Weekly Blog
Greetings All--
Well, they are home! Check out this weeks blog for more pictures! This email will be at the top of the blog, just scroll down through it.
Here is what we have available this week:
CARNIVORES CORNER:
Beef: Grass Fed English Aged Angus. For those of you who have ordered beef you orders will be here at the house this Thursday and can be picked up between 3:00 and 6:30. We just heard that we will have access to the beef right through the winter in anywhere from 1/8th to a whole animal. Grass fed extra lean hamburger is still available weekly in 1 pound packages @ $5 per pound. If you order 10 pounds or more it is available for $4.50 per pound.
Salmon: We are taking orders for Wild caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. We are offering whole fillets which can range fron 1 - 1.5 pounds. Price is $13 per pound. Orders will be filled as we get enough for a 10 pound box of fillets
From the root cellar: Diakon radishes, rutabaga, potatoes, garlic, beets, and winter storage kohlrabi (thick skinned, but very sweet!) . Please be aware that until the spring thaw, you may recieve your produce order with a little extra dirt--at no extra charge! We will wash the produce as temperatures permit.
From the kitchen: Tarts (crusts made with organic spelt and organic flax): Cheesecake, mixed berry, and pumpkin custard. Sprouted Scones: Dark Chocolate Chip/Almond, Orange Ginger, and Lemon Poppyseed. Sprouted Cookies/Bars: Shortbread Cookies, Oatmeal Date Nut Bars. Muffins: orange rum (made with organic spelt flour) Flatbreads: Tomato/Garlic/Onion (spelt), and Asiago/Parmesan Herb (spelt). Flatbread Crisps: Sunflower Sesame Flax and Honey Cinnamon. Sprouted Breads: Spelt, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut (spelt) - in a new round shape, Four Grain baquette (all organic flours--wheat, spelt, quinoa, and oats) and dinner or sandwich rolls (spelt).
NEW!!! Pure Vanilla Extract: Made with Organic Madagascar Vanilla Beans!
Nutty Berry Mix Granola
Sprouts: alfalfa
Kombucha Tea: Apricot, passionfruit papaya, ginger, acai berry and wild berry.
Kombucha vinegar: Triple berry - made with red and black raspberries, blackberries, and our own Kombucha.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: Rosemary Thyme
Meats: Grass fed hamburger, wild caught Alaskan Sockeye salmon.
Products from our local partners: Tait Farm raspberry shrub, free range eggs, and maple syrup (finally!)
Eric & Cindy Noel
632-8589
A HUGE thank you to George Lake and his helper Mack! As many read last week, our Kahtadin floock crossed the creek in our pasture while the water level was low, then when the water level rose to normal levels their fear of running water returned. After nearly a dozen attempts trying to get the flock back accross Warriors Mark Run on my own, it took less than 15 minutes for three of us to get them back home. Here are a few pictures, but they don't give the "project" justice! It was amazing to watch a skilled dog and handler at work. With a simple command the dog would retrieve the sheep that would circle around us, and hold the flock at the waters edge. I was then able to catch a few single ewes and nudge them into the creek...it was awfully cold water and the dog was behind them, so they decided it was in their best interest to head fro the barn! After a few crossed the flock quickly followed! We were just in time--as of today we have 7 new lambs!
Greetings All--
We are sure that you have realized, we have fallen a couple of weeks behind on our lamb processing schedule...unfortunately our sheep (who are said to be terrified of moving water) have crossed Warriors Mark Run! Now, we can't get them back across the creek onto their pasture--their fear of water has returned and we have missed our last processing date! We are working on a solution to our problem...just hang in there!
Here is what we have available this week:
CARNIVORES CORNER:
Beef: Grass Fed English Aged Angus. Follow this link for some great information on the beef! 95% lean grass fed beef with outstanding taste and texture! Only $3.50 per pound hanging weight--by the 1/8th, 1/4, 1/2, or whole beef. For those who ordered for the December processing, it won't be ready until about mid January - we will contact you when we hear from the processor. We have one 1/8th available - let us know if you want it.
