Here at naturalfarms we believe it is our responsibility to keep our customers informed and educated on what is going on in the organic world. We can be smoothed over very easily from media, and uniformed people, and we want to keep you abreast on what is really going on behind the scenes.

H.R. 2749 The Food Safety Enhancement Act

UPDATE -- July 30, 2009, 11:30 AM: According to the Daily Leader, H.R. 2749 will come up for a vote again today, probably early afternoon.

July 29, 2009, 3:30 PM: Concerns of organic farmers and small producers prevented the House from passing H.R. 2749 today! Find out how your Congressperson voted here.

The House of Representatives is considering H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. It's an attempt to address the worst problems in U.S. agriculture, but as it stands the bill threatens to undermine the best things in U.S. agriculture - small farmers producing for local markets.

Please contact your Representative immediately and urge them to Vote No!

Related News: Yesterday, Representative Dennis Kucinich held an important food safety hearing: Ready to Eat or Not?: Examining the Impact of Leafy Green Marketing Agreements

This hearing examined one of the most pressing concerns of organic farmers, that food safety regulations for leafy greens could force them to destroy wildlife habitat (natural buffers that protect soil and water quality), poison frogs and create barriers to wildlife on the theory that wildlife might carry pathogens like E. coli into their fields (even though only 0.5% of wildlife carry E. coli O157). The Wild Farm Alliance has more information on this topic.