PENNSYLVANIA RAW MILK UPDATE

MAY 7, 2008

TRIAL OF MARK NOLT
Mark Nolt appeared for his trial on Monday and pleaded Not Guilty to four counts
of selling milk without a permit.  He will appeal the verdict and plans to argue
his case on constitutional ground in an upcoming trial.

For the trial, the Pennsylvania Independent Farmers and Consumers Association
(PICFA) and local chapters of the Weston A. Price Foundation organized a rally
attended by 100 supporters wearing raw milk tee shirts and carrying placards and
signs. Farmers and WAPF consumers from NJ, NC, MD, VA and PA were there to show
their support-chapter leader Ruth Ann Foster drove all the way from North
Carolina!

A big thanks to WAPF PR wiz Kimberly Hartke who generated a huge amount of media
coverage, most of it quite favorable.  WGAL Channel 8, Fox 43, and CBS 21 were
all there.  Three other print journalists were there, Philly Inquirer, The
Sentinel and the Patriot News.  The Inquirer article went out on the
McClatchey-Tribune News Wire and has shown up already in Trading Markets a
publication based out of Los Angeles. Dave Gumpert the Complete Patient blogger
was there. The Pittsburg Post Gazette did a story that ran the day of the event.
Kimberly did an interview on public radio WITF, which airs at the top of each
hour the day after the rally, and will be made available to public radio
stations around the state.  A print version and an audio clip is on their
website in the archives.  Susquehanna Living is putting a brief and photo in
their next issue, and considering doing a longer feature story in their next
issue. World Net Daily, the largest internet news provider in the world has done
two articles, one before the event, the other reporting the results.

YOUR LETTERS AND FAXES
We have heard from many of you who reported that you have indeed sent in your
letters and faxes to Pennsylvania officials.  If you have not already done so,
please send in your letters and faxes before the end of the week.  I am
including the original email we sent out with background and contact
information.  The fax lists have been updated to include corrected fax numbers
for several lawmakers (Kitchen, Haluska, Cohen and Myers).

Thank you all for your splendid efforts-we will keep you posted on our progress!



RAW MILK SITUATION IN PENNSYLVANIA
UPDATE AND ACTION ALERT

Dear Members,

Once generally supportive of raw milk, Pennsylvania authorities have been making
life very difficult for raw milk farmers and consumers during the last few
weeks. This email will provide you with details about what has been going on and
describe an action plan.  As what happens in Pennsylvania affects the raw milk
situation throughout the country, we are sending it out to all members.  We ask
that you PLEASE READ THIS ALERT CAREFULLY and ALL join us in carrying out the
actions proposed. (We apologize for the length, but it is necessary to provide
you with all the facts and a careful explanation of what is going on.) Also,
please forward this alert to your own email groups.

RAID ON MARK NOLT'S FARM
"All truth passes through three stages," wrote Schopenhauer. "First it is
ignored, then it is violently opposed and finally it is accepted as self
evident."  Unfortunately the transition from the first to the second stage has
fallen on a gentle Pennsylvania Mennonite raw milk farmer, Mark Nolt, described
by many as the "Rosa Parks of farmers' rights."  On April 25, Mark's farm was
raided--for the second time--and this time he was arrested, in connection with
five citations for selling raw milk without a license.  He was taken in
handcuffs to a magistrate in Mount Holly Springs where he refused to make a plea
to the criminal charges against him.  A trial has been scheduled for May 5.

The first raid occurred last August 10, when the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture (PDA) seized over $25,000 worth of product, packaging equipment and
supplies. This occurred after a Commonwealth Court found Nolt in contempt for
violating an injunction prohibiting him from selling raw milk and raw milk
products without a permit.

In the second raid, the agents descended on the quiet farm, "like Vikings,"
according to Mark, in six police cars and at least five unmarked cars,
presumably belonging to PDA officials. The agents were personally led by Bill
Chirdon, Director of PDA's Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services. Mark
tried asking one policeman what the state's authority was for being on the
property but the policeman kept cutting him off, seemingly trying to provoke a
confrontation.  The police threatened to arrest anyone who attempted to set foot
on Nolt's property; even Nolt's father and brother who live on the same lane
were denied access.

Imagine the position of Mrs. Nolt, enduring the sight of her husband carried
away in the back seat of a police cruiser.  The officers refused to tell her
where they were taking him.  Then she and her ten children had to stand by once
again while the officers went through their cheese shop and store, taking food
meant to feed many families, including their own. Fortunately, Mark was released
after the hearing, and he returned to the farm on foot rather than accept a ride
in a police car.

In a supreme act of arrogance, Chirdon stole a book off Nolt's shelf-"All I Ever
Wanted to Do is Illegal" by Joel Salatin. According to a PDA spokesman, Chirdon
will return the book at Mark's trial.

Mark let his permit drop several years ago because it did not allow him to sell
value-added products such as butter and cream. Mark's position is that he has a
constitutional right to enter into contractual agreements without a permit, that
is to sell raw milk and raw milk products directly to customers.

Mark told David Gumpert that the product PDA confiscated (mostly cheese) was
worth over $30,000. They also took supplies and equipment. PDA agents were
particularly malicious, taking valves, parts to a cream separator and pieces of
cheese-making equipment so his equipment could no longer be used. The warrant
PDA received from the magistrate states that PDA could search and seize "any
equipment, containers or supplies used to bottle or package for sale milk and
products manufactured from milk." Obviously cream separator parts and
cheese-making equipment have nothing to do with bottling or packaging products,
thus making PDA guilty of an illegal seizure.

At a time when millions of people all over the world are starving, PDA has no
qualms about throwing away perfectly good and nutritious food-the cheese was
carried away in an unrefrigerated truck. According to the PDA website
highlighting PDA's Blueprint for Hunger, "nearly 1.2 million Pennsylvanians,
almost 10% of our population, live in households at risk for hunger and about
335,000, almost 3% of all households, have someone who has experienced hunger."
The dumping of Mark Nolt's cheese in the face of widespread hunger in the state
of Pennsylvania can only be described as obscene.

Even the legality of the product seizure can be called into question. According
to PDA's Guidance Document (3/20/08, "Permits Allowing the Sale of Raw Milk for
Human Consumption"), the department can seize raw milk, "Whenever, in the
opinion of the Secretary of the Department, a given supply of raw milk or
illegally produced raw milk products is considered unsafe or a menace to public
health, the secretary may seize, condemn, denature, or destroy the milk or milk
products, without compensation to the owner of the milk or milk products." In
the affidavit submitted in his application for a search warrant against Nolt,
Chirdon made no allegation that the milk was unsafe.  No one from PDA has
provided evidence that Nolt's milk was a danger to the public. NO ILLNESSES HAVE
BEEN REPORTED from the consumption of Mark Nolt's cheese.

