By Brad Jordan


Bill would exempt ALL homemade foods from regulation, including perishable foods

A proposed cottage-food law in Virginia attempts to go farther than any cottage-food law has gone before. If passed, it would exempt virtually all homemade – or small-farm-made – foods from regulation, provided the foods are sold directly from producer to consumer, in face-to-face transactions.

Cottage food laws typically exempt only non-perishable homemade goodies, like jams, jellies, cakes, cookies, candy and other novelty items that can be stored at room temperature. But the “Virginia Food Freedom Act” would exempt all homemade foods – including meat, dairy, partially cooked foods like chicken pot pie, and other foods requiring refrigeration – from licensing laws, health inspections, sales limitations and basically all government interference of any kind.

Small farmers with 10 or fewer employees would be included in the definition of homemade-food producers.

Delegate Robert Bell (R-Charlottesville), the chief spokesman and sponsor for the bill, says the only requirement would be for such products to be labeled “not inspected by the state.” And let’s be honest, that’s probably a good thing.

Free the market

By removing regulatory burdens on small farms and producers of homemade goods, food producers can quickly adapt to a changing market, giving customers what they need, without waiting for government to give them the permission to do so. The people of Virginia may finally have the option of being in charge of, and responsible for, their own food.

As opposed to GMO labeling laws, which force private businesses to do something against their will, this bill puts food producers at the mercy of their customers. It’s the customer’s choice and responsibility to determine what ingredients are in their food and how they are produced.

If the producers make a bad product or someone gets sick, then consumers simply can choose to go elsewhere or take them to court for damages. However, it’s not really in the best interest of local-food producers to make inferior products, because they’re answering directly to their customers, unlike the faceless farmers who work for mega-food processors like Tyson or Kraft or General Mills.

My new local farmer grows, processes and delivers her pasture-raised eggs, chicken, pork, beef and dairy herself, and informs customers of seasonal price fluctuations due to changes in the cost of her locally grown, locally milled, organic feed. Her standards for “organic” are higher than the USDA’s, and she proudly offers farm tours to demonstrate. She refuses to grow or raise food she wouldn’t feed her own child. Even her animal feed is of such high quality, she has no problem letting her young daughter snack on it. How many concentrated-animal-feeding-operation farmers can say that? How [many] Monsanto executives feel safe feeding their kids the foods they produce?

This is how I envision a true free-market operating – with no middlemen or government weighing people down. Both parties are free to engage in a mutually beneficial exchange. And if there’s a need not being met, the producer can quickly change how he operates in order to satisfy the demands of his customer.

We don’t need more food safety laws; we just need more small farms and more food freedom.

I’m tired of the mega-food producers hiding behind the cloak of food safety laws, licensing laws, zoning laws, patents and subsidies and a host of other government interventions that make us more dependent upon their services, rather than upon ourselves and our neighbors’ services.

If this law passes, it will make small farmers lives easier, strengthen communities and improve access to real, clean food. Stop worrying about health department ratings, GMO labeling, and the validity of USDA “organic” certifications. Certify it yourself, by going to the farm and talking to your farmer.

http://www.naturalblaze.com/2014/01/revolutionary-cottage-food-law-proposed.html

Worse idea ever. Are you SURE your local farmer/dairyman/chicken farmer's stuff is safe to eat?

Why? If it's completely free from regulation, why? Are you an expert on food safety? "Oh, it LOOKS OK to me! Farmer Bob's such a great guy!"

American Tourister Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Worse idea ever. Are you SURE your local
> farmer/dairyman/chicken farmer's stuff is safe to
> eat?
>
> Why? If it's completely free from regulation,
> why? Are you an expert on food safety? "Oh, it
> LOOKS OK to me! Farmer Bob's such a great guy!"


I'd rather take that risk, and have an abundance of true organic options, instead of the monstrosity that is GMO's.

