Imagine going to pick up your weekly gallon of milk, only to be met by a group of county health inspectors and sheriff’s deputies who threaten arrest if you take the milk. Sound far-fetched? Perhaps. But that’s exactly what happened
How Consumers Can Respond to a Raid
When it comes to the alternative food movement, it is usually the farmer against whom the government takes enforcement action. However, there are many examples where a person allows their driveway, front door stoop, or back porch to be used
The United States of America v. Miller’s Organic Farm and Amos Miller
On June 28 an American court will once again address the question of whether there is a legal distinction between the public and private distribution of food. To this point no judge in this country has held that there is a
Raw Butter Is a Communicable Disease
Ridiculous, but true: The FDA is telling us that it can ban raw butter in interstate commerce under its power to regulate communicable disease.
Why is this ban silly?
– Raw butter has the safest record of any dairy product and has not been proven to cause any food borne illness.
– The law doesn’t allow the FDA to take this action.
Town Health Board Limits Poultry But Not Cows
It started over four years ago; I fell in love with four ducklings that I had almost thrown out after a hatch we did in a school where I work. All the eggs came from a 4-H project and were all supposed to be chicken
Police Called in to Stop Local Food Distribution
Cameron, TX—June 10, 2016—Health departments have stepped up their attacks on your right to purchase food directly from farmers, resorting to bringing the police to harass and intimidate local raw milk customers. That’s what happened to one group of raw milk customers in
How Low Can the Government Agenda Against Local Food Go?
I didn’t expect to write about raw milk twice in a row. While the West Virginia raw milk mangling was despicable, driven no less by an anonymous tip, it wasn’t unexpected. You don’t play ball with the big kids and not take some dirty elbows
It’s More Than Just Chickens—It’s About Feeding My Family
People across the country are fighting for the right to provide for their families with gardens and small backyard livestock. My family is one of those affected, and the new laws are taking the food off my children’s plates. This is our story.
No Chickens Allowed on the Farm
Henrico County Virginia officials have told FTCLDF member Stewart Goodwin that she cannot have chickens on her property that is zoned for agriculture. Here is Stewart’s account of her dispute with the county.
The Fight Over the Right to Produce Your Own Food
FTCLDF was initially formed to protect the rights of farmers and consumers to engage in direct commerce, and that remains a major focus of the organization’s work. In recent years, however, FTCLDF has spent an increasing amount of time and resources fighting for