Although purported to address food safety problems in the industrial food system, implementation of the FSMA poses a threat to the ‘local food movement’ and true food security—-the ability of a country region or locality to produce enough food to meet its own needs.
The most wonderful aspect of going local with your diet, is the opportunity to meet pioneers of organic, sustainable agriculture. There is
Minnesota Jury Convicts Peaceful Farmer on Five Charges
Alvin Schlangen sentenced to fines, 1-year probation and 90 days in jail suspended
Stearns County, MN—(August 19, 2013)—Long-time farmer, Alvin Schlangen, was convicted by a jury of 6 on five charges related to feeding his community. The conviction came on August 15 after a
Rancher Threatened with Second Jail Sentence
Archuleta County, Colorado rancher Stephen (Steve) Keno, who has already served one week in jail and been fined $1,000 on a contempt of court charge related to allegedly grazing his sheep illegally, is now facing a
Milkman Delivery Service Under Seige in Minnesota
Swarms Post: Two farmers, Mike Hartmann and Alvin Schlangen, head to court this week. Just last Thursday, Hartman was stopped and his truck impounded.
The plight of two Minnesota raw milk providers and those families who depend on them seems to get worse by the minute. As the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) continues to
Dairy Farmer Hershberger to Hold Press Conference on Upcoming Appeal
Jurors Who Acquitted Dairyman in Criminal Trial to Join in Ice Cream Social
Farmer Vernon Hershberger of Wisconsin, recently acquitted on 3 of 4 criminal charges for food distribution, will host a press conference on his farm regarding his appeal of the 4th charge. Members of the press are invited to attend. Jurors from his trial and members of
Minnesota Aims—Again—to Jail Peaceful Farmer
Schlangen Found Innocent by Jury in Hennepin County Now Threatened with Jail in Stearns County
Stearns County, Minnesota—(August 5, 2013)—Peaceful farmer, Alvin Schlangen, faces five criminal charges with a possible penalty of up to 15 months imprisonment and $5,000 in fines at his trial slated to run August 13-15, 2013, in St. Cloud. Schlangen is no
Tell FDA to Treat Small Farmers Fairly Action Alert
FDA is aiming to undermine the Tester-Hagan amendment which exempts small-scale, direct-marketing farms from the most burdensome aspects of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This exemption is essential to the continued vitality of the local foods movement.
FDA is proposing rules that would make it very easy for the agency to force even small-scale farmers to comply with the extensive, burdensome
Nevada Farm-to-Fork Bill Now Law
On July 1, 2013, Nevada’s Farm-to-Fork law (Assembly Bill 200, AB200) went into effect. The driving force behind the new law were FTCLDF farmer members, Laura and Monte Bledsoe of Quail Hollow Farms in Overton.
In a widely publicized raid, an inspector from the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) interrupted a farm-to-fork dinner at the Bledsoes’ farm on October 21, 2011, and ordered the destruction of
Save Your Farmer! Save Your Bacon Weekend Giveaway
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) hosts a benefactor’s bash at Polyface Farm every year. This event is exciting, casual and inspiring. The things you’ll see and learn and the people you’ll meet are well worth the trip to
Raw Milk Nation – New Chart & Map Update
Raw milk laws are a hodgepodge in this country; due mainly to the federal ban on raw milk for human consumption in interstate commerce, the laws are different state to state. The Raw Milk Nation Chart goes into more detail than the Raw Milk Nation Map© by