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Some Small Farmers Are Going To Jail -- To Spite the System

A growing number of small farmers in the United States, fed up with federal regulations that they say favor big business, are facing felony charges and possible jail time.

Farmer Richard Bean, who runs Double H Farm in Charlottesville, Virginia, and his partner are being charged with felony intent to defraud, which carries the possibility of three years in jail for a conviction, for selling meat improperly labeled “certified organic” along with seven misdemeanor charges.

“We were trying to skirt the system. A small farm, making it work," Bean said. "We were able to earn a significant amount more per animal, and that‘s how we are able to compete with corporate agriculture."

Among the farm’s offenses were not slaughtering animals at a state-inspected facility, and placing certified organic stickers on meat that had been raised according to organic standards, but was not certified as such.

Government officials say the federal and state rules are designed to protect consumers from unsafe foods. However, proponents of local foods (locavores) and small farms, believe the regulations are forcing small farms out of business, and that government-certified organic foods are inferior to locally produced ones.

Small farmers and locavores are calling for unregulated direct sales of locally grown foods that allow people to obtain fresh foods that are better for the environment and the local economy.

Sources:



Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Sadly, our food supply seems to be crumbling before our eyes, and the government is single-handedly allowing, and actually encouraging, it to happen.

It’s not bad enough that multi-national corporations are forcing small farmers out of business. Now the last remaining farmers who are trying to raise food by traditional, safer, standards are being prosecuted and sent to jail -- for selling food that is of better quality than any factory farm could ever hope for.

In the United States (and much of the world), money talks. One of the best ways to voice your opinion about this injustice is to spend your money with local small farms, farmers’ markets, and community-supported agriculture programs, and NOT with supermarkets and big-name retailers like Wal-Mart.

Please forward this article to your friends and family to help spread the word. If enough of you decide to support only naturally raised food from local farms, the industry will have no choice but to change its ways.

Fortunately, the “locavore” movement is already strong and growing in the United States, and it’s being fueled by people like you who are in-tune with the way nature works. You trust the farming methods of your ancestors over a government-approved sticker.

The absolute best food options for you are in-season varieties of produce and naturally raised meats that are grown locally. Many of them will likely also be organic, even though the farmer may not be able to afford the federal certification process to legally call them that.

Food from local sources is fresher, does not waste fuel being transported to you, and tastes like real, home-grown produce should: delicious!

For an excellent list of sustainable agricultural groups in your area, please see Promoting Sustainable Agriculture.

And remember, if you stick to foods raised in a natural, healthy way, nature will take care of your health.


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Comment on This Article Community Comments (45)
 
 
Posted On Oct 23, 2007
My friends, I give you a new definition of "terrorist": government agents, this time in the guise of state police, who blast their way into a farmer's home and seize his assets, when his only "crime" was to sell a wholesome product - superior to the commercial variety - that his buyers wanted.

I raised all our family's meat for many years, and I continued to raise and sell freezer lambs long after the children were grown and gone. I can assure you that local slaughterhouses were safer and more sanitary than any "commercial" operation. By law, a USDA rep had to be on the premises when meat was slaughtered for sale, but he was there once a week to put his purple stamp on cuts. In fact, that may no longer be a requirement here.

"But spokeswoman Elaine Lidholm said: "Our goal is to bring people into compliance, not to punish them. It is in the best interest of everyone if we can bring these farmers and animal owners into compliance because the law is designed to create a safe food supply." That statement is laughable. The first sentence is a lie; they do punish, and their intent is to make an example of someone. And the law is enforced only at the local level. Large commercial slaughterhouses are filthy and the meat contaminated, and you need not search far for documentation. Just read the instructions on your store-bought package of salmonella-infected chicken.

What we have here is state control of the minutiae of our lives...and it is wrong, wrong, wrong. We need freedom from this kind of control. We need Ron Paul for president!


 
Islander
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 3/2007
Islander  
Replied

Truth Wins
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
Truth Wins  
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2007

I agree. I had not heard about Ron Paul until Dr. Mercola mentioned him. I cannot believe there is such a candidate out there and he is the only one without political baggage because he does not take anything from special interest groups. Everyone needs to commit to getting him elected. At that time, I did not think he had a chance, but now I think he will win. His grassrooots raised $4.2 million dollars Monday without the campaign really doing anything because the people believe in him. Donate if you can!



KathieJamisonCote
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
KathieJamisonCote  
 
Posted On Nov 08, 2007

ISLANDER!!!!  HEY!!!  Excellent points you have made.  