In an appearance April 30 before a magistrate at the Newville Magisterial
District Court, Mark Nolt was informed by the judge that he was facing two
additional charges for selling raw milk without a permit.  A trial has been
scheduled for Monday, June 3 in Newville.

Nolt refused to enter a plea to the charges claiming he was in court under
duress and that he was not subject to the court's jurisdiction.  The court
entered a plea of "not guilty" on his behalf.

Nolt's May 5 trial at the Mount Holly Springs Magisterial District Court will
take place at 9:30 a.m.  He is being tried in that case for five citations of
selling raw milk without a permit.  A rally in support of Nolt will be held
outside the courthouse that morning.

TRIAL FOR GLEN WISE
Glen Wise has a dairy in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. He is a member of CARE
(Communities Alliance for Responsible Eco-Farming), a private milk club that
sells only to members. According to the citations he has received, he is accused
of selling "milk, milk products or manufactured dairy products" on three
separate occasions.

Apparently, PDA found out that Glen was selling raw milk without a permit at a
farmers' market last fall.  Chirdon told him at that time that he needed to fill
out an application for a permit, but Glen never did. (More about  Chirdon
below.) He heard nothing more from PDA until April 2 when he received the three
citations all at once.  All the citations against him were for selling at his
farm store.


HARASSMENT OF PERMITTED RAW MILK FARMERS
While PDA insists that all raw milk farmers must have permits, the agency is
making it very difficult for those farmers who already have permits or wish to
obtain them. Its scheme is to use inappropriate testing techniques that give
false positives, then suspend permits and issue inflammatory press releases, in
what appears to be an effort to stem the ever growing number of raw milk
permits-from just a few dozen to over 100 in the last two years. We also have
reports that PDA is now making it very difficult for farmers to obtain new raw
milk permits.  The attitude is distinctly hostile, as the following cases will
demonstrate. As one farmer put it, "The raw milk permit is just a license to be
harassed." It is important to emphasize that in spite of PDA's reports of
pathogens, NO ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN REPORTED in the cases cited below.

1.The farm of Clark and Elaine Duncan tested positive for Listeria Monocytogenes
on April 4 and PDA ran a press release naming the farm on April 7.  The milk
sample had been taken on March 31.  The Duncans sent a sample to a private lab
the week following their suspension and that came back positive as well.  They
have not sent any samples for testing since.  The PDA Guidance Document on raw
milk states that the permit holder must refrain from selling raw milk until two
consecutive tests taken at least one day apart show that the milk is pathogen
free and the department approves of the tests that were taken.  It is normally
the permit holder's responsibility to send the samples to a state-approved lab
for testing.  The Duncans did not receive the paperwork from PDA on the test
results until several weeks after the department issued the press release about
the farm's positive listeria test.

2. On April 4, PDA told Arnold and Esther Diller of Piney Ridge Farm in Western
Pennsylvania that their raw milk sales were being suspended because their milk
tested positive for listeria. Arnold Diller subsequently sent out a sample to an
independent lab, which came back negative (the same thing happened last year). 
As a condition for resuming sales on their farm, their inspector gave them a
list of things to be done for reinspection.  After repeatedly being unable to
clean a piece of milking equipment to the satisfaction of the inspector, the
Dillers turned in their license to PDA.  Esther Diller said that she wished they
had never obtained the license.

Not long after their sales were suspended, the Dillers were told by a state
employee from Harrisburg that if they voluntarily gave up their raw milk
license, their problems with the state would be all cleared up.  There is a
State Representative who got raw milk from the Dillers.  The night before PDA
issued the press release about the Dillers' positive test for listeria, PDA
faxed a copy of the press release to that representative.   It seemed like an
attempt to discourage the representative from remaining a customer. The Dillers
also had some of their customers picking up milk at a local health food store. 
Shortly before the positive listeria tests in both 2007 and 2008, a Pennsylvania
food and safety inspector witnessed the raw milk in a walk-in cooler and voiced
disapproval even though there is no law prohibiting what was being done.  We
have no proof that this was related to the positive listeria test, but it does
seem that PDA wanted the Dillers out of the raw milk business. Many people who
depended on them for raw milk are now without a supplier.  (There are very few
permitted raw milk farmers in Western Pennsylvania.)

3. On Monday, April 21 a preliminary test for permit holder Norman Sauder came
up positive for salmonella. The inspector had told him that even though he was
not due for his next test until December, he was being asked to move it up to
April.  Norman sent a sample to the US Food & Dairy lab and it also came back
positive for salmonella.  On April 28, PDA issued a press release stating that
anyone who purchased milk from Sauder after March 31 should discard it
immediately.  To this date Sauder has still not been directly informed by PDA
whether the final test results for salmonella were positive.

He said his coliform counts all winter had been slightly elevated--sometimes
150. After he asked the inspector whether it was possible for a sample to be
contaminated between his farm and the lab, his coliform count came back at 10
for the next four inspections.  Sauder believes that sampling tools or lab
equipment could be playing a role in the slightly elevated counts.  He suspects
that he is not getting accurate tests.

4. The Amos B. King Dairy in Blain sells most of its milk to Dairy Farmers of
America for processing but distributes about 30 gallons of raw milk a week to
his own customers. Amos' milk was tested on April 14 and the results came back
positive for campylobacter on Friday April 18. After cleaning his equipment,
Amos asked for a reinspection to be scheduled for April 21 or 22.   Even though
PDA told him that shouldn't be a problem, the inspector did not arrive until
April 28.  Meanwhile, the news of his positive test for campylobacter hit the
press.  Amos estimates he will not be cleared to resume raw milk sales before
May 10 at the earliest.

5. The most egregious example of biased PDA policy involves the Beulah Land
Jersey Farm, owned by Dennis and Joanne Wenger. The Wengers sell milk for
pasteurization to Dairylea and also have a raw milk permit.  On April 8, both US
Dairy (a state-approved independent lab) and PDA took samples from the bulk
tank. The next day, the milk hauler for Dairylea picked up milk.  On April 11,
PDA informed the Wengers that their test was "presumptive positive" for listeria
and requested they discontinue selling raw milk.  Additionally, the PDA test
results showed a somatic cell count (SCC) of over one million.  On April 14, the
PDA called to say that the test had confirmed "positive" for listeria and that
they would have to discontinue raw milk sales. By this time the Wengers had
received the results from both US Dairy and Dairylea showing SCC under 200,000. 
The Wengers faxed copies of these test results to PDA.

On April 15, 16 and 17 MicroBac (another state-approved independent lab) came to
the farm to take samples from the bulk tank for listeria testing. On April 16,
Dennis called Senators Mike Brubaker and Mike Folmer to inform them about the
large discrepancy in somatic cell counts between PDA's test results and those of
US Dairy and Dairylea.    Later that day, Dennis received a call from Bill
Chirdon of PDA.  After some discussion, Chirdon offered to retest the Beulah
Land Jersey Farm milk.  The next day, on April 17, the state came to take
samples (the SCC test results for this sample were considerably lower than the
first PDA test but still much higher than those obtained by the other two labs).