Salmon: We are taking orders for Wild caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. We are offering portion size packages which normally wiegh in between 3/4 and 1 pound. Price is $13 per pound.
From the root cellar: Diakon radishes, watermelon radishes, Jerusalen artichokes, rutabaga, potatoes, garlic, beets, winter storage kohlrabi (thick skinned, but very sweet!) and spaghetti squash. Please be aware that until the spring thaw, you may recieve your produce order with a little extra dirt--at no extra charge! We will wash the produce as temperatures permit.
From the kitchen: Tarts (crusts made with organic spelt and organic flax): Cheesecake, cherry, and pumpkin custard. Sprouted Scones: Dark Chocolate Chip/Almond, Orange Ginger, and Lemon Poppyseed. Sprouted Cookies/Bars: Shortbread Cookies, Oatmeal Date Nut Bars. Muffins: Banana/Chocolate Chip/Walnut (made with organic spelt flour) Flatbreads: Tomato/Garlic/Onion (spelt), and Asiago/Parmesan Herb (spelt). Flatbread Crisps: Sunflower Sesame Flax and Honey Cinnamon. Sprouted Breads: Spelt, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut (spelt) - in a new round shape, Four Grain baquette (all organic flours--wheat, spelt, quinoa, and oats) and dinner or sandwich rolls (spelt).
Nutty Berry Mix Granola
Sprouts: Sandwich mix
Kombucha Tea: Apricot, passionfruit papaya, ginger, acai berry and wild berry.
Kombucha vinegar: Triple berry - made with red and black raspberries, blackberries, and our own Kombucha.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: Rosemary Thyme
Meats: Grass fed hamburger, wild caught Alaskan Sockeye salmon.
Products from our local partners: Tait Farm raspberry shrub, free range eggs, and maple syrup (finally!)
Eric & Cindy Noel
632-8589
Greetings All--
Well, believe it or not, this week we will start work towards our spring planting! Seeds will be ordered and some of the greens will be planted for February transplant into the greenhouse. Although we can not be sure what the new Food Safety Modernization Act will bring for the 2010 season, we will be planning on business as usual.
Once again, our schedule will be a bit different for this week: it will be business as usual at our Boalsburg market; BUT, Altoona deliveries will be made Thursday aftrenoon between 3:00 and 3:30.
We hope you and your family have a safe and enjoyable New Years Eve!
Here is what we have available this week:
CARNIVORES CORNER:
Beef: Grass Fed English Aged Angus. Follow this link for some great information on the beef! 95% lean grass fed beef with outstanding taste and texture! Only $3.50 per pound hanging weight--by the 1/8th, 1/4, 1/2, or whole beef. For those who ordered for the December processing, it won't be ready until about mid January - we will contact you when we hear from the processor. We have one 1/8th available - let us know if you want it.
Salmon: We are still taking orders for Wild caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. The portion packs are sold out for the year, but we will begin offering whole fillets which normally range from 1 - 1.5 pounds each for $13.50 per pound.
From the garden: Diakon radishes, watermelon radishes, Jerusalen artichokes, rutabaga, potatoes, garlic, beets, winter storage kohlrabi (thick skinned, but very sweet!) and spaghetti squash. Please be aware that until the spring thaw, you may recieve your produce order with a little extra dirt--at no extra charge! We will wash the produce as temperatures permit.
From the kitchen: Tarts (crusts made with organic spelt and organic flax): Cheesecake, lemon berry, cherry, and dark chocolate berry truffle. Sprouted Scones: Dark Chocolate Chip/Almond, Cranberry, Lemon Poppyseed. Sprouted Cookies/Bars: Shortbread Cookies, Oatmeal Date Nut Bars. Flatbreads: Tomato/Garlic/Onion (spelt), Asiago/Parmesan Herb (spelt), and Fig Walnut Raisin (sprouted spelt). Flatbread Crisps: Sunflower Sesame Flax and Honey Cinnamon. Sprouted Breads: Spelt, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut (spelt) - in a new round shape, Four Grain baquette (all organic flours--wheat, spelt, quinoa, and oats) and dinner or sandwich rolls (spelt).
