California Woman Arrested for Sharing Milk with Neighbor…

For most of us this seems ridiculous, and in all fairness, we did make it up.  But before you get too upset, its important to note that if AB2505 doesn’t pass, it will continue to be illegal for small “Home Dairy Farms” to do what farmers have done for centuries; sell excess produce to friends and neighbors.

We’ve written about the benefits of food access here before, and will soon post about why “local food” is important to all of us. Right now we have an opportunity as Californians to support access to raw milk in California.  This is not about mandating what we must eat and drink, but about allowing citizens to choose for themselves.  Please follow this link and send a message to your representative to support AB2505.  This bill is about the right of individuals to decide what they are and aren’t going to eat, and leaving that decision to families and farmers rather than the government.  While raw milk is legal in California, this specific bill is about the ability of “Home Dairy Farms” to share excess milk with neighbors and friends.  It would allow a farm with 3 or less lactating cows (or water buffalo…now that I’d like to see), or 15 or less goats, to sell or share their milk with willing consumers.  It should strike some of you as a little strange that farmers with a cow or two would need a law to allow them to share milk with neighbors.  Welcome to modern food laws!   The Farm-To-Consumer Legal Defense Fund summarize the bill like this:

The California Home Dairy Farm Raw Milk Safety Act (AB 2505)—also known as the “Farm to Fridge” bill— provides for small-scale raw milk producers (i.e., home dairy farms) to make on-farm sales direct to consumers. No license would be required but there would be basic safety/sanitation requirements to meet.

You can read the entire bill here.  If you’re a Californian and you are interested in protecting the ability of small farms to sell their produce to friends and neighbors without prohibitive government oversight, then take a minute to go to FTCLDF’s website and sign the automated petition.  Protect your right to choose the food you eat, and a farmers ability to support their family.

Blessings,

SF