On Saturday, April 19, the Wengers received the test results from the first
sample taken by MicroBac-negative for listeria.  On the following Monday, the
state lab made a highly unusual call to MicroBac to find out the results of the
Wenger's samples.  MicroBac refused to release the information without the
Wenger's consent.  The state then called the Wengers to inform them that their
sample was negative. This was followed by a call from MicroBac saying that the
second and third samples had also tested negative.  PDA reinstated the Wenger's
raw milk permit on April 22.

This incident creates the strong suspicion that PDA is not being honest about
their test results, or that their testing techniques are not accurate and are
giving false positives. In fact, this incident and the others above create a
strong suspicion that the PDA is not taking milk samples properly and may even
be tampering with them.  Dennis has demanded an apology from PDA for its
actions.

ABOUT PDA'S TESTING PROCEDURES
PDA uses the same testing methods for raw and pasteurized milk. They get
preliminary results using the VIDAS 30 rapid testing system. If the preliminary
results are positive, such as for listeria, the agency then uses a culturing
technique intended to suppress the growth of anything in the culture other than
listeria.  This is a fair test if the milk is pasteurized because pasteurized
milk is a dead food with no good bacteria to out-compete pathogens.  Australian
Microbiologist Ron Hull, PhD, has carried out tests showing that in raw milk,
the threat of listeria goes away with time because good bacteria gradually
increase and eventually render listeria harmless. Raw milk is not the same
product as pasteurized milk; so it is neither fair nor good science to use the
same testing protocol for raw and pasteurized milk.

Comparing raw milk to pasteurized milk is comparing a fresh product with a
cooked product.   For this reason there should be zero tolerance for pasteurized
milk but not for raw milk, because raw milk contains good bacteria present to
overwhelm any listeria present. What's needed are studies to quantify how high
the infectious dose would have to be before it would cause illness in humans
that consume the product.  USDA publishes a universal infectious dose for a
particular pathogen even though they acknowledge that it is unlikely to be the
same in all foods. The agency has never conducted studies to determine what the
infectious dose for pathogens would be in fresh raw milk intended for human
consumption.

The current zero tolerance standard for listeria in raw milk is not appropriate
because, as the experience in Pennsylvania has shown, people are consuming raw
milk that has tested positive for listeria and are not getting sick.  As the
press releases in these cases admit, "NO ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN REPORTED . . . ." 
The standard is causing economic hardship for raw milk producers and supply
interruptions for consumers. The fact that PDA did not until recently pull raw
milk when the first test was positive shows a fundamental acceptance of this
concept-that the tolerance levels for listeria and other pathogens in raw milk
is not zero.

Furthermore, state regulators are operating under the mistaken belief that milk
right out of the teat is sterile so that all bacteria found in milk comes from
environmental contamination. We now know that raw milk-in humans as well as
animals-contains bacteria from the milk ducts and surfaces of the teat, so these
bacteria are a natural and beneficial component of the milk and not a result of
contamination. (The exception is milk from a cow with mastitis, which is an
infection in the udder itself.) The regulators' goal of getting rid of all
bacteria is hazardous to human health because bacteria aids in digestion and
immunity; and good bacteria are needed to protect against pathogenic bacteria.

Current research has produced enough evidence that the Pennsylvania Legislature
should be convinced that raw milk and pasteurized milk are two different
products requiring different testing and safety standards for each.  The two
should not be treated the same in terms of regulatory policy.

THE BILL CHIRDON ERA
The hostile attitude against raw milk farmers began when Bill Chirdon took over
as Director of PDA's Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services in the fall
of 2006.  Chirdon formerly worked five years as a plant manager for Dean Foods,
one of the nation's largest industrial dairy companies, and 20 years as a plant
manager for Hershey. Obviously he is totally unqualified to be in charge of raw
milk regulation. With his industry background, he has absolutely no
understanding of raw milk nor sympathy for the position of raw milk farmers and
consumers.

Before Chirdon took over, PDA would not suspend a farm's sales of raw milk for
pathogens until there had been two positive tests.  Now PDA is suspending sales
and issuing harmful press releases after one positive test.

Before Chirdon, PDA viewed labor contracts between raw milk licensees and
consumers as legal.  Under the labor contracts, the farmer would process the raw
milk the consumer had purchased into other dairy products such as cream, butter,
yogurt or kefir.  Under Chirdon, PDA considers the labor contracts illegal.

PDA used to test raw milk licensees once a year for pathogens.  Now it tests
twice.

Since Chirdon, it has become standard practice for undercover PDA employees to
buy from unlicensed dairy producers in an effort to trap farmers into getting
cited for selling raw milk without a permit.  PDA employees made at least eight
purchases from Mark Nolt and another three from Glen Wise.  (It is important to
remind CARE farmers not to sell to any customers unless they show their
membership cards; and it is noteworthy that PDA has not tried to stop private
milk club arrangements such as CARE in over a year now.)

During Chirdon's tenure, PDA has issued press releases when farms tested
positive for pathogens even though in almost all cases NO ILLNESSES HAVE BEEN
REPORTED. (PDA asserts that some people got sick consuming milk from one dairy
in 2007, although the dairy does not know of any customers that got sick.)

In March of this year Fisher's Dairy in Porterville tested positive for
salmonella.  Because of that positive test at that one farm, Chirdon required
that all licensed dairies in the state send in raw milk samples.  Since the
statewide testing began, five other farms have had their raw milk sales
suspended (three for listeria, one for campylobacter and one for salmonella),

Farmers seeking new raw milk permits are now reporting that the PDA is using
pathogen testing to hinder and revoke raw milk permits. Of interest is the fact
that there is not one reference to pathogen testing in the Milk Sanitation Law
or the Pennsylvania Code, which PDA acknowledges supersedes their Raw Milk
Permit Guidelines.  PDA recently and arbitrarily changed the guidelines,
requiring more pathogen tests and making it more difficult to obtain a permit. 
The authority of PDA to dictate the guidelines needs to be challenged.


ACTION TO TAKE-PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS
We can use this situation to accomplish a huge victory for raw milk if we ALL
work together in creating a huge public outcry!

We are asking all Pennsylvania residents concerned about raw milk and farm
freedom to set aside one quiet hour on Saturday May 3.  Use this hour to compose
a letter that you will send by regular mail to your state senator, state
representative, the heads of the senate and house agriculture committees, Mr.
Dennis Wolff, Secretary of Agriculture, and Governor Edward Rendell. A letter
sent by regular mail carries much more clout than an email or fax, and now is
the time to make our voices heard.

We then ask that you mail your six letters on Monday morning, May 5.
(Optionally, you may also send your letters to local media.) We want our elected
officials to receive an avalanche of mail on this subject on Raw Milk D-Day, May
6.

