Oct 24 2008
Felons or Heroes? Small Farmers Skirt Inspection Laws
No matter how you look at it, some small farmers try to make money by skirting inspection laws intended to protect consumers, and this is illegal. However, these same laws which are supposed to protect the consumer don’t always do so. Cases in point- e. coli tainted spinach and ground beef, which came from government inspected producers.
What is a small farmer to do, who wants to make money off of “organically grown” meats or sell “raw” milk products, like cheese and yogurt? The answer is simple- either become an inspected facility or lie like the devil. Small farmers by and large would rather follow the rules, but they simply can’t afford to compete with mass producers. Rather than go under, they simply don’t follow the rules.
How can they become compliant? The following websites have information on how to become an inspected facility to avoid becoming a felon:
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Ohio Meat Licensing Requirements
Small farm operators may also contact their state Department of Agriculture office to find out what the licensing requirements are.
If you’d like to learn more about several cases of “Felons or Heroes,” check out this article: Bitter Harvest for Small Farms.
~~Charlotte
