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This comes to us from The Weston A. Price Foundation:
Support local food sources!
Link to share: https://www.westonaprice.org/support-local-food-sources/
When the conventional food system showed its fragility during the COVID shut-downs, local producers kept feeding their communities with high-quality meat, eggs, dairy, and produce. Artisanal small businesses provide fermented foods, kombucha, and many more foods vital for nourishing our communities.
Yet these local farmers and artisanal producers all too often face unnecessary difficulties created by government regulations, policies, and programs.
Now we have a rare opportunity to urge the USDA to change! The disruptions in the food system over the last year have led President Biden to direct the USDA to submit a report that assesses the supply chains for the production of agricultural commodities and food products.
As part of developing that report, the USDA is accepting public comments on “Supply Chains for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products” until June 21. The agency will also consider the public comments in its decision on how to spend stimulus funds, since it has been directed to increase durability and resilience within the U.S. food supply.
This is an important opportunity to talk about the significance of localized, decentralized food systems – and to give the agency specific action steps that would help move us to those systems!
In writing your comments, please try to include (1) examples of the challenges farmers and other food producers face in raising, processing, and marketing their products; and (2) specific action items that would help small-scale and diversified producers to build resilient, diversified systems.
Note that the USDA cannot change statutory law. So issues such as the requirement that meat be processed in an inspected slaughterhouse are outside the scope of this comment period. But the agency can change its own regulations, policies, and where it directs funding – so there is a lot that it can do to address problems with that meat inspection program, for example.
Topics to consider including in your comments:
- Meat processing: USDA should take steps to support the continuation and establishment of new small- and mid-sized operations.
- Share your own story about meat processing. Farmers: Were you able to provide meat during the meatpacker shutdowns last spring? Or have you been unable to because of a lack of processing? Consumers: What did you see during the pandemic? From whom did you get meat?
- As a small farmer or processor, what changes do you think are needed? Remember to focus on things that are in the regulations and policies, as well as direct relief funding for financial support, not statutory changes that are beyond the agency’s ability to change.
- Consider expressing support for these policy changes:
- Revise USDA’s policy governing multiple owners of animals that are processed in custom-exempt slaughterhouses. The USDA currently requires that the custom slaughterhouse record each owner and do the division of the meat, which makes it impractical for more than 4 people to co-own an animal. But the statute and regulations merely provide that the meat must be for the personal or household use of the owners. If USDA modified its policy, then “animal shares” could be far more flexible, allowing farmers and consumers to agree to use custom processors. In effect, we could implement the Wyoming herd share law without the need for new state statutes if USDA makes a simple policy change.
- Reform the scale-prejudicial regulations and policies on small-scale slaughterhouses, including: (1) prioritize inspector availability for small-scale processors and provide training specific to small-scale processors; (2) revise the pathogen testing and process-control testing to ensure that small plants are tested proportionally to large plants; (3) reduce the difficulty and expense in developing HACCPs by providing model HACCPs, posting applicable peer-reviewed research, and identifying the control points for different types of products.
- The agency needs to stop adopting regulations and policies that are scale-prejudicial. For example, electronic animal ID is much more expensive for small-scale producers, yet the benefits flow to the large players and exporters.
- Share your concerns about electronic ID, both its impact on you and on others in the industry. Do you run your animals in pasture conditions where they are more likely to lose tags, increasing the time and monetary expense? Does your local sale barn have infrastructure for running all electronic ID or would it be forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars to install it? Would your veterinarian have to buy new equipment to deal with an electronic system?
- Other areas of needed infrastructure, whether physical (such as commercial kitchens and storage) or logistical (support for food hubs, farmers markets, etc.): What do you see as needed to build resilient, vibrant local food systems? Again, this can involve changing regulations, policy and guidance documents, or providing funding through USDA programs.
You can submit your comment online at
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/AMS-TM-21-0034-0076
DEADLINE: Monday, June 21
https://www.westonaprice.org/tell-usda-and-congress-to-support-local-meat-production/
The USDA and FDA have been waiving multiple regulations to help big Agribusiness shift their supply and distribution chains during the COVID-19 outbreak. It’s time that they help small farmers!
Even before COVID, one of the biggest barriers to small farmers providing meat for their local communities has been the shortage of small-scale processors. The problem is largely due to USDA regulations that require “state inspected” facilities to meet USDA standards, which are difficult, expensive, and unnecessary for small-scale facilities that may process as much in an entire year as the massive meatpacking facilities do in a single day.
