Dear Members,

We are please to send you this positive update from Mark McAfee of Organic
Pastures Dairy on the California raw milk situation. Please send your
letters
to the governor and California lawmakers as requested and vizualize a
complete
victory for raw milk in California!

UPDATE ON AB 1735 FOOD FREEDOM FIGHT
SACRAMENTO MEETING BRINGS PROMISING NEWS

Dear Raw Milk Supporters

First of all, the consumer uprising in the face of the "AB1735 Raw Milk
Surprise" has been tremendous. Faxes, voicemails, emails and letters are
virtually saturating members of the Assembly, CDFA, and the Governor's
office.
We are making solid progress thanks to this wonderful support.

Two weeks ago I requested a meeting with CDFA staff and legislative
representatives to review elements of AB1735 and present important
scientific
information not included or reviewed during the "very quiet" legislative
process. This information included USDA peer reviewed research, University
studies, CDC data, and other essential information missed because no
meaningful
or representative debate occurred when the bill was passed.

The meeting, held in Sacramento on Monday, October 29th, was well
attended by
senior Ph.D. staff from CDFA, assembly staff representatives, and
Agricultural
Committee staff. After about ninety minutes, senior staff at CDFA
committed to
working with us to find a mutually agreeable solution to the issues.

My key statements included the following: "I have so much compelling
information, and so little time to present it. Although we and our
consumers are
the major stakeholders in AB 1735, we were neither notified of, nor
invited to
the formal legislative process. This is an outrage, and amounts to
legislation
without representation."

I stated my viewpoint that pasteurized dairy products and raw dairy
products can
and should co-exist. There was complete agreement on this point, yet
initial
disagreement on what that should look like.

While the CDFA scientists conceded no pathogens have ever been found
at OPDC in
seven years of testing, they insisted that California raw milk codes be
harmonized with FDA codes. I disagreed adamantly. How can our state codes
possibly align with those of a federal agency that badly misconstrues
the nature
of raw milk, using phrases such as "playing Russian Roulette with your
life."

The message got through loud and clear and we now have a firm
commitment from
CDFA to work together and resolve this issue quickly and effectively.

Our panel (see below) has submitted a five point plan - along with a
three inch
thick ream of pathogen test data and University research -to the CDFA
and the
legislative committee. We will meet again very shortly to discuss the
proposal
and lay the groundwork for resolution.

I have sent a letter to the Governor's office requesting a meeting as
soon as
possible. Gov. Schwarzenegger is perhaps the most progressive governor
California has ever had regarding health issues. It is doubtful he had
any idea
that AB1735 contained a hidden surprise that would threaten raw milk.
How could
he have known? There were no discussions or debate.

It is essential that your voices continue to be heard. Keep pressing your
assembly members and the Governor for support. (See
www.organicpastures.com/contact_lawmakers.html for contact
information.) It
appears that a new bill will need to be introduced to overturn elements of
AB1735, including additional safeguards to secure the future of
sustainable,
safe, fresh, delicious, and nutritious raw milk for the years to come.

In California, raw milk is a sacred food. The consumption of raw milk
is an
intentional act and not done by error or mistake. Consumption of raw
milk is a
freedom preserved by longstanding California Food and Agriculture Code
#35928
(F). This venerable raw milk law makes restriction of California raw milk
illegal. Our arguments stand on solid ground.

Even though the CDFA has promised full cooperation, it is still early
in this
process and many turns lay ahead. Look for updates on this historic
showdown,
and keep supporting the struggle to protect your fundamental right to
eat any
whole, unprocessed, natural food of your choosing.

We are very grateful for the CDFA's solid commitment to work with us,
and feel
hopeful about the future of raw milk.

Mark McAfee, Founder OPDC

Our expert panel includes:

Jan Krancher, Ph.D. Nutrition - retired county health inspector
Dale Jacobson, D.C. - practices in Nevada City
Paul Spiegel, Esq., - raw milk consumer with interest in raw artisan
cheeses
Rick Jefferies - political consultant and activist
Mark McAfee, Founder OPDC - organic farmer, retired paramedic, county
health
educator
Anna Catharina Berge DVM, State of CA - epidemiologist

PS In another secret legislative process earlier this year, you lost
your right
to buy truly raw almonds at the grocery store. Let this not be the
year we also
lose raw milk!

Mark