FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2012
CONTACT: Andrea Stander, Director
andrea@ruralvermont.org
802-223-7222 or 802-522-3284
RURAL VERMONT RELEASES 2012 REPORT ON RAW MILK PRODUCTION AND SALES
The report’s survey results indicate raw milk sales contributed approximately $1 million in gross revenue to Vermont farms during 2011
Montpelier – Rural Vermont has released its 2012 Report on raw milk production and sales. For the third year since the passage of Act 62, which enabled the direct sale of raw milk by farmers to consumers, Rural Vermont has presented an overview of how the law is working for farmers and the economic impact of raw milk sales.
The report was presented to the House Committee on Agriculture on January 24, 2012 and will be presented to the Senate Committee on Agriculture on Friday February 3, 2012. The report is available on the Rural Vermont website http://www.ruralvermont.org or by calling 802-223-7222.
The report is based on the results of surveys conducted by Rural Vermont, which reached 95 of the estimated 150 farms that are producing raw milk and selling it to consumers under the requirements of Act 62. The report provides an overview of how the law has been functioning, summarizes the data collected in the surveys and presents some recommendations for further adjustments to the law and the regulations.
Lisa Kaiman of Jersey Girls Farm in Chester participated in the survey and commented; “Being able to sell raw milk has done a lot for my farm, not just financially, but community building and job appreciation – for both me and my cows. Since Irene, these sales and community interaction have been even more of a support to my farm than ever before. I continue to feel restricted by the seemingly arbitrary 40qt limit/day and the unreasonable labeling and testing regulations.”
In general, the farmers who participated in the survey were enthusiastic about the benefits of being able to sell raw milk. Jonathan Falby, owner of Symphony Farm in Washington said, “Protecting the raw milk law ensures that citizens have the freedom to choose who makes the products that are put in their bodies, where the product is made, and how the product’s production effects their land, community and economy. ”
Rural Vermont’s recommended changes are focused on improvements to the law and regulations that were identified by the farmers who responded to the survey. These changes would further enable farmers to respond to the skyrocketing consumer demand for raw milk and value-added products made from raw milk such as cheese and yogurt. Being able to meet this consumer demand offers a significant economic benefit to Vermont’s growing community of small, diversified farms.
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Hey, did you know that a farm selling raw milk in PA last week made 38 people, including about 17 kids sick in 4 states? Raw milk can be a very dangerous product and should not be allowed for sale, Vermont or anywhere. The government knows it can make you sick, but allow it, go figure. All in the name of saving dairy farms. Well what about not making people sick with the product you sell.
I know you’ll tell me that you’ve been drinking it for decades and you are the cleanest farm. The fact is that where you sell a food is also where animals go to the bathroom. You can’t guarantee the product’s safety all the time.
Click here for the latest from PA! Imagine admitting guilt, how do you repay those that are sick?
http://www.abc27.com/story/16672884/farm-apologizes-for-tainted-raw-milk
Outlaw raw milk NOW!
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Jackie, do you know how many people are sickened every year by processed lunch meats, factory-farm produce, and pasteurized milk? The CDC says 9.4 million people a year are sickened as a result of foodborne contaminants, the vast majority of which have nothing to do with raw milk. And in the few cases where raw milk is an issue, it is typically tainted raw milk from factory farms that was never intended to be consumed raw in the first place.
Yes, the Pennsylvania incident is unfortunate, but it is not the norm by any means. Heck, the largest known outbreak of illness related to milk was from PASTEURIZED milk in Chicago in the 1980s — and I was one of the people that became ill from salmonella in pasteurized milk during this outbreak!
With all due respect, you are speaking out of ignorance that was force-fed you by our biased and unscientific regulatory agencies that routinely ignore the food safety dangers from processed, “acceptable” foods, and constantly dish out mindless pseudoscience about the so-called dangers of raw milk.
Do your homework and learn the truth, and stop repeating the lies of those who oppose raw milk because of a different agenda. Pasteurized milk makes many people sick, including myself. Raw milk, on the other hand, is loaded with beneficial enzymes and bacteria that make it digestible — my health has never been better, and my stomach thanks me every day for switching from pasteurized to raw!
So for you to suggest that raw milk be PROHIBITED for everyone because of your superstitious fears is absolutely insane. It is not up to YOU, or to any government agency to decide whether or not I can consume raw milk, or if someone else wants to sell it to me and my family. If you don’t want to drink it, fine. But stay out of my own personal business, and the business of farms that simply want to supply the incredible demand for an amazing, health-promoting food that is doing wonders to reverse the course of chronic diseases among those that consume it.