Several changes are needed, but the simplest one would be to lift the ban on the sale of meat from what are known as “custom” slaughterhouses. These processors meet state regulations as well as basic federal requirements. They are typically very small, with few employees. Their small scale means that they are better able to provide both social distancing and sanitation measures while safely continuing operations.
But the meat from a custom slaughterhouse can only be provided back to – and consumed by the household of — the person who owned the animal when it entered the slaughterhouse. A consumer who is not able to pay for and store hundreds of pounds of meat in one order is unable to access the meat from a custom slaughterhouse. And a farmer who wants to sell his or her beef, lamb, goat, or pork to consumers at a local farmers’ market or other local outlet cannot use a custom slaughterhouse.
Lifting the federal prohibition on the sale of meat from custom slaughterhouses could help small farmers step into the gap being left by the closures of large-scale operations, at least to some extent. This emergency measure is also good long-term policy, diversifying and strengthening our food system.
TAKE ACTION #1:
Join us in calling on the USDA to lift the ban on custom slaughterhouses as an emergency measure during the COVID-19 outbreak! With the closing of multiple massive slaughterhouses, even the big meat industry is acknowledging that they cannot properly function in this crisis – it’s time to help the small farmers feed their local communities.
Send your email to USDA Under Secretary Brashears at Mindy.Brashears@USDA.gov
A sample email is below. You can use it for ideas to write your own email, or simply add a sentence or two at the beginning about why this issue is important to you.
Dear Under Secretary Brashears:
The recent shutdown of major processing plants due to COVID-19 illness among plant employees has led to looming meat shortages for consumers, as well as devastating losses for many farmers.
I urge USDA to take a simple step to help alleviate this emergency: suspend the federal laws prohibiting the sale of custom meat in intrastate commerce.
Custom slaughterhouses have a great track record for food safety. USDA recalls over 20 million pounds of meat and poultry in an average year, but only a miniscule amount of that is attributed to meat slaughtered and processed at custom facilities. Custom plants’ small size not only allow them to implement good food safety measures, but also create a work environment where it’s easier to comply with the current social distancing measures.
Temporarily suspending the laws prohibiting the intrastate sale of custom meats can reduce the severity of the meat shortages and price increases for consumers while providing badly needed markets for farmers and ranchers.
I urge you to take this step immediately.
Sincerely,
Name
State
TAKE ACTION #2
Given the close ties between USDA and Big Agribusiness, getting the agency to lift the ban will be an uphill battle. So we need to fight for change on multiple fronts!
Congress can also take steps to address this problem. The PRIME Act, H.R. 2859/ S.1620
permanently repeals the federal ban on the sale of meat from custom slaughterhouses. The bill returns control to the states to address the issue of meat processing. States would be able to permit producers to sell meat processed at a custom slaughterhouse within the state. States could choose to impose whatever conditions or limitations that best suited their agricultural, food system, and social conditions. The bill would help with both the short-term crisis and the long-term change we need in our food system.
The bill has languished in Congress for a long time, but is gaining new support due to the news about closings.
If you represent a non-profit organization, or own a farm or ranch, we encourage you to sign on to a letter to the House Agriculture Committee urging them to move the PRIME Act forward! You can read the letter and sign on at: https://forms.gle/qSMx8kZohyc9aAQH6
The next action step is how all individuals can support the PRIME Act.
TAKE ACTION #3:
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Call your U.S. Representative and Senators and urge them to sign on to H.R. 2859 and S. 1620. You can look up who represents you at https://www.congress.gov/ or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Below is a sample message for your call or email. Remember that calls have a greater impact, and only take a couple of minutes. Use this sample message as a starting point – tailor it to your own language and focus on why this issue is important to you. Personalized messages are the best way to convince legislators!
As a constituent, I urge Representative ____ to co-sponsor H.R. 2859, the PRIME Act. [OR: I urge Senator ___ to co-sponsor S.1620, the PRIME Act]
As Americans face potential meat shortages due to the closing of massive meatpackers, it is more important than ever to revitalize our local food production and processing. The PRIME Act opens up options for small livestock farms and ranches by removing the federal ban on the sale of meat from custom slaughterhouses within a state, subject to state law. This returns power to the states to establish a regulatory scheme that makes sense for their citizens.
