Thursday, July 28, 2011

After the silence,.....politics?

So, it's been a  LONG TIME since I wrote.  Not that I didn't have anything to talk about, its just that ideas, time, and a functional brain didn't really come together at the same time.... (BE GLAD YOU ARE NOT ME...)
So, here I am blogging again.  BUT, rather than catching you up on all the cool things happening around the Roost, or with LOCAL FOODS, I'm going to rant (isn't that really why we blog?????)

I went to the farmers market today.  The LOCAL market, 2 minutes from my house where I have been selling stuff to my neighbors for the past three months.  The INSPECTOR ( cue Inspector Gadget Music...) showed up as I was setting up my table.  He wanted to look at my labels.  Not my products, just the labels.  My labels tell who I am, where I am located, and how to contact me.  My signs tell buyers that the products are home made and what they are and what is in them. 

I didn't pass inspection, and I was asked to leave.  (he said I could stay and sell my 5 bags of greens, but not my bread, but IF he had seen that the bags were closed, he would have fined me for not having processed them in a licenced facility. Been down that road before... I went home.  It is 96 degrees F and 100% humidity... greens will not hold for 4 hours in an open container.)

So,  I've come home.  I'll fix my labels, and be back next week. 

On my way home I stopped at the local store for some wine (seemed like a good idea...)  They sell bread, but no one there could tell me what was in it, who made it, when it was made, where it was made, or anything about it other than "read the label, and it costs $1.95 a loaf."  I don't know how that is safer than my neighbors buying bread from me, knowing where I live, how to get in touch with me, what I put in the bread, when it was made, etc. 

I don't blame the drone at the bottom who showed up to inspect.  He was just doing his job and trying to survive in the hive.  I am frustrated that we keep throwing money into such a STUPID system.

I've formed a group to work on local food issues.  We are doing LOTS.  It is a slow process, but we are moving.  I'm spitting nails, throwing stuff, mad that Big Brother is treading on our progress.

8 comments:

Anne said...

That sucks. The system is insane. Good for you to start a group and create change!

Leon said...

That sucks big time. But believe it or not there is hope - as backward as we (Florida) sometimes are, we just got a new law and from July 1 we can sell breads, jams etc. without any kind of licenses or other government interference, as long as it's a small farm (less than $15,000/yr , I think). So, keep up the fight - it's possible :)

Hickchick said...

you would think there are better uses for our tax dollars -its a crazy world~

inadvertent farmer said...

Ohhh you are so preaching to the choir here! I am very sorry for your troubles...in Washington I think it is easier to sell post than homemade bread...I kid your not!

I'm sorry it is up to ME if I want to buy and eat food sold by someone at a farmer's market, I am responsible for that decision. I don't want the government limiting my choices because the don't like the label. Its lunacy...pure lunacy!

Guess it is trickle down stupidity from the highest rungs of our political system all the way to the local drones.

Eleanor said...

What a waste of good food and your time! It's crazy, the obstacles between farmers and eaters. I hope next week goes better!

Bridget said...

Here in Ireland it is the same. Bonkers! Seems like THEY want all food to be industrially produced, cut out the small producer by making life difficult for them.

Anonymous said...

I hear you man. They impose all these regulations onto us to make it "safe" ye right. And when it's unsafe they come along to fine us!!!

tansy said...

so what was wrong with the labels that you didn't pass?

it has become insane trying to sell at the local market...i've watched lots of my friends there lose lots of business because they can no longer sell products made in their own kitchens...it's gotta be a commercial kitchen. no jellies, jams, pies, salsa, bread, etc.

on the bright side, laws just changed that makes it possible to sell honey again w/o having a honey house.

hoping you can get the laws changed favorably for yourself soon!!!

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