Local Food Columbus » Policy and Regulation
Market Forces: Creating Jobs through Public Investment in Local and Regional Food Systems
A new report outlines the many benefits of investing in local food systems, including creating jobs. Market Forces: Creating Jobs through Public Investment in Local and Regional Food Systems | Union of Concerned Scientists. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Farmer's Markets, Featured Articles, National, News, Policy and Regulation
Good News for the Local Food Movement
Good News for the Local and Regional Food Movement President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act today, after a long bout of legislative wrangling by local food advocates, small farmers and their allies for food safety rules that protect consumers without curbing the growing movement toward fresh, local and regional food. The food safety bill passed by the House in July of 2009 would have imposed a one size fits all regulatory system biased toward industrial agriculture with a regressive registration fee, expensive food safety plans, and regular on-farm FDA inspections regardless of the degree of the potential risk for food borne illness. The new regulatory burdens threatened to erect formidable barriers to the developing local and regional markets for … Read entire article »
Filed under: Farmer's Markets, Local Food Processing, National, News, Policy and Regulation
Food Safety Bill Passes, Now Goes to President Obama
Earlier today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2751 The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act with 215 voting for and 144 against. Ten Republicans voted for the bill (see Final Vote). This is the bill that the Senate passed by voice vote on Sunday, December 19th, with the Tester-Hagan amendment protecting small farms intact. The food safety bill hit a roadblock after passing the Senate in late November because a provision requiring the collection of user fees violated the Constitutional mandate that all revenue-generating measures must originate in the House. House leaders then attached the bill as an amendment to two separate spending bills, neither of which were able to gain Republican support in the Senate. Senate … Read entire article »
Filed under: Farmer's Markets, Local Food Processing, National, News, Policy and Regulation
Update on S. 510 Federal Food Safety Legislation
The Farmers Market Management Network of Ohio has been following the Senate’s food safety bill closely and just issued an alert to keep in the amendments that protect small farms and processors that sell locally. The two articles below give a good overview of where the legislation is now. Your action is needed to keep local food growing. Action Alert – Local and Regional Food at Risk Action Alert December 8, 2010 Local and Regional Food at Risk Call Your Representative Food Safety Legislation passed by the Senate and to be… » Update on Federal Food Safety Bill S.510 On Tuesday, November 30, a year after it was reported out of Committee, the Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510) passed the Senate, 73-25. The bill,… » … Read entire article »
Filed under: Farmer's Markets, Local Food Processing, National, News, Policy and Regulation
Senate Food Safety Bill Moves Ahead
The Senate made substantial progress on the pending Food Safety Bill Wednesday. To move the sweeping food bill forward, the upper chamber voted 74-25 to limit debate, circumventing Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) objection. And key stakeholders resolved the two controversial issues that have plagued the bill: bisphenol A and small farm exemptions. Read: Senate Food Safety Bill Moves Ahead. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Local Food Processing, News, Policy and Regulation
Genetically Modified Soy Linked to Sterility, Infant Mortality
A study by Russian scientists concluded that GM soy-fed hamsters lost the ability to reproduce in three generations. The details are a cause for concern and emphasizes the need for more research into the long term effects of genetically modified foods and the chemicals that are used to grow them. There are other reports of similar effects in domestic animals in Austria, Italy and in the United States. Read the Detailed Article – Institute for Responsible Technology. More information on U.S. grown soybeans at Wikipedia. … Read entire article »
Filed under: News, Policy and Regulation
Ohio Grass Grazed Symbol Proposed
Supporters of transparency in labeling have proposed a new symbol to aid consumers in their food choices. Producers who would carry the label would need to have more than half of the feed consumed be grass(for ruminants) and less than half be grain-based concentrated feed. The proposal encourages or requires producers to commit to continuing education on sustainable methods, funding new research on healthy food production and community involvement. Initially the symbol would be used for ruminants such as cows and sheep, but would be expanded to other animals in the future. Read the preliminary_ohiograss.pdf (application/pdf Object). … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured Articles, News, Policy and Regulation
Confusion Over Issue 2
Saturday at the Clintonville Farmers’ Market, one of my customers said she was surprised to see so many yard signs in Clintonville in support of Issue 2. She reached the same conclusion I did: most of these people have probably fallen prey to the misleading advertisements in support of Issue 2. I’d like to clear up some of the confusion by responding to some of the talking points I’ve heard from supporters. Issue 2 would establish a Livestock Care Standards Board. It’s about time we had some standards for livestock care! Do you know what horrible things they do to animals on those factory farms? That’s just the point. It’s those factory farms that want Issue 2 to pass. They’ve seen voters in California and elsewhere outlaw the use of battery cages … Read entire article »
Filed under: News, Policy and Regulation
Opportunity for Ohio Produce Growers to Learn About Food Safety Issues
Ohio producers of fresh fruits and vegetables have an opportunity to attend a Listening Session to hear about the various groups who are working to address the proposed changes to how local food is produced in Ohio. This listening session provides the opportunity for growers to hear from experts in the food safety arena. Speaker will include researchers for Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center (OARDC), The Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association (OPGMA), and Dr. Karl Kolb, Chief Science Officer, The High Sierra Group. Participants will hear from these experts information about current regulations and the proposed changes to these regulations. Information will also be shared about what Ohio is doing to ensure the sustainability of Ohio’s produce growers. The Listening Session will be held on Oct. 19, 2009 … Read entire article »
Filed under: News, Policy and Regulation
Ohio Issue 2 – Livestock Care Standards Board
In considering how to vote on Issue 2 (on creating a Livestock Care Standards Board for Ohio) I initially felt that a constitutional amendment was inappropriate for an issue that should be dealt with by the Ohio Legislature and the U.S. and Ohio Departments of Agriculture. According to an article in the Columbus Dispatch: … Read entire article »
Filed under: News, Policy and Regulation