At a time when we see empty grocery store shelves, and media headlines abut the failure of massive meatpacking companies to safely secure our food supply, this bill provides vital opportunities – and many long-term benefits. The PRIME Act supports local food production and small businesses, while also reducing vehicle miles traveled with livestock trailers and helping to meet the consumer demand for locally raised meat.
Please support consumers and small farmers by co-sponsoring H.R. 2859.
Name
City, State
If you are a livestock producer, take a few extra minutes and ask to speak to the staffer who handles agricultural issues. Briefly explain to the staffer any problems you have faced with lack of access to inspected slaughterhouses, and how the PRIME Act would help your business and benefit your customers.
NOTE: If your Representative is already a co-sponsor, be sure to say “Thank you!” when you call.
H.R. 2859 co-sponsors (with ** next to the most recent ones)
Justin Amash (R-MI)
Andy Biggs (R-AZ)
**Ken Buck (R-CO)
Tim Burchett (R-TN)
** Roy Chip (R-TX)
Joe Courtney (D-CT)
** Warren Davidson (R-OH)
Rodney Davis (R-IL)
Jeff Duncan (R-SC)
Matt Gaetz (R-FL)
John Garamendi (D-CA)
** Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
Jared Golden (D-ME)
Mark Green (R-TN)
Jared Huffman (D-CA)
Steve King (R-IA)
Thomas Massie (R-KY)
Tom McClintock (R-CA)
Mark Meadows (R-NC)
Carol Miller (R-WV)
Alexander Mooney (R-WV)
Scott Perry (R-PA)
Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
Robert Wittman (R-VA)
- 1620 was filed Senator Angus King (I-ME) and is co-sponsored by Rand Paul (R-KY), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
Please help the Weston A. Price Foundation restore nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research and activism. westonaprice.org
Monday, March 9, 2020
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location:
Natural Grocers
201 Coburg Road
Eugene, OR 97401
Topic: Raw Milk and Grass-fed Beef
Beth of Wholesome Family Farm will speak about their raw milk dairy and grass-fed beef operation.
We farm, so you don’t have to. If you love fresh creamy raw milk and enjoy real grass-fed beef, but hate the idea of trudging through the mud on a cold winter morning. Then look no further, we are here to offer our services.
Wholesome Family Farm
503-332-7792
What to bring?
If you have been coming regularly, please consider upping your game! Bring more food or something different or special. If this is your first time, its fine to bring something easy.
Recipe Ideas:
Anything from Nourishing Traditions, the Healthy 4 Life booklet or Recipes of the Week would be wonderful. A simple homemade meal made from scratch using natural fats is always a great contribution.
Bring enough to share with everyone and be sure to include some traditional fats!
Children and guests welcome. Please bring dishes and serving utensils for your dish.
Thanks!
For more information see:
This comes to us from the The Weston A Price Foundation:
Support your local farmer
September 2, 2019 marks the 20 year anniversary of the Weston A. Price Foundation, and we plan to celebrate the whole month!
We are asking our members to help us celebrate twenty years of accurate information on diet and health by committing to support local farms. We call it the 50-50 Pledge: spend at least 50 percent of your food dollar by purchasing raw milk and raw milk products, eggs, poultry, meat and produce directly from local farmers and artisans. With the other 50 percent of your food dollar you can celebrate how small the world has become and enjoy, for example, rice, pineapple and spices from other parts of the world.
If you have gotten out of the habit of direct farm purchases or never started the habit, here’s how to renew your efforts to support local farmers:
- Contact your local chapter leader . Local chapters keep a food resource list and will be able to tell you where the pasture-based farms near you are located. Many chapters also help organize food drop-offs and deliveries.
- Visit realmilk.com to find sources of raw milk and other farm products near you. Our raw milk farmers need your support!
- Subscribe to the Find Real Food App for a resource of local foods.
- Go to farmmatch.com to find family farms in your neighborhood.
Locavore
lo·ca·vore
lōkəˌvôr
noun
NORTH AMERICAN
1 .a person whose diet consists only or principally of locally grown or produced food.
Learn more about the origins of the word “locavore” coined by Jessica Prentice who has presented at our Wise Traditions conference, been interviewed for our podcast and has received our activist award.