OverseaObserver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> American Tourister Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Worse idea ever. Are you SURE your local
> > farmer/dairyman/chicken farmer's stuff is safe
> to
> > eat?
> >
> > Why? If it's completely free from regulation,
> > why? Are you an expert on food safety? "Oh,
> it
> > LOOKS OK to me! Farmer Bob's such a great
> guy!"
>
>
> I'd rather take that risk, and have an abundance
> of true organic options, instead of the
> monstrosity that is GMO's.

You're not going to KNOW if Farmer Bob's crap is organic. Oh, he can tell you so. But can you tell by looking? Really? You gonna inspect the feed he gives his animals? Really?

Good luck with that. Buy some Pepto.

I aint gonna buy no hick food from no hick.

OverseaObserver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I'd rather take that risk, and have an abundance
> of true organic options, instead of the
> monstrosity that is GMO's.





What's wrong with GMOs? GMOs are good for society, good for the planet. Support GMOs, and be well.

eesh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What's wrong with GMOs? GMOs are good for society,
> good for the planet. Support GMOs, and be well.

This message brought to by Monsanto. Monsanto: we don't eat that shit, but you sure can try.

American Tourister Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Worse idea ever. Are you SURE your local
> farmer/dairyman/chicken farmer's stuff is safe to
> eat?
>
> Why? If it's completely free from regulation,
> why? Are you an expert on food safety? "Oh, it
> LOOKS OK to me! Farmer Bob's such a great guy!"


Then dont eat it no one gives a crap if you want to buy it or not. Other people would like the option.

Its clear though that you dont understand business at all. If the local farmer sells crap the local farmer wont be selling anything for long and will soon be bankrupt. Its in their own best interest to self police themselves and put out quality products to get people to buy it.

American Tourister Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OverseaObserver Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > American Tourister Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Worse idea ever. Are you SURE your local
> > > farmer/dairyman/chicken farmer's stuff is
> safe
> > to
> > > eat?
> > >
> > > Why? If it's completely free from
> regulation,
> > > why? Are you an expert on food safety? "Oh,
> > it
> > > LOOKS OK to me! Farmer Bob's such a great
> > guy!"
> >
> >
> > I'd rather take that risk, and have an
> abundance
> > of true organic options, instead of the
> > monstrosity that is GMO's.
>
> You're not going to KNOW if Farmer Bob's crap is
> organic. Oh, he can tell you so. But can you
> tell by looking? Really? You gonna inspect the
> feed he gives his animals? Really?
>
> Good luck with that. Buy some Pepto.

Many of these farmers give tours of their facilities and what goes into the product. Majority of these people are honest, hard working folk. I doubt seeing people being poisoned or becoming ill from consuming their products. You're more than welcome to continue enjoying Monsanto products, prepped and ready by lab scientist, for your consumption. Let us hope cancer does not make an appearance down the road in life.

Liberal Logic 005 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> American Tourister Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Worse idea ever. Are you SURE your local
> > farmer/dairyman/chicken farmer's stuff is safe
> to
> > eat?
> >
> > Why? If it's completely free from regulation,
> > why? Are you an expert on food safety? "Oh,
> it
> > LOOKS OK to me! Farmer Bob's such a great
> guy!"
>
>
> Then dont eat it no one gives a crap if you want
> to buy it or not. Other people would like the
> option.
>
> Its clear though that you dont understand business
> at all. If the local farmer sells crap the local
> farmer wont be selling anything for long and will
> soon be bankrupt. Its in their own best interest
> to self police themselves and put out quality
> products to get people to buy it.


Yeah, because nobody's ever made money selling crap.

Amazing.

Liberal Logic 005 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> American Tourister Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Worse idea ever. Are you SURE your local
> > farmer/dairyman/chicken farmer's stuff is safe
> to
> > eat?
> >
> > Why? If it's completely free from regulation,
> > why? Are you an expert on food safety? "Oh,
> it
> > LOOKS OK to me! Farmer Bob's such a great
> guy!"
>
Well said. Some people miss simple logic.
>
> Then dont eat it no one gives a crap if you want
> to buy it or not. Other people would like the
> option.
>
> Its clear though that you dont understand business
> at all. If the local farmer sells crap the local
> farmer wont be selling anything for long and will
> soon be bankrupt. Its in their own best interest
> to self police themselves and put out quality
> products to get people to buy it.

