All your food belongs to us

[zahc]

Remember how many millions of people died from communist and socialist economic programs that caused famines and food shortages?

[seeker_two]

Hmmmm.....maybe now's the time to invest in black market food production....kinda like using all those basement marijuana setups to grow oregano.... 

[kgbsquirrel]

Remember how many millions of people died from communist and socialist economic programs that caused famines and food shortages?

Just look at Ukraine under Stalin. Formerly the most agriculturally productive region of the USSR, in 1932-33 somewhere from 6 to 7 million Ukranians starved to death.

[RoadKingLarry]

Another take on the bill A little outdated but good points.
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/s510-revised-fda-coming-kennedy.htm

As to how it will affect my operation

RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall amend the definition of the term ‘‘retail
food establishment’’ in section in 1.227(b)(11) of
title 21, Code of Federal Regulations to clarify that,
in determining the primary function of an establishment or a retail food establishment under such section, the sale of food products directly to consumersby such establishment and the sale of food directly
to consumers by such retail food establishment include—

(A) the sale of such food products or food
directly to consumers by such establishment at
a roadside stand or farmers’ market where such
stand or market is located other than where the
food was manufactured or processed;

This and what follws sounds like I will be required to be licensed as a retailer to set up at my farmer's market. If they do this it will likely shut down many small farmer's markets.

[stevelyn]

This is nothing than control. Control the food and you control the people.

I see our two worthless Senators voted yea on this. And the Spoiled Princess wonders why we tossed her during the primaries.

[charby]

Another take on the bill A little outdated but good points.
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/s510-revised-fda-coming-kennedy.htm

As to how it will affect my operation

This and what follws sounds like I will be required to be licensed as a retailer to set up at my farmer's market. If they do this it will likely shut down many small farmer's markets.

This may suck for a friend and I becasue we are going to expand our bee hives and get into selling honey to pay for our hobby.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Another take on the bill A little outdated but good points.
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/s510-revised-fda-coming-kennedy.htm

As to how it will affect my operation

This and what follws sounds like I will be required to be licensed as a retailer to set up at my farmer's market. If they do this it will likely shut down many small farmer's markets.

actually its IS outdated  the version passed will not do what you fear was a specific change

[Tallpine]

Email from Sen. Jon Tester:

This is a good bill that strengthens our food safety while protecting the jobs and livelihoods of folks who put food on our tables.

The bill includes my amendment to protect family farmers and food producers from new federal regulations they can't afford and don't need. Under my amendment, food producers would not be subject to new federal requirements if they:

Sell the majority of their food directly to consumers within the state, or within a 275-mile radius of where it was produced, and
Have less than $500,000 per year in sales.

If I can believe what he says... 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

the bill is available in english  press 1

you can even follow the process that one by one brought the bill in line


or read and believe the hippy version of alex jones web site

[TommyGunn]

I didn't realize Alex Jones was a hippy AND a kook....

[RoadKingLarry]

actually its IS outdated  the version passed will not do what you fear was a specific change

The quote I posted from the bill was from the bill as passed by the senate. There will be an impact on my operation from this bill. How much of an impact remains to be seen.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

what do you envision the impact being? you selling a half mill in produce?

[RoadKingLarry]

The way I read it the $500K exemption for small producers applies to on farm sales.
Sales at a location other than on farm are going to be treated differently.

What I expect is more federal regulatory interference in what should be a state matter.
I also expect some additional cost to me to be able to sell at a farmer's market.
I may be wrong but time will tell.

[Ron]

S510 is a historic expansion of power of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, it also puts all U.S. food production under the control of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. It gives the feds sweeping and generalized powers. Definitions of possible food crimes and enumeration of specific powers will be hammered out AFTER the bill is passed.

It is has the full support of big ag.

Those who support big centralized government solutions to every problem seem to support this bill.

Those who support state and local solutions seem to oppose this bill.

I've seen reports that it will cost 800 million the first year and up to 1.4 billion over the next four to implement this bill if it becomes law.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

any links to those reports?  so far most all the "zomg" stuff i've seen links back to one group/website

[MicroBalrog]

we pause to interject a few facts

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20101130/ts_yblog_thelookout/how-the-new-food-safety-bill-might-affect-you

please return to your regularly scheduled rant

What facts are those? THe author has a positive opinion claiming that the bill will make food safer. Not a single provision of the bill is even quoted in the article.

[MicroBalrog]

any links to those reports?  so far most all the "zomg" stuff i've seen links back to one group/website

You disagree it is a historic expansion of power? Even supporters of the bill think so.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Not a single provision of the bill is even quoted in the article.

no?

Critics of the bill, both on the left and the right, have argued that food producers will pass on the higher costs of stricter regulation to consumers, and there's a chance that could happen. However, the bill does exempt farms making less than $500,000 per year



Opponents have also suggested that the bill would basically outlaw the sale and distribution of fruits and vegetables grown in backyard gardens. This is not the case. As SB 510 is currently worded, small growers who sell their goods at food co-ops, farmer's markets, roadside stands, etc., wouldn't have to register with the FDA -- though they would still have to comply with whatever state and local food laws are in effect in their area.



maybe you can quote the parts you find onerous? please use the actual bill as passed not the zomg end of tghe world version in the nicely  done video

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

You disagree it is a historic expansion of power? Even supporters of the bill think so.

so thats a no to links to those reports?  at least none that don't originate at food freedom?

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

oops

[HankB]

Remember how many millions of people died from communist and socialist economic programs that caused famines and food shortages?

Look at what's happened to Zimbabwe's agricultural sector - and the consequences to the rest of the country - in less than 10 years of politically motivated farm invasions. 

[De Selby]

Has there ever been a true free-market (as in, not subsidized to the tune of billions and not carefully planned by the state) agricultural system that supplied the abundance and quality of the American system?  That is an honest question.  I don't think there is an example of a private system that didn't result in booms and busts, which in agriculture means feast and famine.

If there is one sector of the economy where government control and planning rivalled Soviet economic models, it's agriculture.  But now we're lamenting the "historic new powers" over food.  Folks, it never was a private system in the first place.

[MicroBalrog]

Has there ever been a true free-market (as in, not subsidized to the tune of billions and not carefully planned by the state) agricultural system that supplied the abundance and quality of the American system?  That is an honest question. 

You do not think this has something to do with technological progress?

[De Selby]

Has there ever been a true free-market (as in, not subsidized to the tune of billions and not carefully planned by the state) agricultural system that supplied the abundance and quality of the American system?  That is an honest question. 

You do not think this has something to do with technological progress?

Of course technology has something to do with it - but the funds were available for that technology in an industry that is carefully managed by the State, and agricultural technology has been subsidized as well. 

[MicroBalrog]

Not a single provision of the bill is even quoted in the article.

no?

Critics of the bill, both on the left and the right, have argued that food producers will pass on the higher costs of stricter regulation to consumers, and there's a chance that could happen.

A chance nearing 100%?

maybe you can quote the parts you find onerous? please use the actual bill as passed not the zomg end of tghe world version in the nicely  done video

Under that bill, the government may stop, by executive order, the operation of farms whose products it finds to be of a  'reasonable' chance to cause harm to consumers, providing the farmer the recourse of restoring his 'registration' after he proves his goods are safe at a hearing with the Dept. of Agriculture. Does that make sense to you that the farmer needs to prove himself innocent?