Though written before the hearing took place, this is a nice summary of the situation.
Quote:
Parra said she expects criticism for pushing for repeal of a food safety law, but she's doing so "on behalf of these two dairies that I believe were rolled by a state agency. In the end, that's not something I could live with."
Full article is at:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/16/BAEBUFL9G.DT...
The following email from Aajonus has been posted at Jim Ellison's blog -- http://www.wewant2live.blogspot.com -- I have bolded some of the text for emphasis. Please consider using our Donate and Join Us (to sign petition/join lawsuit) pages if you wish to help! Thank you. -- AuLait
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Monday, December 31, 2007
Urgent for Raw Milk Lovers in every state and country
The operators of Claravale and Organic Pastures dairies have filed a lawsuit in San Benito County, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle here.
Please note, this is not the only legal action pending; ours also is on the way. Stay tuned for more updates!
Earlier this month, Congressman Ron Paul introduced H.R. 4077, a bill that would legalize the interstate sale of raw milk. As a Republican presidential candidate and a medical doctor, Ron Paul's choice to introduce this now speaks volumes about the importance to Americans of freedom to choose healthy food.
Dear Customers and Concerned Citizens:
As the owner of Claravale Farm, I would like to weigh in on the recently passed AB 1735. We have been getting a number of questions from our customers to which I would like to respond as well as the press release from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and a letter from Nicole Parra (chair of the assembly committee on agriculture) that was sent to our customers.
Many of you want to know where we stand on this new regulation so let me give you our position up front: This new regulation and the method with which it was implemented stink. If you want to continue to be able to get Claravale milk or any raw milk in California you need to fight this law with everything you have.
Dear raw milk lovers,
I would not want to rain on anyone's parade but we must think rationally rather than naively. Mark McAfee of Organic Pastures may be burying himself the same way the Stueve's Natural did in 1999. Health department employees are not his friends and want him to lose his business. History speaks for itself. It is the actions that show a man's intent, now his words or personality.
Since 1972, California Department of Health Services (CDHS), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LACDHS) have been trying to outlaw raw milk. My first major participation in the battle was in 1978 to get a CA Senate bill passed legalizing raw milk with equal