OverseaObserver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Liberal Logic 005 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > American Tourister Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Worse idea ever. Are you SURE your local
> > > farmer/dairyman/chicken farmer's stuff is
> safe
> > to
> > > eat?
> > >
> > > Why? If it's completely free from
> regulation,
> > > why? Are you an expert on food safety? "Oh,
> > it
> > > LOOKS OK to me! Farmer Bob's such a great
> > guy!"
> >
> Well said. Some people miss simple logic.
> >
> > Then dont eat it no one gives a crap if you
> want
> > to buy it or not. Other people would like the
> > option.
> >
> > Its clear though that you dont understand
> business
> > at all. If the local farmer sells crap the
> local
> > farmer wont be selling anything for long and
> will
> > soon be bankrupt. Its in their own best
> interest
> > to self police themselves and put out quality
> > products to get people to buy it.


Well Said. Some people miss simple logic.

Whoa, Nelly, you're dumb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Yeah, because nobody's ever made money selling
> crap.
>
> Amazing.


No no resturant has ever made money selling shitty food that gets people sick as a matter of fact.

Theres a difference between cheap and crap which you seem to be confusing as the same.

You also seem to be confused about business thinking the same rules apply to a small business as a large one, they dont. Massive businesses can put out some crap product from time to time because its offset by the fact that the rest of it isnt. A small business does it with their small customer base and that base is gone. They dont have millions of people buying their product to offset the customers they lost from the mistake. Small business also doesnt have the reputation or name recognition.

Seriously this is basic business stuff 101 that seems to be going over your head

Whoa, Nelly, you're dumb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah, because nobody's ever made money selling
> crap.
>
> Amazing.

Yep. Life was simpler before stringent food regulations. I like a 'lil E. Coli and undisclosed filler in my beef! Free market, baby!

Gilded Age dude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Whoa, Nelly, you're dumb Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Yeah, because nobody's ever made money selling
> > crap.
> >
> > Amazing.
>
> Yep. Life was simpler before stringent food
> regulations. I like a 'lil E. Coli and undisclosed
> filler in my beef! Free market, baby!


You're misunderstanding the whole concept of this. This is not a complete disregard for sanitation(it is the complete opposite). It is a bypass of false regulation to inhibit the cosumer from an abundance of pure organic products, not contaminated with Modified genetics, pesticides or antibiotics.

Strangely, people that complain about modified genetics can't seem to point exactly how it is bad for you.

Only an antiregulatory zealot would confuse this law for true free market operation. Free markets work when both parties have access to the information they need in order to determine whether to proceed with the transaction and on what terms. The whole point of this law is to remove requirements on the part of the seller to disclose the kind of information a potential buyer would want. It is BUYER BEWARE.

If you read the law you might think "Why shouldn't I be able to buy produce direct from the farmer without regulatory intervention". This law goes well beyond that. A farmer isn't limited to selling his own produce under this law. He can buy up other farmer's produce and sell it He can also process food made from ingredients purchased exclusively off site. His only restriction being that he can't have more than ten FULL TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES.

Home production isn't even subject to that restriction. You could gut a decent size house turning most of it into a production facility and keeping only a minimal apartment to meet the home requirement and get around the regulations requirement. While the act says it only would apply to establishments selling direct to consumers, it does not preclude doing so as a catalog or internet operation.

This is an example of a good idea resulting in a poorly thought out law.

OverseaObserver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You're misunderstanding the whole concept of this.
> This is not a complete disregard for sanitation(it
> is the complete opposite). It is a bypass of false
> regulation to inhibit the cosumer from an
> abundance of pure organic products, not
> contaminated with Modified genetics, pesticides or
> antibiotics.

