The Politics of Food: Help Save Small Farms!
Cows at my favorite local farm, AppleCheek Farm
Do we as Americans have a right to chose the foods we eat? Seems like a simple enough question, and I am sure that many of you reading this, think of course we do! After all this is America, land of the free…But it would be a mistake to become complacent about the food that is available. Our complacency will lead to the extinction of small family farms and in turn local food systems. This is one of the MAJOR issues of our times. Think about it. Think how deep it goes, how over-arching. If Americans lose the right to chose what foods they eat, it is major infringement on our rights as a free people.
I know when we moved out to the country to start raising animals and vegetables for food, I had a lovely idyllic dream that one day, sooner than later, I would sell sheep and goat cheese at our many local farmers markets. It would be a way for me to share my love of these animals and the wonderful delicious and healthy food that can be made from their milk. The American Dream, right? Well for small farms it is more of a nightmare. In the name of food safety the government has passed and is soon to be passing more legislation that calls into question the ability of small farms to even operate and exist. Through this legislation small farms are set up for fines, seizures of product and even jail time. If we allow this to happen, where will it stop?
There is some legislation that is up for vote imminently. That is S510 designed to provide greater controls for food safety. However, if the bill passes the FDA with have greater control over the ability to execute raids, seize products and force recalls on small producers. The Farm-to-consumer Legal Defense Fund, who spoke about the bill at Wise Traditions, explained that the bill can be used to strategically drive small producers out of business all in the name of food safety. A similar story with the meat industry a few years ago. In that industry, USDA overwhelmed small plants with paperwork requirements, most of which had no real connection to safe food making their ability to operate business impossible.
We almost live in an idyllic world up here in Northern Vermont with so many family farms and local foods. As I write this, I think about what would happen if they were all of a sudden GONE. Or if the friends I have that run these farms were raided by people armed with automatic weapons, traumatizing their children, families and animals. Not so idyllic is it? Everyday these small farms are living on the edge of ruin and our government is doing all they can to make that a reality, all in the name of food safety.
Now before I delve into this any deeper, let me ask you, are cigarettes legal? How about alcohol? And what about high fructose corn syrup? Yep. All legal and all studied and shown to major health problems and even death. So how in the world is drinking raw milk or eating raw cheese more of a threat? How is producing and eating foods that have proven over the test of time to be healthy and nutrient dense foods, warrant SWAT-like raids on small family farms when you can walk to your local convenience store and easily get all three of the other above mentioned foods? The government allows our citizens to chose to ingest harmful things, but is taking away our rights to eat foods that are good for us. Does that make any sense? Many of us chose not to consume those products, and those people who fear raw milk products, based on mis-information can also chose not to consume those products. But to allow raids and product seizures thereby not allowing the public to chose…that is at the very heart of our independence.
Please go watch the trailer to the upcoming movie, Farmageddon!
So if you care about small and local farms, support them. But I ask that you take it a step further. Contact your local senators and voice your concerns. Visit the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund for how and what to say to your senators.
You can also help those family farms who have already had their products seized, their lives in ruin. Even $5 can help these families get the legal aid they need to get back to doing what they do best, farming.
PLEASE CLICK ON THESE LINKS TO DONATE!
Please go see Kelly The Kitchen Kop for more posts like this!
Rosa - November 19, 2010 at 12:49 pm
A great and well thought post! I am all for small farms and raw milk! Without small farms our cultural patrimony would disappear….
Cheers,
Rosa
Peter G @ Souvlaki For The Soul - November 19, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Well said Jenn! Your passion for these causes is infectious! I don’t get that mentality either.
Stella - November 20, 2010 at 10:08 am
Hey Jenn, cigarettes are a lot worse than old fashioned foods that have been produced the same way since Mesopotamian times-no doubt! I really think these laws are designed to drive out small farms, so that a handful of people (companies) can control the commodity of food all over the U.S. and probably some other areas of the world too. Not everyone smokes, drinks, uses computers, drives a car, etc., but everyone has to eat! So if a company or a couple of major companies drive out small farms and produce the majority of food, they make all that $$$. And that’s all they care about-sad but true…
Oh, and the food they produce shouldn’t be legal.
Anyway, this subject make me mad (not at you-smile). I don’t think a lot of people realize how dirty and corrupt things are getting in reference to this issue, our government & a couple of major companies I will not name here.
Great post, Jenn!
Gary W. Sherwin - December 9, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Though I agree with your warning, I think you are all missing the point.
Money is not the goal; POLITICAL POWER is! Power will be concentrated to several politically controlled (eventually) companies which will act at the dictator’s desire. We live in what is supposed to be by law, a constitutional, federal republic, where the federal government has only several powers. Power is delegated by the US Constitution to the states and people. State constitutions further delegate and limit their power with the rest flowing to the people. Almost everything the federal government is doing is not authorized by the constitution and is therefore illegal. The feds have no right to regulate food or drugs or working conditions or anything accept currency, patents, trademarks and copyrights, defense, (including protecting our borders) Funny, but if you look at the constitution, you will see that they are doing what they are forbidden to do and NOT doing what they are required to do. They also have no legal power to steal from one citizen to give to another. All regulatory power resides in the state and people, NOT the federal government. The “regulate interstate commerce” red herring has to do with blocking states from taxing and restricting interstate trade, not controlling anything else. While we were free, our fore bearers increased the standard of living of the entire world and left us the envy of everyone, while being the savior to many. The answer to the human condition is FREEDOM! Billions of people acting in their own interest, not a few dictators acting toward their vision for their utopia. Every single time socialism has been tried it has led to the death of millions of people.
Our farms and lives are under attack. We have already lost most of our freedoms to the assault. Do not vote liberal, or Democrat or Republican. If you analyze your core beliefs, you will most likely see that constitutional conservatives are most closely aligned with a free spirit, while the others are aligned with various levels of slavery, so vote for conservative Dems and Reps and whatever. And, hold all their feet to the fire. Call them. Write them. Email them. Petition them. VOTE THEM OUT! Vote your soul mate in! Otherwise, the only natural food you will be able to eat will be that you “steal” from the government owned fields and forest as you run for your life.
The Leftover Queen - December 9, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Uncle Gary, You spoke these words better than I could have ever said!
Roberto - December 9, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Uncle Gary, you and I have the same exact mind!
I have been stressing the sames points for years!!!!!!!!
By the way, I am Jenn’s husband, Roberto.