Nutty Berry Mix Granola
Spelt Pancake Mix: Makes about 10 delicicious and nutritious pancakes - especiall yummy when topped with MacNeal's maple syrup!
Kombucha Tea: Apricot, passionfruit papaya, ginger, acai berry and wild berry.
Kombucha vinegar: Triple berry - made with red and black raspberries, blackberries, and our own Kombucha.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: Rosemary Thyme
Meats: Grass fed hamburger, wild caught Alaskan Sockeye salmon.
Products from our local partners: Clover honey, Raw honey, Tait Farm raspberry shrub, free range eggs, and maple syrup (finally!)
Eric & Cindy Noel
632-8589
Greetings All--
Here is what we have available this week:
CARNIVORES CORNER:
Chicken: The processing date has been set for November 9th! Pick ups will be available here at the house Wedneday the 9th between 6 and 8 pm, anytime Thursday, Friday between 4:30 and 7:00, and Saturday by appointment. Sunday we will be leaving for a 5 day Mission trip to South Carolina, so we will bring orders for Tuesday customers on December 22nd. --Better order todayonly a few available!
Beef: Grass Fed English Aged Angus. Follow this link for some great information on the beef! 95% lean grass fed beef with outstanding taste and texture! Only $3.50 per pound hanging weight--by the 1/8th, 1/4, 1/2, or whole beef.
Lamb: Garlic lamb bologna, hot Italian sausage and ground lamb.
Salmon: We are taking orders for Wild caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. We are offering portion size packages which normally wiegh in between 3/4 and 1 pound. Price is $13 per pound.
Orders can be picked up Tuesdays at the Fire Hall in Boalsburg between 2 and 6, Friday's in the shale parking lot behind Uncle Joes Woodshed in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center between 3 and 3:30, and Saturday's from 10-1 at the Old Gregg Community Center in Spring Mills or by appointment here at our house . Not sure where these places are??? Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Here is what we have available this week:
From the garden: Diakon radishes, cabbage, watermelon radishes, Jerusalen artichokes, rutabaga, potatoes, garlic, beets, winter storage kohlrabi (thick skinned, but very sweet!)and spaghetti squash.
From the kitchen: Tarts (crusts made with organic spelt): Mixed fruit, cheesecake, lemon berry, dark chocolate berry truffle. Sprouted Scones: Dark Chocolate Chip/Almond, Orange Ginger Sprouted Cookies/Bars: Shortbread Cookies, Oatmeal Date Nut bars. Flatbreads: Tomato/Garlic/Onion (spelt), Asiago/Parmesan Herb (spelt), and Fig Walnut Raisin (sprouted spelt). Flatbread Crisps: Sunflower Sesame Flax and Honey Cinnamon. Sprouted Breads: Spelt, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut (spelt), Spelt, dinner or sandwich rolls (spelt), and 4 grain (all organic flours--wheat, spelt, quinoa, and oats).
Cultured Veggies: gingered carrots, beets, radish/garlic
Sprouts: Sandwich mix
Nutty Berry Mix Granola
Spelt Pancake Mix: Makes about 10 delicicious and nutritious pancakes - especiall yummy when topped with MacNeal's maple syrup!
Kombucha Tea: Apricot, passionfruit papaya, ginger, acai berry and wild berry.
Kombucha vinegar: Triple berry - made with red and black raspberries, blackberries, and our own Kombucha.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: Rosemary Thyme
Meats: Ground lamb, hot Italian lamb sausage, garlic lamb ring bologna, Grass fed hamburger, wild caught Alaskan Sockeye salmon.
Products from our local partners: Wild flower honey, Clover honey, Raw honey, Tait Farm jams (sour cherry, raspberry, blackberry and apricot butter) and raspberry shrub, free range eggs.