First, any regulations intended to insure the product was produced in a sanitary manner would no longer apply. There is an assumption on the part of some that if everything is natural then everything is safe and sanitary. There are plenty of things found in nature that are toxic, and depending on how food is processed it is possible to introduce some fairly nasty diseases. Remember the case not too long ago where a peanut facility ended up being contaminated by animal droppings resulting in a number of illnesses. Same thing can happen if you improperly slaughter animals or use animals affected with certain diseases. And this can all happen naturally.

Second while it is nice to think that by purchasing through one of these operations you are getting organic foods not contaminated by MGO, pesticides and antibiotics, nothing in this law would prevent that from happening. As noted in the prior post even if the manufacturer doesn't do any of that on his property, nothing prevents him from buying and using produce and ingredients that were.

OverseaObserver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I'd rather take that risk, and have an abundance
> of true organic options, instead of the
> monstrosity that is GMO's.


+1000 !!!

Fuck MonSatan

Time to make some Cottage Cheese.

Bill.N. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> First, any regulations intended to insure the
> product was produced in a sanitary manner would no
> longer apply. There is an assumption on the part
> of some that if everything is natural then
> everything is safe and sanitary. There are plenty
> of things found in nature that are toxic, and
> depending on how food is processed it is possible
> to introduce some fairly nasty diseases. Remember
> the case not too long ago where a peanut facility
> ended up being contaminated by animal droppings
> resulting in a number of illnesses. Same thing
> can happen if you improperly slaughter animals or
> use animals affected with certain diseases. And
> this can all happen naturally.

Except you left out the huge difference, the local farmer could not survive a single incident of that. One thing linked to their food and theyre done for. Their prices are already going to be higher not having bulk sales on their side so their product will have to be better to get people to buy it. If its not better and certainly if it makes people sick thats the end of them.

Libertarian bullshit. I won't even eat crap from bake sales. I sure as fuck won't risk eating something that's been sitting out for god knows how long and has god knows what in it.

Eesh there haven't been sufficient tests to know. But it's reasonable to be skeptical of GMO's when millions are spent fighting labelling.

If you're proud of the product, label it and test it.

Quote

Libertarian bullshit. I won't even eat crap from bake sales. I sure as fuck won't risk eating something that's been sitting out for god knows how long and has god knows what in it.

Missing the obvious irony that you likely have no clue what's in processed food and factory-farmed meat and dairy.

Curmudgeon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>

Quote

> Libertarian bullshit. I won't even eat crap from
> bake sales. I sure as fuck won't risk eating
> something that's been sitting out for god knows
> how long and has god knows what in it.

>
> Missing the obvious irony that you likely have no
> clue what's in processed food and factory-farmed
> meat and dairy.

But you do know because of the label, the only problem is, you need to be a scientist to understand the label. ;)

Curmudgeon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>

Quote

> Libertarian bullshit. I won't even eat crap from
> bake sales. I sure as fuck won't risk eating
> something that's been sitting out for god knows
> how long and has god knows what in it.

>
> Missing the obvious irony that you likely have no
> clue what's in processed food and factory-farmed
> meat and dairy.

And you're missing the obvious point that if you are poisoned by regulated food, you have legal recourse. Your only recourse with "cottage" food is that if you get sick from it you'll know not to buy it again. So I hope people like you get food poisoning, let's see you defend this garbage then.

Noyoudint Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I aint gonna buy no hick food from no hick.


... or any chalupas from some mexican whose kitchen is about as clean as a truck stop toilet.

