On July 4, 2007 some 500 people gathered at Jake Zook’s farm in Christiana, Pennsylvania to celebrate the official launch of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF). The event marked the realization of the
Speak Up on Animal ID Action Alert
Attend Meeting or Submit Comments
The USDA is holding a series of meetings to discuss Animal ID. We objected to the timing of the initial meetings—all scheduled during the extremely busy ranching season of April and May—and USDA has added two more meetings in
Maine Governor Signs Local Food Sovereignty Bill; Vetoes Unregulated Statewide Food Sales
It’s been an amazing past couple of weeks in Maine. On June 16, the state broke new ground for the local food movement when Governor Paul LePage signed LD (Legislative Drawer) 725, a bill giving control over food regulation to
All Charges Dropped Against FTCLDF Member for Raw Milk Distribution
Negotiations on June 14 with the Harris County, Texas District Attorney’s Office resulted in dropping all of the raw milk-related charges against the Houston-area courier. During the negotiations—conducted under the watchful gaze of some 50+ raw milk supporters who packed the
Introduction to the FTCLDF Custom Slaughter Map
In 1967 Congress passed the Wholesome Meat Act, Public Law 90-201, amending the Federal Meat Inspection Act. The act expanded the federal government’s authority over meat slaughter and processing to intrastate commerce but did
Raw Milk Legalization: Canada Versus U.S.
This June the trial of Ontario dairy farmer Michael Schmidt and three other farmers for obstructing a police officer will resume. The charge stems from a 2015 raid of Schmidt’s Glencolton Farms where members of a food cooperative
Governor Signs North Dakota Food Freedom Act
On April 14, Governor Doug Burgum signed House Bill 1433 (HB 1433), referred to as the North Dakota Food Freedom Act, into law. On April 7, the North Dakota House of Representatives concurred in amendments the Senate made
Berglund Appealing Case to Minnesota Supreme Court
Dairy farmer Dave Berglund of Lakeview Natural Dairy in Grand Marais has filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court to hear his case after an appellate court ruled that the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Wyoming Expands Food Freedom Act
On March 6 Governor Matt Mead (R) signed two different bills into law that further expand sales of unregulated foods from producer direct to consumers in Wyoming. The bills are House Bill 129, sponsored by Representative Tyler Lindholm
Herd Shares in Virginia: The Stumbling Beginnings
In 1975 when I first started milking goats on my small ten-acre farm near Charlottesville, I was besieged by persons allergic to pasteurized cow milk and/or just wanting to consume raw milk. Not knowing the law but having heard