Eric & Cindy Noel
Greetings All--
For those of you who have been following our weekly blog, it will not be updated this week, but here is what we now know: The Executive Director of PASA had a "sit-down" with Senator Casey and some of his staff to represent small scale farmers in the North East. Unfortunately, he was not very well recieved, we was told that small farms need to be as regulated as the mass production facilities. Although some of the standards laid out are great for food safety, some will be of great detriment to our business model--between fees to "join the club" and inspection costs, we would be looking at thousands of dollars in additional costs, but I am speaking specifically about the "Traceability" section of the bill. It looks like if you purchase a bunch of beets, we will need to document who you are and when and where you bought the product, then keep that information on file for 2 years. We are not sure what that will do to ALL farmers' markets and farm stands...we'll see as the legislation continues! Senator Casey is a key figure in this legislation, feel free to call or email him
Here is what we have available this week:
CARNIVORES CORNER:
Chicken: More soon, still waiting to hear a date from our processor--Better order today!
Beef: LAST CHANCE TO ORDER FOR DECEMBER!! Grass Fed English Aged Angus. Follow this link for some great information on the beef! 95% lean grass fed beef with outstanding taste and texture! Only $3.50 per pound hanging weight--by the 1/8th, 1/4, 1/2, or whole beef.
Lamb: Garlic lamb bologna, hot Italian sausage and ground lamb.
Salmon: We are taking orders for Wild caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. We are offering portion size packages which normally wiegh in between 3/4 and 1 pound. Price is $13 per pound.
Orders can be picked up Tuesdays at the Fire Hall in Boalsburg between 2 and 6, Friday's in the shale parking lot behind Uncle Joes Woodshed in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center between 3 and 3:30, and Saturday's from 10-1 at the Old Gregg Community Center in Spring Mills or by appointment here at our house . Not sure where these places are??? Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Here is what we have available this week:
From the garden: Diakon radishes, cabbage, micro-greens (limited supply), mustard greens, arugula, mesclum mix, watermelon radishes, Jerusalen artichokes, rutabaga, potatoes, garlic, beets, kale, winter storage kohlrabi (thick skinned, but very sweet!)and spaghetti squash.
From the kitchen: Tarts (crusts made with organic spelt): Mixed fruit, pumpkin cheesecake, lemon berry, dark chocolate berry truffle and pumpkin custard. Sprouted Scones: Dark Chocolate Chip/Almond, Orange Ginger and Lemon Poppyseed. Sprouted Cookies/Bars: Shortbread Cookies, Oatmeal Date Nut bars. Muffins: Pumpkin Cream Cheese. Flatbreads: Tomato/Garlic/Onion (spelt), Asiago/Parmesan Herb (spelt), and Fig Walnut Raisin (sprouted spelt). Flatbread Crisps: Sunflower Sesame Flax and Honey Cinnamon. Sprouted Breads: Spelt, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut (spelt), Spelt, dinner or sandwich rolls (spelt), and 4 grain (all organic flours--wheat, spelt, quinoa, and oats).
Cultured Veggies: next week
Sprouts: Sandwich mix
Nutty Berry Mix Granola
Spelt Pancake Mix: Makes about 10 delicicious and nutritious pancakes - especiall yummy when topped with MacNeal's maple syrup!
Kombucha Tea: Apricot, passionfruit papaya, ginger, acai berry and wild berry.
Kombucha vinegar: Triple berry - made with red and black raspberries, blackberries, and our own Kombucha.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: Rosemary Thyme
Meats: Ground lamb, hot Italian lamb sausage, garlic lamb ring bologna, Grass fed hamburger, wild caught Alaskan Sockeye salmon.
Products from our local partners: Wild flower honey, Clover honey, Raw honey, Tait Farm jams (sour cherry, raspberry, blackberry and apricot butter) and raspberry shrub, free range eggs.
Eric & Cindy Noel
Greetings All--
Here is what we have available this week:CARNIVORES CORNER:
Chicken: More in 2 weeks!--Better order today!
Beef: Stock up now for the winter!! Grass Fed English Aged Angus. Follow this link for some great information on the beef! 95% lean grass fed beef with outstanding taste and texture! Only $3.50 per pound hanging weight--by the 1/8th, 1/4, 1/2, or whole beef.
Lamb: Garlic lamb bologna, hot Italian sausage and ground lamb.
