I often get the question "what can I do?" from people who want to
help make raw milk more available or who want to help in the fight
against NAIS. It is a great question and, up till now, difficult to
answer, in part because there was not an organized force to take on
the General Assembly. Now, I have an answer to all of you who have
ever asked that question to me or to yourself. You can join this
group! This will be our central point; it will be our support and
our framework. We will speak and our state WILL hear our voices.
We know that choosing what we eat is a fundamental freedom that we
do not have full flexibility to enjoy. By coming together, we can
accomplish more than any of us could on our own. We are a community
and need to stand as one. As always, feel free to e-mail me with
any questions you have liz@... you can also e-mail Melissa at
melissa@...







Maryland Independent Consumers' and Farmers' Association



We see a state that allows unregulated farmer-to-consumer sales of
raw dairy. Maryland will lead the way in promoting on-farm sales of
raw milk. A few years from now there will be amazement that raw
dairy was ever so tightly controlled. Everyone will know the
multiple health benefits of consuming raw milk. Naturally, there
will be a move toward supporting small farms that provide this
amazing food and protecting land which sustains the milk-producing
cows. It will take time and effort, but we know it will happen. And
we know it is a matter of time before it is available in all the
states that currently forbid it.

Pasteurization for distribution of milk became mandatory in Maryland
on July 1, 1972. Yet dairy shares were a legal way to have raw
milk, until April of this year, when the Maryland Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene proposed an amendment to the Code of
Maryland Regulations to redefine a cow or other dairy animal share
as a "sale of raw milk" thus making cow shares illegal as well. Due
in part to the Weston A. Price Foundation, interest in raw milk has
soared over the past several years, and Marylanders are showing an
increased attention and appetite for this wonderful food. In
response to this increase in demand, government agencies have
increased their efforts to eliminate our right to have it. The
government's usurpation of our food choices is not acceptable. We
take the stand that every Maryland citizen deserves access to raw
milk from the producer of their choice, and we want each of you to
stand with me and do whatever you can. You have been sent this
letter because you already know raw dairy has made a difference in
your life or in the life of a loved one, and you are in a position
to make a huge difference!

Another serious threat facing small farms, farmers and consumers is
the USDA's proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
The USDA wants to microchip and track every livestock animal on
every farm in the United States and register every premises where
such an animal lives or passes. The exorbitant cost of this program
would put small farmers out of business. Without small farms, the
products we have grown accustomed to would cease to exist. While
this benefits huge agri-business, it will destroy small farmers. We
take the stand that we will not accept NAIS in our state.

We are starting MICFA—Maryland Independent Consumers' and Farmers
Association—modeled after VICFA—Virginia Independent Consumers' and
Farmers Association, and we ask you to work with us to change the
laws in Maryland. Bit by bit, the state has taken away our right to
obtain farm foods by crafting regulations that eliminate our
choices. They are subtle and sneaky. We want to be bold and clear
as we stand for what we believe in. Please join us in this battle
by becoming a member of MICFA. We will soon be meeting with our
delegates with some sample legislation for unregulated on-farm dairy
sales and legislation to keep NAIS out of Maryland. The members of
the General Assembly need to know how important this is to their
constituents, (that means you folks), and the formality of an
incorporated organization gives us a strength we do not have
individually.

The MICFA mission statement is:



To promote and preserve unregulated direct farmer-to-consumer trade
that fosters availability of locally grown or home-produced food
products.



We want to acknowledge you for what you are already committed
to. In going out of your way to support farmers and get raw dairy,
you are taking a stand for your own health, the health of the
environment and, most probably, for someone you love. We ask you to
take your commitment a step further. By taking a stand with MICFA,
you create a community and with it a world of possibility for
yourself and future generations.

Our membership dues are $25 per year to defray the costs of formal
incorporation and associated costs of maintaining a formal
organization. Please go to www.micfa.net to print out a membership
form and send it in. Once you become a member, you will
automatically be put on our information/action alert list and our
mailing list for our newsletter.

For members and non-members, we will maintain an e-mail
list for information and action alerts. Actions might take the form
of calling your legislators, writing e-mails, and going to the
General Assembly in Annapolis.

This is going to be a wild adventure and we look forward to sharing
it with each of you.



Sincerely,

Liz Reitzig, President

Melissa Cohen, Vice President