Locally here in the Willamette Valley we can take advantage of the Locally Grown Directory also see Find Nutrient-Dense Foods
This information comes to us from one of our local Eugene Chapter members. Please take a moment to sign a petition to two local enployee-owned stores, BiMart and Jerry’s Home Improvement Center, asking them to stop selling products that kill honeybee colonies:
Sign the Petition to BiMart and Jerry’s:
http://www.change.org/petitions/jerry-s-bi-mart-stores-stop-selling-bee-killing-neonicotinoid-insecticides
Stop selling poisons that kill honeybee colonies
By Gary Rondeau
Published: The Register Guard, March 20, 2013 12:00AM
The honeybees are going down. This year for the first time, almond growers in California were not able to get all the bees they need for pollination, and many colonies supplied were weak. Thousands of bee colonies were dead on arrival to the almond orchards.
According to conventional wisdom, the problem is a combination of Varroa mites and infectious diseases, but new evidence points to pesticides as the root cause. Chemicals known as neonicotinoids, including imidacloprid, are the problem.
It may already be too late to save the beekeeping industry in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency has been slow to act, and the chemicals causing the destruction are extraordinarily toxic and are persistent in the environment. read more >>
Read the full article on the Register Guard site:
http://www.registerguard.com/web/news/sevendays/29598116-47/bees-chemicals-kill-imidacloprid-bee.html.csp
Contact Jerry’s and BiMart:
After you have signed the petition, you may want to personally call or send a letter to these stores. I shop at both of these stores and will be telling them to stop carrying these bee killing poisons.
Jerry’s Home Improvement Center:
Scott Lindstrom, VP of Operations
2600 Hwy. 99 N.
Eugene, OR 97402
541-689-1911 ext.8400
Bi-Mart:
Jim Frazier
Business Office, Eugene
220 South Seneca Road.
344-0681 ext. 261.
More info:
I wrote to Gary asking him for more info. He says:
Please refer readers to the oregonsustainablebeekeepers.org website. There is a link there to the petition as well as other information and links – including our letter to the stores.
Soon I will have a post with specific chemicals and brand names found at local stores. These are the WORST because they invite overuse – treating insecticides like fertilizer.
- Ortho Rose and Flower Insect Control Plus Miracle Grow (granular formula)
- Bayer Advanced All-in-One Rose and Flower Care (granular formula)
Thanks, Lisa!
Gary
More articles on on this topic are available on the SquashPractice blog:
http://squashpractice.wordpress.com/
Sign the Petition:
Once again, here is the petition link: http://www.change.org/petitions/jerry-s-bi-mart-stores-stop-selling-neonicotinoid-insecticides/
This comes to us from a local member:
June 30, 2012
Hi All in about 10 days we will have an abundance of GMO/Soy/Corn free eggs for $4.25 a dozen. The chickens roam the property, no sprays or anything used on the field. Some of us got the family to switch and of course prices went up and now they are losing several of their existing customers. These egg yolks are much darker than the ones i have bought from farms that are certified OG, or that feed GMO free, etc…. this is private family who’s younger sons wanted to raise hens for a business. So you are keeping the young guys in business with your purchase. I will have several dozen available on Monday’s for the co-op – when people pick up their milk or produce, etc. i can add on some more for anyone on here. I live in the Royal Ave area of W Eugene.
Let me know if you are interested. I took a picture of some of their conventionally fed eggs if you would like to see the color of their yolks. It takes about 10 days for soy to detox so i won’t have any before then unless you want some during that time.
Julia
Contact Julia at: beauty4ashesisaiah61@yahoo.com
My son and I attended the open house at Camas Country Mill. We made it there for the last tour of the evening on the final day. It was very interesting. One of the owners of Camas Country Mill gave us some background on the business, how they got into it, and what they went through to start up the mill. Then he turned on the machine and they quickly bagged a couple hundred pounds of whole wheat flour while we watched.
They had prepared samples made from many of their grains and beans. I don’t think they know about the importance of proper preparation of grains and beans yet, but local and freshly ground is a great start!
We sampled “Faro Big Boost Salad”, “Three Lentil & Squash Curry Soup with Sausage”, “Sue’s Soup with Turkey Sausage”, and others. My son’s favorite was of course the , “Teff Brownies”, Gluten-free “Chocolate Chip Cookies”, and the apple cider. My favorite was actually a simple Teff Cereal topped with cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.
I’ll have to try making some of these recipes by soaking the grains first using the techniques outlined in Nourishing Traditions.
I don’t know all of the places you can buy these locally grown products, but I know they are selling at the Creswell Farmer’s Market. I think they are also available at the Eugene Farmer’s Market, probably Hummingbird Wholesale, and maybe some of the local natural food stores. If you know where these products are available please let us know in the comments below.
