If you like Farmers Markets, you need to read this bill... and fight it.
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
March 17, 2009 12:06pm CST
Text of H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 would require all producers and vendors of food to register with the new "Food Safety Administration" (apparently one food bureaucracy isn't enough for The Central Committee). They would also be required to allow FSA inspectors to monitor their farms and/or gardens and inspect any part of them that is used for production, transportation, storage or selling of the produce.
First of all, it is unconstitutional for the federal government to intervene in any commerce that doesn't cross a state line. The writers of this bill know what they are doing is unconstitutional because they added this little farce of a disclaimer:
"SEC. 406. PRESUMPTION.
In any action to enforce the requirements of the food safety law, the connection with interstate commerce required for jurisdiction shall be presumed to exist."
In other words, "we don't want to bother actually sticking to the US Constitution, so we'll just assume we have the authority to do anything we want".
When it comes to the farmers markets, there is no need for all this bureaucracy. The produce is grown and sold by the same people. If someone comes down with a food borne illness, it is reported to the local health department. The patient is asked what they ate recently, and where they got it. Since the same people grow and sell the produce at their market (or stand at the market) it's easy to trace.
There is nothing necessary, required or Constituitonal about a lot of this bill. Read it, then let your Senator and Congressman defend it to you
... if they can.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875
1 person likes this
6 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
17 Mar 09
I have responed in a few threds on this. It is disgusting.
" In any action to enforce the requirements of the food safety law, the connection with interstate commerce required for jurisdiction shall be presumed to exist. "
SOMEONE had better challenge this in the supreme court. Assume interstate commerce to exist????? If we allow this assumption in this bill, it will very quickly be used as a precident for nearly anything else they wish to regulate. this is a very dangerous bill simply for that reason.
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@N4life (851)
• United States
17 Mar 09
I certainly see your point, and it seems that in times of economic troubles this has a precedent. I have not heard much about this before but the Agricultural Adjusment Act of 1938 seems to have been made at least in part to limit wheat growing for personal consumption. This is an issue that all Americans should fear (left, right or neither) since my opinion is that the recent "downturn" could spur a much needed self sufficiency movemement in the U.S. that could reduce reliance on corporations and govt (if there is a difference).
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@spalladino (17891)
• United States
18 Mar 09
Down here in Florida we have fresh porduce vendors all over the place, especially on the weekends. There's a couple who sell Georgia peaches near my house who I often buy from because they're very nice and I love their peaches. Even though I have no idea who they are or where they're from I've never felt concerned about eating what they or any of the other growers down here sell. This bill is ridiculous overkill. It's an attempt to make it look like the government is doing something about food safety after the peanut butter fiasco but, if they're incapable of keeping track of manufacturing operations, what makes them think that they can keep track of independent, small growers? I've already contacted my reps about this when I first heard about it, but that was via email. I'll give calling a try this time.
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@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
18 Mar 09
Oh, I remember the great roadside stands in Florida. You couldn't ask for better tasting produce that those. I remember getting seafood from the stands at the wharfs too, it took me years to be able to eat frozen shrimp again after enjoying those.
This bill would kill all of that, for no more reason than to appease the agribusiness lobby and reduce our ability to be self sufficient.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
18 Mar 09
" It's an attempt to make it look like the government is doing something about food safety after the peanut butter fiasco"
While that may be the facade they may be doing this under, it is actually much more sinister than this. It has two underlying and more ultimate purposes. the primary one being to reduce the ability of the population to be self sufficiant.
the second fishy thing about this is, one of the chief cosponsors, Congress woman Rosa DeLauro, who's husband is none other than Stan greenburg, chairman and chief executive of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner a comany that "provides strategic advice and research for leaders, companies, campaigns, and NGOs trying to advance their issues in tumultuous times"
And suprise suprise, look who one of his private sector clients is.... [i]
[b] Monsanto
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
17 Mar 09
It is just this type of Farmers Market that frist introduced the Russian People to Free Market Principals. That is the last thing we want to start in this country. As times turn worse people many turn to growing and selling their produce and find that they donn't need the government. We must stamp out such freedoms early to prevent the people from taking control of their lives and livelyhood.
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@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
17 Mar 09
Can you imagine what the depression would have been like if all those people selling apples on the street were told they couldn't? Or worse yet, punished for it?
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
18 Mar 09
I created a discussion about this as well here on mylot. There's a petition for it, some youtube videos of outrage...but that's pretty much it, so far. I hope to God it doesn't pass even if more interest isn't shown in how awful it is...I really do.
I'm a local grower. I'm micro-farming this year. It's been my big dream to survive this awful economy since summer '08! I thought, "Well, I can help myself and others too. I can easily beat grocery store prices, that's exactly what people need around here."
I'm seventeen for Goddess' sakes! They expect me to pay a fine up to a million bucks if I don't have a ton of paperwork and allow government officials to trapse around my house and tiny scrap of property for a small crate of bell peppers? That's utterly ridiculous and they overstep the authority that we the people have given them. Besides, all the health scares lately have been at the feet of INDUSTRIAL farms and manufacturing. They were lax, having hardly any people around to spot problems before they were shipped off and sold to people.
Small farming, people who victory garden, we're here for EVERY step of the process before it reaches the produce stand outside at flea markets, food markets, and farmer's markets.
And just a reminder: agriculture has seen a serious revival since the warm season of 2008. Seed companies have reported record sales and shortages because it seems like almost everyone's growing SOMETHING this year. This is a huge and awesome development for our country. And some people in the government (and outside it, in certain business, *cough*) want to kill it.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
18 Mar 09
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/t/1128/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26714
^ There it is.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
17 Mar 09
Well personally I like to shop at my local farmers market. Not only am I getting fresh produce for my family but I am also helping to support my local economy. Who are they to tell ME where I can and can not buy my groceries from.
I hate micro managers. And that exactly what the government is turning into. They are micro managing our lives.
Contact your local, state and fed. elected officials on this. Fight for your right to buy your groceries from who ever YOU want to.
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