It is well past the time that people in this country wake up to the fact that  GOVERNMENT CONTROLS MOST ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES........OPEN YOUR EYES! To think these "regulators" are policing our ORGANIC farms when conventional slaughter houses are pits of vulgar bacteria waiting to jump on board the next person who ingests the meat from these plants.  WHAT WERE THOSE FIGURES I READ NOT TOO LONG AGO????   Only 17% of slaughter houses are actually inspected!!!!  AHHHH GOOD JOB FDA!!!   What bull crap is this - I would much rather eat food from a small local farm that one such as ConAgra - makers of the famous Peter Pan Salmonella P'nut Butter.

RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I heard yesterday he's in third place for the republicans and has the largest internet following of any candidate!!!!HIPHIP HOORAY!!!

HERE'S A THOUGHT - DENNIS KUCINICH (yes a democrat) for his RUNNING MATE!!!!

SEEMS LIKE WE'D BE ON A BETTER TRACK AND THERE'D BE LESS MY PARTY/YOUR PARTY BULL GOING ON!!!!



Journey to Health
Novice User Novice User Joined On 10/2007
Journey to Health  
 
Posted On May 08, 2008

 I understand eating meat and dairy since I used to consume plenty myself.  It has taken my wife and I 8 months to transition away from it.  We feel much better and have more energy eating almost all raw, with very little meat and no dairy.  

 Many of these problems would be eliminated if everyone would do the same, including our country's outrageous obesity rates.  Fast food restuarants would have to close, or serve only healthy food.  Meat should be put on the side dish/flavorings list, and fresh fruits and veggies should be our main focus.

 If the farmers in this article had labeled their food as 'locally grown without harmful additives...' etc. I believe they would have succeeded without breaking the law.  Sometimes you have to break the law to do what is right. Without knowing the whole story, it sounds like these guys may have just tried to go around the law.


 
 
 
Posted On Oct 22, 2007
More bad news for small farms -
(convenient timing on that meat recall, wasn't it?)

-Safety of the nation's food supply has become a point of contention as Congress considers a new farm bill, and a massive recall of beef highlights doubts about the government's attempt to change the rules governing federal meat inspections.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said she will block the Senate bill if it includes a House-passed provision that would allow some smaller meat processing plants to opt out of federal meat inspections in favor of state inspections. The bill hasn't even emerged from committee yet.

''In recent months, the safety of our domestic food supply has been called into question,'' Boxer said at a news conference Tuesday with food safety advocates. ''Congress should be focused on more stringent food safety standards, not rolling back the federal government's crucial role in protecting our people.'' -



 
Bridestein
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 12/2006
Bridestein  
Replied

Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Oct 22, 2007
Barbara Boxer is a totally on the TAKE politician, I. and many, unfortunately, live under, in California.

When Boxer began her career, she was a middle class. 

Now she is a multi-millionaire, several hundred times over.

Can you say K Street Lobbyists on this one?

"Why we have the BEST government, money can buy"  Will Rogers


 
 
 
Posted On Oct 23, 2007
The farmer in this story (Richard Bean) is a hero for the new millenium. It's so sad when you go to jail for producing good food and not being a large corporation...

This story reminds me of an essay/rant posted by farmer Joel Salatin (he was written about in Omnivore's Dilema), "Everything I Want to do is Illegal" . He raises healthy, content, well-cared for livestock but is required by law to have them slaughtered off site (even though he could do it cleaner and more humanely than the slaughterhouse)... But, because they are slaughtered offsite, he cannot legally sell his meat on his farm.

It's a great essay - very eye opening - give it a read if you have a few minutes.



 
iLoveButter
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2007
iLoveButter  
 
 
 
Posted On Oct 23, 2007
Tell Richard Bean to move here.  Our local organic farmers actually slaughter and butcher their cattle right on their farm.  There is less trauma for the cattle, if they don't have to be hauled in a cattle liner, packed in with dozens of cattle, maybe not eating or drinking until slaughter.  The trauma caused by this, does affect the meat.

 
Sheila C
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 1/2007
Sheila C  
Replied

Magnolia
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Magnolia  
 
Posted On Nov 11, 2007

Absolutely right, smclark7! Where do you live?


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 07, 2007

The small farmer goes to jail for selling healthy meat and the corporate farms can sell meat filled with hormones,intibiotics and fed garbage, not to mention cruelty to the animals and sick animals sent to the slaughterhouse for us to consume. Greed sure is ugly!


 
catuskan60
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2006
catuskan60  
 
 
 
 
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