Salmon: We are taking orders for Wild caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. We are offering portion size packages which normally wiegh in between 3/4 and 1 pound. Price is $13 per pound.
Orders can be picked up Tuesdays at the Fire Hall in Boalsburg between 2 and 6, Friday's in the shale parking lot behind Uncle Joes Woodshed in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center between 3 and 3:30, and Saturday's from 10-1 at the Old Gregg Community Center in Spring Mills or by appointment here at our house . Not sure where these places are??? Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Here is what we have available this week:
From the garden: Diakon radishes, mustard greens, arugula, watermelon radishes, Jerusalen artichokes, rutabaga, potatoes, onions, garlic, beets, kale, and spaghetti squash.
From the kitchen: Tarts (crusts made with organic spelt): Lemon Curd, Cheesecake, Mixed Fruit, and Pumpkin Custard. Sprouted Scones: Dark Chocolate Chip/Almond, Orange Ginger and Lemon Poppyseed. Sprouted Cookies/Bars: Shortbread Cookies, Oatmeal Date Nut bars. Muffins: Pumpkin Cream Cheese. Flatbreads: Tomato/Garlic/Onion (spelt), Asiago/Parmesan Herb (spelt), and Fig Walnut Raisin (sprouted spelt). Flatbread Crisps: Sunflower Sesame Flax and Honey Cinnamon. Sprouted Breads: Spelt, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut (spelt), Spelt, dinner or sandwich rolls (spelt).
Cultured Veggies: next week
Sprouts: Sandwich mix
Nutty Berry Mix Granola
Spelt Pancake Mix: Makes about 10 delicicious and nutritious pancakes - especiall yummy when topped with MacNeal's maple syrup!
Kombucha Tea: Apricot, passionfruit papaya, ginger, acai berry and wild berry.
Kombucha vinegar: Triple berry - made with red and black raspberries, blackberries, and our own Kombucha.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: Rosemary Thyme
Meats: Lamb loin chops, ground lamb, hot Italian lamb sausage, garlic lamb ring bologna, lamb liver, Grass fed hamburger, wild caught Alaskan Sockeye salmon.
Products from our local partners: Wild flower honey, Clover honey, Raw honey, Tait Farm jams (sour cherry, raspberry, blackberry and apricot butter) and raspberry shrub, free range eggs.
Eric & Cindy Noel
Greetings All--
Please check out this weeks blog--I found some troubling information on just how our legislature works! I think this could open a few eyes! Check it out! The email will be first, just scroll down.The Harvest Shak is now closed for the season!!!
The Boalsburg Farmers' Market moves inside this week--you'll find us at the Firehall in Boalsburg from 2-6. We will be joined by 17 other vendors bringing you fresh local food all winter long! From State College, go past the Museum parking lot and turn right immediately after Uni-Mart. The Firehall is less than 1 block off of Business 322.
CARNIVORES CORNER:
Chicken: More in 3 weeks!--Better order today!
Beef: Stock up now for the winter!! Grass Fed English Aged Angus. Follow this link for some great information on the beef! 95% lean grass fed beef with outstanding taste and texture! Only $3.50 per pound hanging weight--by the 1/8th, 1/4, 1/2, or whole beef.
Lamb: We have loin chops, hot Italian lamb sausage, garlic lamb bologna, and ground lamb, available.
Salmon: We are taking orders for Wild caught Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. We are offering portion size packages which normally wiegh in between 3/4 and 1 pound. Price is $13 per pound.
Orders can be picked up Tuesdays at the Firehall in Boalsburg between 2 and 6, Friday's in the shale parking lot behind Uncle Joes Woodshed in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Centerbetween 3 and 3:30, and Saturday's from 10-1 at the Old Gregg Community Center in Spring Mills . Not sure where these places are??? Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Here is what we have available this week:
From the garden: Brussels Sprouts, diakon radishes, watermelon radishes, Jerusalen artichokes, rutabaga, potatoes, onions, garlic, beets, and spaghetti squash.
