Food Safety Laws Threaten CSAs and Organic Farms?

Food safety has become a critical issue over the past few years with the most recent peanut butter recall causing lawmakers to strengthen laws to protect consumers.

But in the process, there’s been much chatter this past week regarding how several food safety bills — notably senate bill 425 — impact local farmers, CSAs, and small organic farms. One blogger who has studied the bill says aside from the threat to CSAs and organic farms, small, backyard farm plots would be subject to fines if the bill was passed into law.

The interpretation of any proposed law is tricky and the implications are hard to guess. What’s important, though, is that lawmakers carefully read the bill to make a sound choice. Consumers should also weigh in on the topic. A good place to start is this blog by Sacred Lotus Photography, which has links to the proposed law. I’ll also continue to poke around and see what others are saying, and if you run into anything that’s related, please let us know.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz

Vegetably Engaged

Lynda, Jen and VeggiesMore than two dozen families picked up organic produce shares at the Kingston Natural Foods Buying Club yesterday, which included fruits and veggies such as: kale; Swiss “Rainbow” chard; apples; pears; avocados; carrots; onions; Romaine lettuce; cilantro; and an orange.

What was most enjoyable, to me, was that everyone who stopped by 33 Broadway to pick up shares were happy. I mean they were brimming-with-grins happy. Folks talked to one another, catching up after a long winter. Some new friends were made. The boxes of fresh greens and fruits were admired, and people talked about what they were going to make with their produce. They were socially engaged.

All of this was a wonderful reminder why people need to interact with one another, face-to-face, in a meaningful way.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz