Unfortunately, changes like this will simply be “rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic” unless the fundamental threat posed by the proposed inappropriate, self-styled “food safety” federal regulation is stopped by substantially revising the legislation. S 510, and the even worse HR 2749, will not only cause those already becoming sustainable farmers to be unable to make a full-time living farming but also won’t materially improve the overall safety of food in the US. In fact, because the regs will be more expensive and difficult for sustainable ag to implement than industrial ag, S 510/HR 2749 will further tighten industrial ag’s control of our food system.

I know this to be true because after 14+ years working to revive local, healthy food her in western NC, I have had to spend the last 6 months endeavoring to understand this complex situation and legislation.

For more info or to help, please write me at healthyfoodcoalition@gmail.com