One of the owners I spoke to said that their stock of flour and grains rotates in about a month. That is pretty good for flour available in stores. For comparison another well-known brand we bought for the Healthy Grains class in October had an expiration date of TWO YEARS in the future!
The delicate oils in grains quickly become rancid after grinding. That is why we at the Weston A. Price Foundation recommend grinding your own flour, or buying the freshest flour possible, and then following careful preparation techniques.
For more information on the Weston A. Price website about soaking grains and beans see:
This information comes to us from the Willamette Valley Sustainable Food Alliance. Please take a moment to respond to them with your position on whether or not GMO sugar beets should be allowed in the Willamette Valley. We need to band together with all our local food groups and put forth one message: NO GMOs!
Special AnnouncementGreetings Members of the WVSFA,
It has recently come to the board’s attention that an important decision is about to be made in regards to the deregulation of GMO Roundup Ready Sugar Beets (RRSBs). This will unquestionably affect some of our local farmers. In response to this we have two letters:
1) To inform you about how to get more information about the subject, how to voice your opinion/ concerns, and to ask our members if they think the WVSFA as a whole should take a stance on the issue and submit our own letter.
2) To inform you of the stance that GMO Free Eugene is taking on this subject and allow you the opportunity to sign on to their letter.
Please read over the documents (see links below) and let us know if you would like the alliance as a whole to take a stance and write a letter against the deregulation of RRSBs. Please, feel free to take an individual stand and sign on to the GMO Free Eugene Letter.
Please contact Leda with any information regarding your stance and/ or if you have any questions or concerns.
As always, thanks for your continued support and for your hard work at keeping our food systems clean!
Sincerely,
Your WVSFA Board of Directors
RRSBs Letter to Members
GMO Free Eugene Letter |
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To voice your position to the WVSFA, please contact Leda at: ledaletters@gmail.com
Thanks,
– Lisa
Additional info:
This comes to us from the GMO-Free Eugene group:
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Again, thanks so much!
Teri
This comes to us from the Willamette Farm and Food Coalition:
Upcoming Farm Direct Community Bulk Buying Events
Consumers in Linn and Lane Counties … don’t miss the opportunity to stock up on locally grown whole grains, fresh ground flours, dry beans, legumes, and storage crops (garlic, onions, roots and winter squash). Mark your calendars today. We will send product lists and pre-order information soon.
Linn County Fill Your Pantry (Shedd):
Saturday, November 12, 2011
2 to 6pm
At the former Methodist Church, 30090 Hwy 99E (approx 5 miles south of Tangent)
Sponsored by: Willamette Seed & Grain and Ten Rivers Food Web
Product list and pre-order information will be posted soon on Ten Rivers Food Web site.
Contact at Stalford Seed Farm office: Michelle Layman, orders@greenwillowgrains.com, (541) 926-4611
Lane County Fill Your Pantry (Eugene):
Sunday, November 13, 2011
noon to 4pm
The new Viva Building, 150 Shelton McMurphey Blvd.
Sponsored by: Willamette Farm & Food Coalition and Hummingbird Wholesale
Product list and pre-order information will be available from Willamette Farm and Food Coalition
(541) 341-1216, info@lanefood.org
Is Gluten the real “Bad Guy” or is it phytates? Anti-nutrients found in all grains, nuts, seeds and legumes can wreak havoc on your digestive tract and de-mineralize bones; yet popular nutritional advice ignores this problem. Here in the Willamette Valley, there is a growing movement to grow more local grains and beans, but how do we safely consume them? Come learn how important this is to your health and the health of your family.
We will be sampling and showing how to make:
- Traditional Sourdough bread
- English Muffins
- Yogurt Dough for pastries
- Breakfast cereals
- Crispy nuts
- Nut milks
- and more…
For those that are gluten-free we are including an awesome seed crackers, grain free brownies and cheesecake recipe. O’boy, what a treat!
Class #4 ~ Healthy Grains
October 29th, 1 to 5pm
$35 (1 class)
Pre-Register Now: Classes will be $45 each at the door.
Location:
Tamarack Wellness Center
3575 Donald St, Eugene, OR 97405
We will have Kraut Pounders, Nourishing Traditions, Wise Traditions Journals and other books & goodies available for sale.
For more information contact:
Victoria Schneider
veebioenergy@gmail.com
541-954-4939
(Please do not call Tamarack for information about the program.)
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