Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund

Protecting, defending, and broadening the rights and viability of independent farmers, artisanal food producers, and their consumers.

Protecting, defending, and broadening the rights and viability of independent farmers, artisanal food producers, and their consumers.

North Dakota’s Food Freedom Law Restricted

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In 2019, the state legislature declined to repeal its 2017 Food Freedom bill which expanded direct-to-consumer sales of home-baked goods and canned items. Despite this clear intention, a North Dakota legislative Administrative Rule Committee recently approved regulations proposed by the…

Unconstitutional New Rule to Affect Small Produce Farmers

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The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance led a coalition that we were a part of in 2010, which convinced Congress to exempt small, direct-marketing farmers from the new rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). But now that the rules are being implemented by the states, the Texas…

ACT NOW: Support the Interstate Milk Freedom Act!

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On December 12, 2019, Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced the Interstate Milk Freedom Act. Please call your House Representative and tell him/her why you care about this legislation.

TAKE ACTION: USDA’s Proposed Changes Could Hurt Small Beef Processors!

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Under the new proposal, FSIS would take the same number of samples from a small facility that processes 50,000 pounds/day as from a large facility that processes a million or more pounds of product per day. Act now to protect small beef processors! Deadline to submit comments is Dec. 27…

Kansas Prohibition on Advertising of Raw Milk Ruled Unconstitutional!

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Until last week, Kansas raw milk farmers were permitted to produce raw milk and sell it directly from the farm but were prohibited from advertising it off-premises. According to the Raw Milk Advertising Ban, raw milk farmers were limited in advertising their product to the “erection of a sign upon…

Revisiting the Nevada Farm-to-Fork Raid

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When an over-zealous regulator shows up at your farm dinner demanding that food be destroyed as hungry guests await, who do you call? FTCLDF! Here’s Laura Bledsoe’s account written as a letter to CSA members and dinner…

Urban Farming Under Threat in Gary, Indiana

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In a recent case that is gaining national attention, one FTCLDF member’s right to provide food for her family is in jeopardy. Aja and her husband Yasir grow hundreds of varieties of medicinal herbs, fruits, and vegetables at their home in Gary, Indiana. Practicing regenerative agriculture, they bring color and nutrition to an area of Indiana…