely to listen to people who have clear and precise comments to make that are based on what's in the actual proposed legislation than they are to people writing that the current proposal would ban produce stands (it actually specifically exempts any operation not selling across state lines.).

-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale


On Jun 24, 2009, at 2:44 PM, Kevin Moore wrote:

> Every year it seems, small farmers come under threat of extinction either by ruthless USDA regulation or by direct fire from congress. It seems that small farmers need a lobby to protect themselves from the so-called farm lobby that seems only to favor the big industrial guys. Too bad small farmers have to compete directly with Big AG. Where are all the foodies when you need them?
>
> <x-tad-smaller>From:</x-tad-smaller><x-tad-smaller> "rharrison922@yahoo.com" <rharrison922@yahoo.com></x-tad-smaller>
> <x-tad-smaller>To:</x-tad-smaller><x-tad-smaller> North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org></x-tad-smaller>
> <x-tad-smaller>Sent:</x-tad-smaller><x-tad-smaller> Wednesday, June 24, 2009 6:30:45 AM</x-tad-smaller>
> <x-tad-smaller>Subject:</x-tad-smaller><x-tad-smaller> [NAFEX] Artisan Farming to Disappear by new Proposed Regulations?</x-tad-smaller>
> Hi, folks!
>    Many of you may not know that lawmakers now have a bill in committee in the US House of Representatives that proposes to Federally inspect all food for sale produced at the farm. A $500 registration fee up front is also proposed. If passed by the House, it COULD mean that artisan farming could disappear and fruit and vegetables could no longer be bought at small farms that couldn't afford the inspection fees. Produce stands could disappear. All of this would be in the name of food safety.(reminder: produce comes from foreign countries without any US food safety inspections)
>     One link to read more about it is:
> <x-tad-smaller>http://www.ftcldf.org/news/news-15june2009.htm</x-tad-smaller>
>  
>
> <image.tiff>For Farmers and Consumers Defending the Right to Buy and Protecting the 
> Right to Sell Nutritious Food Directly from the Farm
>  
> You may want to contact your US Representative after reading about it to urge that there be exceptions for small farms. Contact is needed now BEFORE the bill gets passed so it can be modified. One link contact your US Rep is: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/officials/congress/
>                                 
>                                  Regards,
>                                  Richard Harrison, NW FL