OverseaObserver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> American Tourister Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > OverseaObserver Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > American Tourister Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Worse idea ever. Are you SURE your local
> > > > farmer/dairyman/chicken farmer's stuff is
> > safe
> > > to
> > > > eat?
> > > >
> > > > Why? If it's completely free from
> > regulation,
> > > > why? Are you an expert on food safety?
> "Oh,
> > > it
> > > > LOOKS OK to me! Farmer Bob's such a great
> > > guy!"
> > >
> > >
> > > I'd rather take that risk, and have an
> > abundance
> > > of true organic options, instead of the
> > > monstrosity that is GMO's.
> >
> > You're not going to KNOW if Farmer Bob's crap
> is
> > organic. Oh, he can tell you so. But can you
> > tell by looking? Really? You gonna inspect
> the
> > feed he gives his animals? Really?
> >
> > Good luck with that. Buy some Pepto.
>
> Many of these farmers give tours of their
> facilities and what goes into the product.
> Majority of these people are honest, hard working
> folk. I doubt seeing people being poisoned or
> becoming ill from consuming their products. You're
> more than welcome to continue enjoying Monsanto
> products, prepped and ready by lab scientist, for
> your consumption. Let us hope cancer does not make
> an appearance down the road in life.


Just wait until you get a hold of something prepared with ingredients that are way past their expiration date to save a few dollars and increase the profit margin. Who will you sue when you spend a few days puking your guts out and missing time at work?

Quote

And you're missing the obvious point that if you are poisoned by regulated food, you have legal recourse. Your only recourse with "cottage" food is that if you get sick from it you'll know not to buy it again. So I hope people like you get food poisoning, let's see you defend this garbage then.

thanks random internet guy who thinks he knows anything about the law. you have similar recourse in both cases. but don't take my word for it -- your ignorance is just as valid as my knowledge in your tiny little brain.

LetsRock Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Just wait until you get a hold of something
> prepared with ingredients that are way past their
> expiration date to save a few dollars and increase
> the profit margin. Who will you sue when you
> spend a few days puking your guts out and missing
> time at work?


Then dont eat it. Its not rocket science if you dont like dont go there. Spend a better use of your time then trying to act like everyones baby sitter deciding for them where they should and shouldnt be able to buy food.

Especially if the best you have is straw man arguments that would put the provider out of business from a single incident.

This law would have absolutely no effect on you.

chewy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OverseaObserver Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > I'd rather take that risk, and have an
> abundance
> > of true organic options, instead of the
> > monstrosity that is GMO's.
>
>
> +1000 !!!
>
> Fuck MonSatan




Monsanto is an ethical and socially responsible company with products that are both sustainable and highly affordable.

Monsanto cares about human rights, environmental well-being, and healthy agriculture.


Buy food made with Monsanto products, buy them and be well.

>This law would have absolutely no effect on you.

Well-intended laws like this tend to have direct, serious, albeit unintended effects. A real life example: fishing laws. A number of attempts have been made to deter the collapse of fisheries, which something everybody wants, even the folks causing the collapse (i.e. fishermen). One solution: limit the amount of fish folks can bring into port. This kinda worked too - there was a sharp upswing in the proportion of 'better' fish (like cod) as opposed to crappy by-catch fish that also come up in the nets. Win-win, right?

Nope. The problem is that such laws don't limit the amount of fish you can catch, just what you bring to port. The fishermen (being no dummies) were spending more time seining the sea bare, picking out the cod and tossing the (now dead) by-catch back into the ocean. Result: more over-fishing not less, and much quicker fishery collapse.

In the same way, less regulation may actually hurt the small farmers, not help them. Even if most farmers continue to police themselves and pasteurize their milk and watch what goes into their meat grinder, it'll only take one who does't to give a few folks TB or CJD. With no way to effectively track or stop folks, it'll undermine confidence in the whole small-farm system, clearing the way for markets to offer foods from 'guaranteed safe sources' - at higher prices. The small farmers may even be forced to start 'policing' themselves - how much you want to bet the 'unofficial' certification process that'll pop up will cost small farmers more than the current government-sponsored enforcement does?

abelard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> In the same way, less regulation may actually hurt
> the small farmers, not help them. Even if most
> farmers continue to police themselves and
> pasteurize their milk and watch what goes into
> their meat grinder, it'll only take one who does't
> to give a few folks TB or CJD. With no way to
> effectively track or stop folks, it'll undermine
> confidence in the whole small-farm system,
> clearing the way for markets to offer foods from
> 'guaranteed safe sources' - at higher prices. The
> small farmers may even be forced to start
> 'policing' themselves - how much you want to bet
> the 'unofficial' certification process that'll pop
> up will cost small farmers more than the current
> government-sponsored enforcement does?

