Editor’s Note: OCA does not support S510 as it is currently written. Please read the following article from the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance for a good overview of the issues.
Tell Congress: One size does not fit all when considering food safety bills! Small local farms and food processors are fundamentally different from huge, industrial food suppliers that ship food all over the country. Congress can and should address the problems with the industrial food supply without harming the local food systems that provide an alternative for concerned consumers!
The U.S. Senate is considering a bill, S. 510, to reform the food safety system. Although reform of the industrial food supply is clearly needed, this bill threatens to create more problems than it will solve. S. 510 would undermine the rapidly growing local foods movement by imposing unnecessary, burdensome regulations on small farms and food processors – everyone from your local CSA to the small bakers, jam makers, and people making fermented vegetables to sell at the local farmers market.
JULY 2010 Update: The bill has been delayed, but it is still a real threat, so keep up the calls! You can read our earlier action alert, which includes contact information and talking points for talking with your Senators, here. The list of organizations urging Senators to support the Tester-Hagan amendment to exempt small-scale and direct-marketing producers from the most burdensome portions of the bill is now 157 strong! Read our letter here
NEW – Several members have received responses from their Senators extolling provisions in the bill that allegedly help or exempt local food producers. It’s very important that we continue to educate these Senators about the real impacts of the bill. Check out our FAQ for more information.
Q&A Get the facts about the Tester-Hagan amendment to protect local foods. And then call your Senators to urge them to co-sponsor the amendments!
Briefing on the requirement for “facilities” under S. 510
Briefing on the “produce standards” under S. 510