In your own words, write a brief testimonial about how raw milk has benefitted
you and your family and then request the following:

1.  The resignation of Bill Chirdon and his replacement with someone who is
knowledgeable about the science and health benefits of raw milk. We must send a
strong message to the other states that raw milk consumers will not tolerate
department of agriculture hostility and bias against raw milk.

2.  That PDA immediately return to their pre-Chirdon testing and permitting
policies and cease the strong-arm tactics against Pennsylvania raw milk farmers.

3.  That the Pennsylvania legislature hold hearings and immediately pass
legislation allowing an exemption from licensing and regulation for farmers
selling raw milk and raw milk products direct to consumers, whether it be at the
farm, through delivery or at farmers' markets. (Farmers selling raw milk through
stores could be subject to the pre-Chirdon testing and permitting policies.)

4.  That PDA drop all charges against Mark Nolt and Glenn Wise or suspend
charges pending hearings before the legislature regarding an exemption from
licensing and regulation for raw milk producers selling direct to consumers.

5.  That PDA immediately return all supplies and equipment seized from Mark
Nolt's farm on April 25 (much of the equipment is old so the parts PDA took are
not replaceable) and compensate him for the theft of his cheese.


For names and addresses of your state senators and representatives, go to
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/index.cfm, where you can search your elected
officials by zip code and county.


Ag & Rural Affairs - Senate Chairman
Hon. Michael W. Brubaker
Chairman, Ag & Rural Affairs
Senate Box 203036
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3036


Ag & Rural Affairs - House Chairman
Hon. Michael K. Hanna
Chairman, Ag & Rural Affairs
302 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202076
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2076


Mr. Dennis C. Wolff
Secretary, Department of Agriculture
2301 N. Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA  17110


Governor Edward G. Rendell
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA  17120



ACTION TO TAKE-NON-PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS
Please also spend one quiet hour on Saturday May 5 composing your letter along
the guidelines given above. On May 6, Raw Milk D-Day, email or fax your letter
to the following:

Ag & Rural Affairs - Senate Chairman
Hon. Michael W. Brubaker
Chairman, Ag & Rural Affairs
mbrubaker@...
(717) 787-4420
FAX:  (717) 783-3156


Ag & Rural Affairs - House Chairman
Hon. Michael K. Hanna
Chairman, Ag & Rural Affairs
mhanna@...
(717)772-2283
FAX: (717) 787-4137


Governor Edward G. Rendell
Phone: (717) 787-2500
Fax: (717) 772-8284
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/govmail.html

Secretary Dennis Wolff
Phone: (717) 772-2853
Fax: (717) 705-8402
DWOLFF@...



EXTRA CREDIT FOR RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS OF PENNSYLVANIA
Fax and email your letter to all the members of the Agriculture and Rural
Affairs committees

SENATE COMMITTEE
Chairman, Hon. Michael Brubaker mbrubaker@... (717) 787-4420 FAX:(717)
783-3156
Michael Waugh mwaugh@... (717) 787-3817 FAX: (717) 783-1900
Michael O'Pake opake@...((717) 787-8925 FAX: (717) 772-0578
Joseph Scarnati jscarnati@... (717) 787-7084  FAX: (717) 772-2755
Michael Eichelberger jeichelberger@...(717) 787-5490 FAX: (717)783-5192
Mike Folmer mfolmer@... 717) 787-5708 FAX: (717) 787-3455
Roger Madigan rmadigan@... (717) 787-3280 FAX:  (717) 772-0575
Terry Punt tpunt@... (717) 787-4651 FAX:  (717) 772-2753
Shirley Kitchen skitchen@... (717) 787-6735 FAX:  (717) 772-0581
Sean Logan slogan@... (717) 787-5580  FAX:  (717) 772-3588
John Wozniak  wozniak@... (717) 787-5400  FAX:  (717) 772-0573


HOUSE COMMITTEE
Honorable Michael Hanna, Chairman mhanna@...  (717)772-2283 FAX: (717)
787-4137
Gary Haluska ghaluska@...  (717) 787-3532 FAX: (717)783-7548
Mike Carroll mcarroll@... (717) 787-3589 FAX: (717) 780-4763
Mark Cohen mcohen@... (717) 787-4117 FAX: (717) 787-6650
H. Scott Conklin sconklin@... (717) 787-9473 FAX: (717) 780-4764
Peter Daley pdaley@... (717) 783-9333  FAX: (717) 783-7558
Richard Grucela rgrucela@... (717) 705-1878 FAX: (717) 783-3180
Harold James hjames@... (717) 787-9477 FAX: (717) 787-7517
Babette Josephs bjosephs@... (717) 787-8529 FAX: (717) 787-5066
Tim Mahoney tmahoney@... (717) 772-2174 FAX: (717) 780-4786
John Myers jmyers@... (717) 787-3181 FAX: (717) 772-4038
Frank Louis Oliver foliver@..., arucker@...   (717) 787-3480
FAX: (717) 783-0684
Timothy J. Solobay tsolobay@... (717) 787-1188 FAX: (717) 705-1887
Tom Yewcic tyewcic@... (717) 783-0248 FAX: (717) 787-4922
Rosita C. Youngblood ryoungbl@... (717) 787-7727 FAX: (717) 772-1313
Art Hershey ahershey@...  (717) 783-6435 FAX: (717) 705-1868
Bob Bastian bbastian@... (717) 783-8756 FAX: (717) 783-3899
Mike Fleck mfleck@...  (717) 787-3335 FAX: (717) 260-6504
Karen Boback kboback@... (717) 787-1117 FAX: (717) 705-1889
Michele Brooks mbrooks@... (717) 783-5008 FAX: (717) 705-1948
Jim Cox jcox@... (717) 772-2435 FAX: (717) 260-6516
Gordon Denlinger gdenling@...  (717) 787-3531 FAX: (717) 705-1951
David S. Hickernell dhickern@... (717) 783-2076 FAX: (717) 705-1946
Rob Kauffman rkauffma@... (717) 705-2004 FAX: (717) 705-1951
Mark Keller mkeller@... (717) 783-1593 FAX: (717) 705-7012
David Millard dmillard@... (717) 783-1102 FAX: (717) 772-0094
Dan Moul dmoul@...  (717) 783-5217 FAX: Fax: (717) 334-8426
Tina Pickett tpickett@... (717) 783-8238 FAX: (717) 705-1949



OTHER EVENTS-WE NEED YOU THERE!

May 5: Hearing and Rally for Mark Nolt
9:30 am
229 Mill Street
Mount Holly, Pennsylvania  17065

May 6:  Trial of Glen Wise
Magisterial District Court
920 South Spruce Street
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania



WRITE A LETTER AND WRITE A CHECK!
To support the Nolts in this time of hardship, you may send donations directly
to

Mark and Maryann Nolt
P.O. Box 136
Blain, Pennsylvania  17006


The Farm-to-Consumer Foundation provides compassionate relief funds to farmers
who have endured a farm raid or other urgent financial hardship related to their
direct-to-consumer sales.  Donations to the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation are
tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

ONLINE: http://www.ptfassociates.com/secure/ftcldf/donation_form_compassion.asp
BY PHONE:  703-208-FARM (3276) (10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EST)
BY MAIL:  Check payable to FTCF - Compassionate Relief Fund, 8116
Arlington Blvd., #263, Falls Church, VA  22042.