From the kitchen: Tarts (crusts made with organic spelt): Peanut Butter Creme, Cheesecake, Pecan Chocolate, Lemon Curd and Pumpkin Custard. Sprouted Scones: Dark Chocolate Chip/Almond, Orange Ginger. Sprouted Cookies/Bars: Shortbread Cookies, Oatmeal Date Nut bars. Muffins: Pumpkin Cream Cheese. Flatbreads: Tomato/Garlic/Onion (spelt), Asiago/Parmesan Herb (spelt), and Fig Walnut Raisin (sprouted spelt). Flatbread Crisps: Sunflower Sesame Flax and Honey Cinnamon - great with dips or salsa! Sprouted Breads: Spelt, Cinnamon Raisin Walnut (spelt), Spelt, dinner or sandwich rolls (spelt).
Lacto-Fermented Veggies: Caraway Beets and Gingered Carrots
Sprouts: Sandwich mix
Nutty Berry Mix Granola
Spelt Pancake Mix: Makes about 10 delicicious and nutritious pancakes - especiall yummy when topped with MacNeal's maple syrup!
Kombucha Tea: Apricot, passionfruit papaya, ginger, acai berry and wild berry.
Kombucha vinegar: Triple berry - made with red and black raspberries, blackberries, and our own Kombucha.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar: Rosemary Thyme
Products from our local partners: Wild flower honey, Clover honey, Raw honey, Tait Farm jams (sour cherry, raspberry, blackberry and apricot butter) and raspberry shrub, free range eggs.
Eric & Cindy Noel
Hey everyone!
I wanted to update you on some information I learned today about the food safety modernization act that is before the Senate. Today I spoke with a gentleman who actually sat in on the committee meeting with the Senators who are writing the bill. It looks like they will write--but hopefully not pass-- a "one size fits all" bill. The current draft will charge all farms/producers a fee to join the Safe Growers Club (my words not theirs). The smaller farms/producers will be charged a lesser fee, but it will still be substancial! This gentleman who sat in on the meeting suggested to the committee that the bill be adjusted so that farmers/producers who do a business of less than 1 million dollars in gross sales be exempted from the program, but he was told that if this were done it would eliminate 80% of the funding needed to inspect the larger companies--so if this were to pass, the little guys would be paying for the larger companies safety inspectios! My guess is that there would be little or no funding left to check on our operations, but by law we would have to adhere to the guidelines. His thought was that with the healthcare issue floundering the legislatures will need to pass something--to show that they are working--Food safety was next on the list and with little public outcry, it could very well be an easy bill to pass. Please call, write, or email our Senators!! This could very well be a baby step towards closing your local farmers and producers.
On July 29, 2009, the House of Representatives passed HR 2749, the Food Safety Modernization Act, and the next step in the process will be the Senate.
Although it is not certain, the Senate will probably focus its food safety discussions on S. 510, sponsored by Senator Durbin of Illinois. S. 510 is different from HR 2749, but it contains many of the same problems.
H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enforcement Act (FSEA), added over 130 pages to the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act with a myriad of new requirements and penalties for violations.
The Farm To Consumer Legal Defense Fund agrees that the industrial food safety system has serious flaws and needs to be fixed. The US has seen numerous outbreaks of foodborne illnesses caused by imported foods or domestic foods that were processed in huge facilities and shipped throughout the country. Unfortunately, HR 2749 does not focus FDA’s efforts on these very real problems. Instead, it creates a regulatory framework that will heavily burden the small farms and local food processors, the very people who provide a safe, healthy alternative to the industrial food supply.
S.510, they say, is more of the same, and needs to be defeated.
