Fwd: Help Amend the Food Safety Modernization Act

[Guest guest]

Dixie MahyPresidentSan Francisco Vegetarian SocietyNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition <AnnetteHelp Amend the Food Safety Modernization Act About Donate Take ActionFOOD SAFETY ACTION ALERTIf You Value Safe, Local, and Healthy Food Please Make a Call! Food Safety legislation headed for the Senate floor would considerably ramp up regulation on farms that even minimally process their crops and sell them to restaurants, food coops, groceries, schools and wholesalers. The new regulations could erect new barriers to these important markets for small and mid-scale farmers unable to bear the expense of compliance. Fortunately, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has introduced the Growing Safe Food Act (S. 2758)to create a national food safety training and technical assistance program. It would deliver training and technical assistance appropriate to small and mid scale farms to reduce the incidence of food borne illness. Senators Bingaman (D-NM), Boxer (D-CA), Brown (D-OH), Casey (D-PA), Feingold (D-WI), Franken (D-MN), Gillibrand (D-NY), Leahy (D-VT), Merkly (D-OR) and Sanders (I-VT) have already added their support. If your Senators are not on this list please call them and urge them to co-sponsor the Growing Safe Food Act (S 2758).Calling your Senator is easy. Step 1: Call the capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senator's office. Once connected ask to speak to the aide responsible for agriculture. If the aide is unavailable leave a brief voice mail message about the Growing Safe Food Act. Be sure to leave your name and a call back number. Step 2: Urge your Senator to co-sponsor the Growing Safe Food Act (S 2758). Tell them that providing training and technical assistance to farmers engaged in on farm processing is essential to good economic development and safe, local and healthy food. Step 3: Report your call. Click on this link to let us know the results of your call. With your help, NSAC has already won a number of key changes to this legislation and we will continue to push for improvements. We can't let rules designed to address serious food safety deficiencies in our industrial food system shut down the move toward healthy, natural and local food. Your calls are essential. If you're still reading we've got just one last pitch.Way back when -- Long before anyone knew what Community Supported Agricultural was, our grassroots network was in Washington D.C. advocating for sustainable and organic farmers and safe, local and healthy food.First on the scene - NSAC jumped to local food's defense last fall when alarm bells about harmful food safety rules began ringing around the country. Several key exemptions for local farms are there only because we were there.Local food on the line -- But we still have work to do. These rules designed to address the serious food safety deficiencies of our industrial food system could shut down the local food movement and shut out sustainable and organic farmers from important new market opportunities. David vs. Goliath - We can't kid ourselves. Deep-pocketed interests have the floor and this is a long term fight. Once legislation passes the rulemaking battles begin. Winning will take a long term commitment of grassroots action and resources. You can make the difference. Please donate to our food safety work today.