PLEASE JOIN ME!
I will be composing my own letters on Saturday, May 5.  Please join me in this
sacred act of communication, support and activism.

Sincerely,
Sally Fallon, President
The Weston A. Price Foundation

----- Original Message -----

From: John Langlois

To: AL_WAPF@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 2:37 PM

Subject: [AL_WAPF] New Raw Milk Source Near Cullman, AL

We have a new source for "pet milk" near Cullman, AL. They also do
chicken, beef, veggies, etc.
Contact me for a phone number if you are interested.

--
John Langlois
john.langlois@foggybottomwebdesign.com
www.foggybottomwebdesign.com
www.foggybottomfarms.com

We have a new source for "pet milk" near Cullman, AL.  They also do
chicken, beef, veggies, etc.
Contact me for a phone number if you are interested.

--
John Langlois
john.langlois@...
www.foggybottomwebdesign.com
www.foggybottomfarms.com

Those of you looking for Organic Heirloon seeds might appreciate knowing
of a local source.
See http://www.alabama-organics.com/ Mike Harper has beans, squash,
corn, watermelon, and a host other heirlooms that you won't find in most
places.


--
John Langlois
john.langlois@...
www.foggybottomwebdesign.com
www.foggybottomfarms.com

John Langlois

I was hoping someone on this list could help this lady find some food!  Panama City is a VERY long drive !!   Thanks , Millie in PC

 

From: cmurphy

To: wholefoodspc@comcast.net

Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 5:18 PM

Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] membership info

Hi Millie,

 

I just found your email address through the Weston A Price foundation. I have always fed my family the best possible foods available and after reading Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon felt inclined to do an even better job.

I live in Montgomery so not sure if a membership to the Whole Foods club in Panama City would work or not. I used to belong to one in Ohio but it was in my neighboring home town so very convenient. Now since moving to Alabama have had a hard time finding could nutritional foods. If you could pass along any info either with your membership or if you know of any such type of whole foods club in Montgomery I would appreciate it. I have emailed a couple on the list for Montgomery but have not heard back yet.

Thanks for any help or info you might have.

Barb Murphy

(334) 514-3402

As 2007 comes to an end, the Weston A. Price Foundation would like to
express sincere thanks to all its members for their enthusiasm and
support throughout the year. We've achieved many important milestones in
2007, most notably the establishment of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal
Defense Fund. It is also encouraging to observe the increasing
availability of raw milk.

In a December 20, 2007 report, Reuters lists raw milk as the number one health
issue in 2008.  And as we begin the new year, we can report excellent news on
the raw milk front.

OPTIMISM IN CALIFORNIA
We have the following report from Mark McAfee of Organic Pastures Dairy:

There will be no interruption of California raw milk availability in January
2008 or beyond!! California raw milk consumer voices have spoken loudly against
AB 1735, the sneak-attack anti-raw milk legislation passed earlier this year,
and raw milk will be protected in California!

Huge amounts of passionate grass roots effort combined with back stage political
activity and high-level meetings have occurred on the California raw milk
battlefront in the last three weeks. As a result, the course of California raw
milk history has been changed. The credit goes to the consumers....their voices
have raged!!

Three things protect your raw milk in California and as a direct result it will
continue be sold legally in the future. Consumers get the credit for the grass
roots uprising against AB 1735 and its biased, scientifically unsupported and
unfounded standards.

1.  Support from the Secretary of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture has
dedicated himself to safe raw milk for California and declared that "AB 1735
standards will not act as a de-facto ban on raw milk." AG Kawamura, the
Secretary of Agriculture, made this statement adamantly and repeatedly at a
2.5-hour meeting held with representatives from Claravale and Organic Pastures
(the two raw milk dairies in California) in Sacramento on December 20th. He
pledged to review the 4-inch thick bound stack of documentation that was
delivered to him titled "AB 1735... Raw Milk--The Unheard Argument" and work
with us to ensure that raw milk would continue to flow uninterrupted. (That
document includes our most up-to-date version of the Raw Milk PowerPoint
presentation and our Rebuttal to the FDA PowerPoint presentation against raw
milk, both posted at realmilk.com.)

2.  A new law will be introduced in January reversing AB 1735. After an
investigation it was revealed and admitted that certain California Department of
Farm and Agriculture (CDFA) employees met with staff members of the Assembly
Agriculture Committee to place "eight special anti-raw milk words" into AB 1735.
These CDFA employees intentionally misled the legislature using erroneous and
false data. In addition, these CDFA employees had not been authorized to meet
with the legislature. The governor's office is supposed to review and authorize
all CDFA agency legislative matters and bills. This was not done as required by
executive branch and administrative policy and procedure. Instead, highly
misleading information was used to pass rapidly and secretly AB 1735 on a
"consent item" basis without discussion or open debate. Assemblymen and state
Senators who voted for AB 1735 are now very upset that they were misled, and
they support immediate repeal on procedural grounds. The attorney general's
office may eventually get involved because of this aberrant violation of
established process in furtherance of a "biased agenda that is far from being
consent item."

3.  The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is filing a lawsuit this week in San
Benito County. Part of that lawsuit requests an injunction which would legally
protect raw milk producers against enforcement of AB 1735 standards.  This
allows a deeper and more certain protection against AB 1735 until a new law can
be passed.

You have spoken and your grass roots voices have been heard loud and clear. Raw
milk is here to stay.  While the raw milk fight is not completely over (and will
not be over any time soon), the safety of the California raw milk supply has
been secured with multiple layers of strategic political, legislative and legal
efforts. Hearings will be announced as part of the new bill and the legislative
process that will start in January. The support and attendance of raw milk
consumers will be essential and welcomed.  Stay tuned!

Congratulations to the "raw milk grass roots" and the thousands of letters and
calls that made all the difference!  CA Raw Milk is SAFE from AB 1735 and those
that sought to eliminate this sacred healing whole food.

Action to take:
As we go forward....we ask that you take pictures of you and your family holding
raw milk bottles from Claravale and/or Organic Pastures and send them to the
governor's office and to your state  Assemblyman and State Senator offices.
Write on the picture, "Please support repeal of AB 1735." A picture of your
family is worth a thousand words. Pictures of you and your raw milk food choice
can not be denied. They are too personal.

GEORGIA
We have won an important raw milk victory in Georgia.  The Georgia Department of
Agriculture (GDA) followed North Carolina's lead and proposed a rule amendment
to the Georgia Feed Laws to require the addition of food coloring to raw milk
for animal consumption "which will render the milk charcoal gray in color" (the
sale of raw milk for human consumption is illegal in the state).

Opponents of the rule forced a public hearing on the proposed change by sending
far more than the required 25 letters (under the Georgia Administrative
Procedures Act) to GDA asking for an oral hearing. The opposition to the rule
surprised the agency. One GDA employee commented that an agency generally
receives only 5-10 comments on any rule change. On the proposed rule requiring
the dye, comments in opposition ran into the hundreds. The committee voted to
nix the proposal-an important victory. Thanks to WAPF chapter leaders Alison
Tyler and Lynn Razaitis, along with Alice Rolls, director of Georgia Organics,
for spearheading this success.

WISE TRADITIONS 2008
It's not too soon to start planning for our ninth annual conference, to be held
at the Hyatt San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, California, just south of the
San Francisco Airport, November 7-10.  The theme this year is "Life in its
Fullness." Speakers will explore the connection between nutrition and mental and
emotional health. We'll be posting details on our website as plans materialize.

SHOPPING GUIDE MAILING
Our traditional year-end Shopping Guide and funding appeal is in the mail-later
than we had planned due to a printing glitch.  The success of this mailing
determines the type of projects we can take on in the coming year.  Please
remember the Weston A. Price Foundation in your end-of-year giving.

The staff and board of directors of the Weston A. Price Foundation join me in
wishing you vibrant health in the year to come.

Sincerely,
Sally Fallon, President

UPDATE ON RAW MILK SITUATION IN CALIFORNIA

Your Donations Needed to Support Legal Action

The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund has agreed to research legal options to
overturn AB 1735, a new California law that mandates standards so stringent that
raw milk dairies would not be able to comply on a consistent basis. By
eliminating the major producers of raw milk in California and sending a clear
message to legislators in other states, this law will adversely affect the
availability of raw milk throughout the country.

BACKGROUND
The law, signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger on October 8 and scheduled to take effect
January 1, imposes a strict limit of 10 coliform bacteria per milliliter in
tests taken at the point of sale. All other states with the coliform limit of
ten for retail raw milk test at the bulk tank.  Since coliform bacteria rapidly
divide and multiply whenever milk is sent through pipes, the new law will mean
an end to raw milk sales in California.

Neither Organic Pastures Dairy nor Claravale Dairy, the two licensed raw milk
dairies in California, were notified of hearings on the bill.  Spokesmen for
both dairies have expressed opposition to the legislation, which they
characterize as a "sneak attack" on raw milk.

Most coliform bacteria are not pathogens but essential probiotic good bacteria. 
Both dairies have a superlative safety record.  Claravale has been supplying raw
milk to the public without incident for over 80 years; over 1300 tests carried
out at Organic Pastures since its founding in 1999 have failed to find a single
human pathogen.

ACTION PLAN

Spearheaded by Mark McAfee, president of Organic Pastures Dairy, consumers are
engaged in opposition to the legislation on three fronts

1.  Negotiations with the California Department of Farms and Agriculture and the
governor to overturn the legislation

2.  Lobbying and letter writing on the part of consumers

3.  Research into legal avenues to stop AB1735 in the courts.

ACTION TO TAKE

1.  Send your donations to the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation, a Section 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization whose mission statement and purpose is, in part, to help
save the nation's family farms by protecting the constitutional right of farmers
to provide their unprocessed and processed farm foods directly to consumers
through any legal means.  If everyone receiving this email would donate just $25
to the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation, we'd have the funds needed to mount a
powerful campaign. By donating to the Foundation, you will contribute to the
AB1735 Revolt and ensure that your right to raw milk and raw milk products is
protected. Go to

https://www.ptfassociates.com/secure/ftcldf/ftcfdonation_ab.asp

to make your tax-deductible donation. You may also send a check to

Farm-to-Consumer Foundation
AB1735 Legal Defense Campaign
8116 Arlington Blvd., Suite 263,
Falls Church, VA 22042

California stores that carry raw milk have said they will add to the kitty as
well. The goal is to raise about $35,000 dollars in the next few weeks to fund
very aggressive legal protection actions to stop AB 1735 via court proceedings
and subsequent litigation. Your donations can also help expose the parties that
performed this quiet and surgical sneak attack on your rights to eat the foods
of your choosing.

2.  Keep those letters coming to legislators and the governor of California. 
For contact information and sample letters, go to

http://organicpastures.com/contact_lawmakers.html.

Thank you for your help in keeping raw milk alive in California!

Welcome! This is a quiet group, but our moderator does a wonderful job
of posting events, sources, etc, and I've always felt welcome to ask
any questions.

There are also some other wonderful Yahoo groups that focus on native-
nutrition foods that have very active discussions (most are over my
head :), but this is the only (and best!) local, Alabama group. So
again, welcome!

tonya

Hi,

I've heard about the Weston A Price foundation for years but recently
attended Sally Fallon's seminar in Auburn Alabama.  The seminar was
well worth it and I would recommend that anyone who has the chance
attend.  The impact of having Sally lay everything out and answering
questions over a 2-day period was excellent!

Butter, Butter, Butter seemed to be one of her mantras and I think
that butter is one of the most widely available and easy to get
"superfoods".  I have seen some GREAT results in one of my family
members serious health conditions (neurological) that I think is
attributable to the increased butter in his diet.

I'm looking forward to getting him started on butter-oil and cod liver
oil.

I'm glad to be a member of this group.