Which again would have absolutely no effect on anyone. If no one wants to buy their stuff they can go back to selling to distributors only and nothing changes.

There seems to be some idea that these farmers are going to pop up out of no where just because of that. Were really talking about giving farmers another way to sell their products they already do sell under the current regulations. Instead of selling to a distributor at a fixed price they can sell directly to the consumer or turn their fruit into jam ect.

Everythings already under the usual standards for their sales. No ones would be able to cut off that part of their business and just sell directly until they establish a reputation and very strong customer base which takes a lot of time. Youre just going to be getting the same stuff distributors do without all the middle men.

I cant stand the hippie whole foods obsession when most of that stuff is the same, but theres no reason why someone shouldnt be able to sell right to the public if both sides want it giving them an added source of revenue.

>> In the same way, less regulation may actually hurt
>> the small farmers, not help them. Even if most
>> farmers continue to police themselves and
>> pasteurize their milk and watch what goes into
>> their meat grinder, it'll only take one who does't
>> to give a few folks TB or CJD. With no way to
>> effectively track or stop folks, it'll undermine
>> confidence in the whole small-farm system,
>> clearing the way for markets to offer foods from
>> 'guaranteed safe sources' - at higher prices. The
>> small farmers may even be forced to start
>> 'policing' themselves - how much you want to bet
>> the 'unofficial' certification process that'll pop
>> up will cost small farmers more than the current
>> government-sponsored enforcement does?
>
>Which again would have absolutely no effect on anyone.

I'll highlight the relevant passages. This means, if I'm right, that folks will either pay more money for food (which affects everyone) or there will actually be fewer folks selling 'cottage food' (which affects people who currently buy cottage food and those who make it).

Eesh, you're wrong about Monsanto.

In my opinion this website is extremely repulsive. So many people just talking trash about one another, having no remorse or proof of the allegations being made. This site is filled with people who have nothing better to do than hurt other from behind a computer screen. Why this should be a website about helping others and passing information around a community not a war zone where people put other people on trial and say horrible things about people. This is no better than cyber bullying except the anonymous names prevent you form having to reveal who they are. This is like a middle school where people do nothing but start rumors about others to hurt peoples feelings.

I hope that you read this message and think, about your future activity and really only present information that is factual and helpful to others in the northern Virginia area. Put yourself in the person your about to hurt before you post your message.

I love this idea, but I'm hoping there's no hidden threat involved. Some regulations, like inspections, help cover independent food producers from liability. I'm worried that companies like Monsanto might find a way to seize this as an opportunity to sue even more small producers out of existence.

abelard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I'll highlight the relevant passages. This means,
> if I'm right, that folks will either pay more
> money for food (which affects everyone) or
> there will actually be fewer folks selling
> 'cottage food' (which affects people who currently
> buy cottage food and those who make it).

They may pay more for that food just like theyll pay more for whole foods steaks over safeway ones. But if everyone thinks they can jack up the price people will switch to different meats and it wont be long until someone figures out they can get a large part of the market not trying to charge like a small farmer. Its just like everything else, Nike can charge what it does because its Nike. If someone else tries to sell their shoes at Nike prices their sales tank. Safeway will never be able to charge Wholefoods prices unless theyre selling the same stuff.

The ones currently selling already have their own customer base. Their base wont leave because someone else messes up. It would be the new sellers that could potentially be affected which again would mean they just return to business as usual and nothings changed.

"Cottage" food sounds kind of gross. It makes me think of dirty peasants in the Middle Ages stirring their pottage over the fire. But it's supposed to sound precious, like Ina Garten cooked it. It's just dumb. Nobody's gonna buy it.

http://www.naturalnews.com/053315_Ted_Cruz_Monsanto_anti-science_zealots.html