With a sluggish economy and rising food prices more and more of our viewers tell me they are turning to local products of their own backyard gardens to feel their families. But many of those same viewers say they have heard rumors swirling around a bill making its way through congress that could limit their options. So what is the truth? I found out in this Fact Finder.
Bob Struthers is the manager of Oryana Natural Foods Co Op in Traverse City. Last year Oryana sold more than 800-thousand dollars worth of products made and grown here in Northern Michigan. Struthers says "those products that are local and high quality are of our main focuses." Oryana says that means quality for the customer and a boost for the local grower.
According to Struthers "In a lot of ways it’s your neighbor producing and then your giving or helping support that neighbor. It's a nice little circle our community that comes from that."
That circle from local grower to local consumers, on scales from as large as Oryana's to as small as backyard garden shared between neighbors, is facing some scrutiny in Washington.
So what’s the motivation behind a series of new food safety bills in Congress? The recent issues with foods like peanut butter, lettuce, spinach from large corporate sources have sparked outrage.
The bill creating the most uproar is HR 875. This one, according to some, would crush the local growers.
How? It's a huge bill with lots of fine print but here is the breakdown.
Hr 852 would create a new federal regulator called the Food Safety
Administration. Every food producer from corporations to roadside farm
stands would have to register with the FSA, and meet safety standards.
FSA inspectors would be given free reign to examine and test all food
products to ensure compliance.
It would also implement some extreme penalties $1 million in civil
fines per food safety violation; up to 5 years in prison if someone gets
seriously ill from the violation.
To be fair, the bill would create strict guidelines and oversight for
large scale growers at equally large costs. The problem is that's a
cost that could hamstring small growers forcing them to either
dramatically raise their prices or go out of business all together.
Struthers at Oryana says any bill that deals with growers needs to find a balance between everyone that brings food to the table, “to treat that small farmer in Buckley the same as a large grower in California? I think that would be inequity in a system and not really fair to both parties, and more importantly to the consuming public."
So viewers emailed me and wondered does this bill have a future? I contacted our three Northern Michigan Congressman and asked them if this bill made sense for small growers here? Here's what they told me.
"Food safety is an important issue that needs to be addressed, but Congress
needs to strike an appropriate balance between ensuring the safety of the
food supply and implementing too many regulations that force companies out
of business and our food supply out of the United States." U.S. Rep. Pete
Hoekstra, R-Holland
"While I agree we need to improve food safety, placing burdensome
regulations on small growers, which have a stellar record on food safety,
will not solve the problem... Punishing our growers is not the right
approach." U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland
Congressman Bart Stupak told me, "Food safety legislation must
recognize the challenges small food producers face, but to exempt them from
traceability and reporting requirements altogether would leave gaping holes
in our food safety system."
But Congressman Stupak has gone a step further than most. He has
introduced H.R. 759, it would replace 852. Congressman Stupak says this
bill is better for Northern Michigan because while it still sets high
standards for all growers. Small businesses would be exempted from the high
fees. He says it recognizes the challenges small food producers face.
At this time, both bills are making their way around Congress, but members tell me it may be some time before anything is brought to the floor for a vote.
I want to hear from you. How important are local produce and local growers to you? Is the “little guy” going to get squeezed out by Washington on this one?
Let me know.