Rob Lemley

Hello &;name;, ORGANIC BYTES #120 Health, Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits with an Edge! 10/18/2007 Written and edited by Craig Minowa and Ronnie Cummins IN THIS ISSUE ORGANIC CONSUMERS SUE AURORA DAIRY IN 27 STATES FOR VIOLATING ORGANIC STANDARDS ALERT OF THE WEEK: EPA APPROVES PESTICIDE KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER & MISCARRIAGES QUICK RELATED FACT: WHO ADVISED THE APPROVAL OF NEW CARCINOGENIC PESTICIDE? USDA APPROVES CHIP IMPLANTS THAT CAUSE CANCER TUMORS QUICK RELATED FACT: WHO APPROVED TUMOR-CAUSING CHIPS? SUSTAINABILITY ALERT: PRO-ORGANIC DRAFT FARM BILL UNDER ATTACK ALERT UPDATE: RULE REQUIRING PASTEURIZATION OF RAW ALMONDS GOES INTO EFFECT STUDY OF THE WEEK: GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CORN TOXIN AFFECTING AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS QUICK TIDBITS: E.U. BLOCKS NEW GE CROPS -- U.S. APPROVES NEW GE CROPS TALK ABOUT IT IN OCA'S WEB FORUM: NEW STUDY SAYS SOME MEAT EATING IS OKAY FOR ENVIRONMENT QUICK RELATED FACTS: YOUR DIET IMPACTS ENVIRONMENT MORE THAN YOUR CAR Aerial photo of Aurora "organic" dairy factory farm courtesy of Cornucopia Institute ORGANIC CONSUMERS SUE AURORA DAIRY IN 27 STATES FOR VIOLATING ORGANIC STANDARDS Acting on behalf of organic food consumers in 27 states, class action lawsuits are being filed this week in U.S. federal courts in St. Louis and Denver, against one of the nation's largest organic dairies. The suits charge Aurora Dairy Corporation, based in Boulder, Colorado, with allegations of consumer fraud, negligence, and unjust enrichment concerning the sale of organic milk by the company. This past April, Aurora officials received a notice from the USDA detailing multiple and "willful" violations of federal organic law that were found by federal investigators, specifically not providing mandatory pasture access and bringing non-organic cows onto their massive feedlots. Unfortunately the USDA gave Aurora what the OCA considers a "slap on the wrist," rather than taking away the corporation's USDA Organic certification. Commenting on this week's class action lawsuit, Ronnie Cummins, National Director of the OCA stated: "If the USDA refuses to properly enforce organic standards, then organic consumers have no choice but to act as their own enforcement body, using the courts to punish those corporations, like Aurora, that put profits ahead of organic integrity." Two weeks ago Aurora threatened to sue the OCA, Cornucopia Institute, and the Center for Food Safety if we didn't back off. Now it looks like Aurora will have to face the consequences of their "willful violations" of organic standards in court. OCA would like to thank the hundreds of organic consumers across the country who have joined in on this class action lawsuit. We would like to also thank the several hundred OCA network supporters who have sent us over the past two weeks more than $15,000 to carry on this important legal battle. But now we need your help more than ever. If you can afford to help us fight this David versus Goliath battle over organic integrity, please send us a donation now. http://www.organicconsumers.org/donations.htm For more information on this historic lawsuit see: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7757.cfm ___________________________________ ALERT OF THE WEEK: EPA APPROVES PESTICIDE KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER & MISCARRIAGES On October 5, the EPA approved a new chemical fumigant for use on strawberries and other food crops across the U.S. The pesticide, methyl iodide, vaporizes quickly, causing it to drift far distances. Although the state of California has categorized it as cancer causing, and the EPA admits it causes thyroid tumors, the Bush Administration has been advocating approval of the fumigant for the better part of two years. In a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson on September 25, the nation's leading chemists asked EPA not to approve methyl iodide without further scientific review. The chemical has been used to induce cancer in laboratory experiments and causes neurological and thyroid problems, as well as miscarriages in studies with laboratory animals. Farmworkers, families, rural workers, and the food supply will now be subjected to exposure to the carcinogen unless the EPA revokes the approval immediately. Please take action now: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7580.cfm ___________________________________ QUICK RELATED FACT: WHO ADVISED THE APPROVAL OF NEW CARCINOGENIC PESTICIDE? James L. Connaughtonwas appointed by George W. Bush as the Senior Environmental Advisor and Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Before being appointed to this position, Connaughton was one of Capitol Hill's most successful lobbyists... for the mining, chemical, industrial and asbestos industries. ___________________________________ USDA APPROVES CHIP IMPLANTS THAT CAUSE CANCER TUMORS Over the past couple of years, the OCA has reported on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a set of controversial, mandatory regulations the U.S. federal government claims to have abandoned to the states, but in fact is still pushing, specifically, in the 2007 Farm Bill. NAIS would require that all farmers and farm animal owners implant their animals with a computer chip, even those who just own a single cow, horse, chicken or other farm animal. Last week, the USDA approved the use of two new types of chips for the NAIS program. These same chips have already been planted in millions of pets and marketed to pet owners as an ID device to help find lost pets. Increasingly, these same chips are being marketed and implanted into humans. Evidence has now surfaced that a significant number of studies done in the 1990s revealed that lab animals implanted with the devices developed tumors. When the FDA approved the use of the chips for human implanting, these reports were never made public. In an interview with a retired toxicologic pathologist who studied the chips for Dow Chemical,"The transponders were the cause of the tumors." Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7570.cfm ___________________________________ QUICK RELATED FACT: WHO APPROVED TUMOR-CAUSING CHIPS? The FDA is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services, which, at the time of the original RFID chip's approval, was headed by White House appointee Tommy Thompson. Two weeks after the device's approval took effect on Jan. 10, 2005, Thompson left his Cabinet post, and within five months was a board member of VeriChip Corporation, the company who designed the RFID chip. He was compensated by VeriChip with cash and stock options. In his public appearances, he continues to claim the chips are completely safe and urges all citizens get the implants for the sake of the health and safety of their families. To date, neither Thompson nor any member of his family has had the chip implanted. Source: Associated Press 9/8/2008 ___________________________________ SUSTAINABILITY ALERT: PRO-ORGANIC DRAFT FARM BILL UNDER ATTACK After a number of delays, the Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to take action on their version of the Farm Bill on Tuesday, October 23rd. Right now, many confidential negotiations and back room deals are underway in preparation for the Committee’s Farm Bill mark-up next week. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Tom Harkin’s (D-IA) announced today that his draft Farm Bill includes strong provisions to promote organic and sustainable agriculture, conservation, beginning farmers and better nutrition. However, various sources have indicated that funding levels remain low for many of these crucial programs. With the Agriculture Committee set to vote next week, and the full Senate vote as early as the week of October 29th, NOW is the time to act. Please contact your Senators and ask them to support increases in funding for conservation, organic agriculture, healthy food and beginning and minority farmer programs. TAKE ACTION: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7765.cfm __________________________________ image parody ALERT UPDATE: RULE REQUIRING PASTEURIZATION OF RAW ALMONDS GOES INTO EFFECT Despite massive opposition from almond producers, retailers and organic consumers, the USDA has implemented its ruling to require that raw almonds be pasteurized. The rule went into effect on September 1st, and since then, all retail outlets have been forced to remove truly raw almonds from store shelves. Consumers will be misled by this action as there will still be almonds on store shelves labeled as "raw", but they will actually be pasteurized. One of the FDA-recommended pasteurization methods requires the use of propylene oxide, which is classified as a "possible human carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and is banned in Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. Since the decision about the rule was made, Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns, has stepped down. He is temporarily replaced by Chuck Conner. This may provide a new opportunity for reversal. Please contact Conner today to ask that the rule be suspended for 6 months while the public comment period is re-opened: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5227.cfm ___________________________________ STUDY OF THE WEEK: GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CORN TOXIN AFFECTING AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS A new study in the recent issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that a toxin in genetically engineered Bt corn is contaminating waterways near farm fields. The toxin is killing caddisflies which is a valuable food resource for higher organisms like fish and amphibians. This genetically engineered (GE) corn was approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a decade ago, but the agency never tested its impact on caddisflies, which are common insects in areas where these crops are grown. According to one of the study's researchers, Todd Royer, "I think probably the risks associated with widespread planting of Bt corn were not fully assessed." Since its inception, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has called for a moratorium on GE crops, based on a current lack of data regarding environmental and health safety. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7558.cfm ___________________________________ QUICK TIDBITS E.U. BLOCKS NEW GE CROPS: The European Union has blocked the approval of a genetically modified potato and three genetically modified varieties of corn. Health regulators in several European countries expressed serious concerns about scientific data suggesting possible problems with the biotech plants. All of the proposed plants are already approved for use in the U.S. Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7617.cfm U.S. APPROVES NEW GE CROPS: The USDA has announced its plans to deregulate another variety of genetically engineered soybean. This will be the 71st genetically engineered plant the USDA has determined can forgo any and all safety and environmental regulations. The USDA will be taking comments on the proposal until December 4th. Please comment here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_7743.cfm ___________________________________ SURVEY OF OCA READERS: IS IT OKAY TO EAT MEAT? Researchers from Cornell have published a study that reopens the debate over whether it's better for the environment to be an omnivore or a vegetarian. According to the study, a low fat carnivore diet with a limited amount of meat, dairy and/or eggs is actually a more efficient use of the land. The explanation is relatively simple: if you are trying to sustainably produce the maximum amount of food nutrients on a plot of land, the high value soil is better suited for food plants, whereas low value land can create more food via grazing livestock or wild game than by planting crops. Researchers noted that the average modern meat eater consumes levels of meat and dairy that are nearly three times what would be considered "efficient". Although specific geographical areas may result in varying equations, the study's land analysis found that the amount of omnivore intake for environmental efficiency is 2 cooked ounces per day. That amounts to around the size of two decks of cards every three days. Learn more and share your opinions about this study in OCA's web forum. Please take our quick poll there too, so we can determine how many readers are vegan, vegetarian, omnivore and carnivore: http://organicconsumers.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=447 ___________________________________ QUICK RELATED FACTS: YOUR DIET IMPACTS ENVIRONMENT MORE THAN YOUR CAR 13 PERCENT = The percentage of greenhouse gases created by all trucks, SUVs, cars, airplanes, trains and other transportation. 18 PERCENT = The amount of greenhouse gases created by livestock production. Source: United Nations Moral of the story: If you are an average U.S. meat eater, reducing your meat consumption to 2 ounces per day is roughly equivalent to doubling your vehicle's fuel efficiency, in terms of greenhouse gas reduction. _________________________________ FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR STATE We have recently begun revamping our state pages to make them more accessible so that people can learn and share information about events, news, groups, and campaigns in their state. This week we've added an RSS feed so that you can receive your state's health, justice and sustainability news as soon as we post them. You will find an RSS link at the top of the news section. Help us make your state page dynamic and lively! Please take a moment to add an event, news story or green business by visiting your state page and clicking the “Become a news scout” link. To find your OCA state page, go to any OCA webpage and choose your state from the dropdown menu on the left hand navigation bar: http://www.organicconsumers.org/ __________________________________ ******** support our supporters********* INNOVATIVE NEW ALOE VERA PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FROM GOOD CAUSE WELLNESS Aloe Vera Gel Flakes offer easy convenience and superior nutritional benefits to most aloe juices. The new Aloe Vera Drink Mixes recently introduced by Good Cause Wellness have been praised as the "best-tasting aloe vera gel I've tried yet" by Mike Adams in a review recently published at www.NewsTarget.com. Good Cause Wellness, an official sponsor of the OCA, offers Aloe Vera Drink Mixes made from a patented method that retains the flavor, color and nutrients of aloe vera better than traditionally produced aloe. The Aloe Vera Gel Flakes are easily added to water or a blended drink to deliver the incredible benefits of aloe vera. Good Cause Wellness offers three Aloe Vera Drink Mixes: Aloe Vera100 - 100% Aloe Vera in a simple, delicious drink mix Aloe Vera with Blueberry - Superior quality Aloe Vera and antioxidant-rich blueberries Aloe Vera with Raspberry - All the benefits and nutrients of aloe vera plus great-tasting raspberries To get complete details of these innovative new Aloe Vera products, please visit http://www.GoodCauseWellness.com   Please forward this publication to family and friends, place it on websites, print it, duplicate it and post it freely. Knowledge is power! __________________________________ NOTE TO CO-OP AND NATURAL FOOD STORE SUBSCRIBERS: Organic Bytes is a great tool for keeping your staff and customers up to date on the latest issues. Feel free to forward this email to your staff and print for posting on bulletin boards and staff break tables. You are also welcome to use this material for your newsletters. There's an attractive print-friendly PDF version of this available for free download at http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.cfm _________________________________ ORGANIC BYTES is a publication of: ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION 6771 South Silver Hill Drive Finland, Minnesota 55603 Phone: (218)- 226-4164 Fax: (218) 353-7652 __________________________________ Subscribe: http://www.organicconsumers.org/organicbytes.htm Safe Unsubscribe: Change your subscription settings to receive Organic Bytes as plain text here: __________________________________

