Wildlife habitat, water quality and diverse family farms are under threat with a new proposed provision to the Farm Bill (HR 2419.EH § 10106).  Although supposedly intended to protect our nation’s food supply from pathogens such as E. coli 0157, this amendment would unfairly place the blame on fruit and vegetable growers, and in particular, disadvantage small farms. Despite compelling evidence that E. coli emanates from other sources, such as cattle, and that such contamination has been largely found in bagged mixed greens, the Farm Bill provision would force farmers to eradicate wildlife habitat on their farm in the name of food safety.  Moreover, the provision fails to mandate changes to the likely contributors of such pathogens upstream, such as animal feedlots, and run-off into waterways.  Subsequently, organic food growers, and other farmers intent on enhancing natural vegetative systems on the farm, are being unfairly targeted to solve a larger public health problem that results from an unwieldy industrial food production system.

We urge Congress to oppose to the specialty crop marketing order provision included in the House version of the Farm Bill (HR 2419.EH § 10106).

Instead, Congress needs to take a comprehensive look at produce-related food safety issues by addressing fecal contamination problems and handling practices that allow for the spread of pathogens in the first place. Attempting to use producer-directed marketing orders instead of addressing the source of E. coli contamination will be environmentally disastrous and ultimately ineffective in ensuring a safe food supply.

Contact your Senators and House Representative and urge them to drop this misguided provision in the 2008 Farm Bill.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to urge you to oppose the inclusion of the House Specialty Crop Marketing provision, HR 2419.EH 10106, in the Farm Bill.

Although supposedly intended to protect our nation's food supply from pathogens such as E. coli 0157, this amendment would unfairly place the blame on fruit and vegetable growers, and in particular, disadvantage small farms. Despite compelling evidence that E. coli emanates from other sources, such as cattle, and that such contamination has been largely found in bagged mixed greens, the Farm Bill provision would force farmers to eradicate wildlife habitat on their farm in the name of food safety. Moreover, the provision fails to mandate changes to the likely contributors of such pathogens upstream, such as animal feedlots, and run-off into waterways. Subsequently, organic food growers, and other farmers intent on enhancing natural vegetative systems on the farm, are being unfairly targeted to solve a larger public health problem that results from an unwieldy industrial food production system.

Industrial food production, in which leafy greens from multiple locations are mixed and bagged, represents a new and growing challenge to food safety. As such, I support the adoption of food safety requirements in the bagged leafy green industry that conform to the following guiding principles:

* Any new food safety requirements should be implemented by a federal or state governmental body and be subject to the notice and comment and open records requirements. * Solutions are developed that include a comprehensive assessment of the potential for livestock operations to impact leafy green safety. In particular, strict protective requirements for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to prevent the spread of E. coli, should be developed. * The integrity of the National Organic Standards and the goals of farm conservation programs are preserved, particularly those provisions that protect wildlife and plant biodiversity and support soil, water, and habitat conservation on the farm. * Producers and sellers of fresh, non-packaged, leafy greens are exempt from any new regulation, since the large majority of the E. coli contamination (98.5% in California) has been found in bagged greens. * Any new requirements or standards do not result in a disproportionate economic burden on small and mid-sized farmers. * Any new requirements or standards should not inhibit the adoption of common organic agriculture practices.

Thank you for taking my views into consideration,

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 08, 2008