Sources:
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Dr. Mercola's Comments:
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It’s already too late to act on HR2749 as it was already passed by the House of Representatives on July 29th. (To read a summary of that bill, see this link. For the full version, click here.) However, it’s not too late to stop this latest FDA power grab as it moves into the Senate to be voted on as bill S.510. Introduced by Illinois’ state Senator Dick Durbin, S.510 will grant more power to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the US food supply, and no matter how well-intentioned it may appear on the surface, I have doubts about the FDA’s capability to improve our food quality. And I’m not the only one. Small farmers across the nation are voicing their opinions in online groups such as Facebook, stating the bill will cause serious damage to their businesses. The law would require them to focus on FDA paperwork like animal registrations and multiple other filings, rather than raising healthy crops and animals, like they’ve always done. And if they fail to follow the red tape, they will be seriously penalized. According to an article on GovernmentExecutive.com, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the National Organic Council have said the $500 annual fees are too high for small processors. In addition, it’s unclear who will pay for the FDA's increased level of regulation and inspection. Summary of Senate Bill S.510 According to the summary on GovTrack.us, S.510: FDA Food Safety Modernization Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to expand the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to regulate food, including by authorizing the Secretary to suspend the registration of a food facility. (1) food facility reinspection; (2) food recalls; and (3) the voluntary qualified importer program. Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to prepare the National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy. Requires the Secretary to: (1) identify preventive programs and practices to promote the safety and security of food; (2) promulgate regulations on sanitary food transportation practices; (3) develop a policy to manage the risk of food allergy and anaphylaxis in schools and early childhood education programs; (4) allocate inspection resources based on the risk profile of food facilities or food; (5) recognize bodies that accredit food testing laboratories; and (6) improve the capacity of the Secretary to track and trace raw agricultural commodities. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to enhance foodborne illness surveillance systems. Authorizes the Secretary to order an immediate cessation of distribution, or a recall, of food. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist state, local, and tribal governments in preparing for, assessing, decontaminating, and recovering from an agriculture or food emergency. Provides for: (1) foreign supplier verification activities; (2) a voluntary qualified importer program; and (3) the inspection of foreign facilities registered to import food. The Problems with Senate Bill S.510 Here’s a brief explanation of the various problems inherent in S.510 (the same problems which were also found in HR 2749), as written by Pete Kennedy, Esq., President of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund : Food safety problems lie with the industrial food processors and food imports, not with local producers. FDA should not be given any additional regulatory power over the local food system than what the agency has at present. S.510 calls for federal regulation of how farmers grow and harvest product. Farmers selling food directly to local markets are inherently transparent and accountable to their customers, and there is no reason to impose these regulations on them. In fact, when HAACP was applied to the meat packing industry, it was instrumental in reducing the number of smaller regional and local meat packers, yet failed to increase the number of independent, objective inspectors in giant meat slaughtering and packing facilities. Act NOW! Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with bill S.510. For the full text click this link. Then contact your state Senators TODAY, and let them know what you think. Time is of the essence if we want to stop this bill, so please do not delay! Time and again the FDA has shown that it is not acting in the best interest of your health and safety. They’ve been caught, and in some cases openly admitted, to rampant conflicts of interest within their organization. Needless to say, industry has won, again and again, at the expense of your safety – the exact opposite of what the FDA has been charged to do. Do you really want the FDA in charge of regulating your food? Do we really need another bureaucracy regulating small farmers into oblivion so that you have even less access to healthy, locally-grown foods? If you don’t know who your Senator is, please see this convenient list on Senate.gov showing the Senators for each state, and their contact information.
Requires each food facility to evaluate hazards and implement preventive controls.
Directs the Secretary to assess and collect fees related to:
Based on FDA's track record, it is likely that such rules will also discriminate against diversified sustainable farms that produce animals and crops in complementary systems.
S.510 expands FDA's powers over food processors, regardless of their size, scale, or distribution. FDA oversight of small, local food processors is overreaching and unnecessary.
Small processors selling into local markets do not need federal oversight, unlike the large, industrial, multi-sourced supply chains that are the cause of most foodborne illnesses and food recalls.
S.510 applies a complex Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system to even the smallest local processors, imposing onerous paperwork and record-keeping on these small businesses.
Applying a HACCP system to local foods facilities processing for local markets, as well as farmers making value-added products, could undermine and extinguish these emerging small businesses attempting to bring healthy local foods to American consumers.
Bottom line: One size does not fit all when considering food safety bills!
Local foods businesses are not the same as animal factories or mega-farms that sell products into industrial scale national and international markets, and should not be regulated the same way!