-- John Langlois
john.langlois@...
www.foggybottomwebdesign.com
www.foggybottomfarms.com

SURPRISE SPEAKER

Wise Traditions 2007, our 8th annual conference, is fast approaching.  We are
very pleased to announce that Joel Salatin, pioneer of grass-based farming and
author of "Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal" will be our speaker at the
Closing Ceremony on Sunday, November 11.  He will also join us for the
Right-to-Farm panel discussion on Saturday afternoon, and will be available
during informal meetings of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund.  The Fund
will be hosting soaked oatmeal breakfasts, with all the fixings, all three
mornings of the conference.

OCTOBER 1 CUT-OFF DATE
The cut-off date for advance conference registration is Monday, October 1.
Prices increase after this date. Space this year is very limited and we may not
even be able to accommodate full conference registration after that date.  Full
conference registration includes all delicious meals and the awards banquet
featuring Canadian raw milk activist Michael Schmidt.  So if you are planning to
attend the full conference (including all the delicious meals), we urge you to
register by Monday.

To register, go to westonaprice.org/conference/2007/registration.html.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS
We have added more rooms to our reservation block but it looks as though the
hotel will sell out for our event.  So if you are planning to stay in the
beautiful Westfields Marriott Hotel, don't delay in making your reservation.
Call (800) 627-7468 to reserve your room and be sure to mention the Weston A.
Price Foundation to receive the reduced rate of $145 per night.

For information on room shares, ride shares, baby care and the children's
program, visit westonaprice.org/conference.2007/.

SUNDAY EVENING BUFFET
If you are making travel plans, please note that the hotel dining room will be
open for no-host buffet dining on Sunday evening. (In previous years, the hotel
dining room has been closed on Sunday evenings.)

I found it at my regular grocery store in the Asian food section. I've
used it in recipes, and it's fishy (not a surprise), but tends to
impart a wonderful, light flavor to dishes.
tonya