The Food Safety Modernization Act seeks to reform the nation's Food System, addressing issues that continually come up around the causes of food borne illnesses and dangerous outbreaks. In the interest of public health, some new system is necessary - this bill is in danger of cutting the solution off at the knees.
    The large scale industrialization of food production is the cause of such outbreaks.  Community based Food Systems build relationships between small scale farmers and their neighborhood consumers, enabling consumers to choose their food based on relationships and therefore have direct answers for any concerns that might arise.
    The Food Safety Modernization Act will disrupt the small producers ability to have a direct relationship that provides safety and accountability. The Act provides the FDA with the authority to dictate farming practices which are counter-intuitive to the notions of sustainability and an inter-connectedness with entire eco-systems. The provisions of the Act will impose significant burdens on small farmers.
     Please ask your Senators to adjust the bill to allow local producers to maintain their facilities in accordance with practice that fits the scale of production.
click here! http://sustainableagriculture.net/take-action/food-safety-action-alert/

Come along April 24th at 2pm to my Food Forum discussion as part of Earth Day Marin's big event and see gorgeous, colorful, alive produce on display in baskets.
This is Marin County showing off her bountiful best.