Tester Food Safety Amendment Protects Family-Scale Producers

U.S. Senator Jon Tester speaks on his amendment to protect local family-scale producers in the Food Safety Bill being debated by the Senate.

Saying the nation's food system is already too centralized through a few, industrial-scale producers, Tester warned that the Food Safety Bill as written would "blow local family-scale producers right out of business" by burdening them with expensive new federal regulations and time-consuming government paperwork.

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[pbchrist]

@greenlance123

Because the government represents multinational corporations with limitless dollars and expansive lobbying power, not us. They write the policy. Because the secretary of agriculture is an ex-Monsanto-nik. The whole thing stinks to high heaven, and all we can do is voice our outrage until we have no more voice. Thank you Greenlance, for what you do. I am a loyal buyer of locally grown food, and an ardent supporter of family farms.

[ladylordess]

Is he referring to S. 510: FDA Food Safety Modernization Act? If so, I think he is mistaken about all of the positive that will come out of this, rather there will be more negative. Time will tell. Too much government control is a bad thing. This bill makes it illegal to grow your own tomatoes. Another great bill brought to you from this wonderful administration who wants to control everything, including our food!!!! Think about it!

[MikeOB725]

Jon Tester through the small farmer under the bus.

[nadinesnoopy]

thank you, thank you, thank you, Senator Tester!!!

[YourEnchantedGardene]

Sadly, his amendment, as included, was watered down. $500,000 is not enough exemption for a farmer.

The cornerstore of real food safety is

one million more local organic farmers and

gardeners growing a bit of their own food organically. Good intention from Senator Tester. Also Google: Inacurracy of CDC Foodborne Illness #'s Cited.

[chilaxxin15]

Thank you from Maryland for an amendment that prevents this bill from becoming another tool for industrial producers to strenghten their stranglehold on our food supply!

[3VOLution3NO]

LOL your a bloody sell-out. I wonder how much Monsanto bribed, i mean lobbied to you. Thank God the day of reckoning is upon us and all you spineless corporate puppets will get whats comin.

[indiebusiness]

Thank you for speaking on behalf of America's small and independent business owners who are farmers. Removing unduly burdensome paperwork requirements and paving the way for them to continue to support their families is vital to the growth of this nation and its local communities. It ensures that these people can leave a legacy for their children - something to create wealth for the next generation. Please keep these principles in mind when addressing HR 5786: The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010.

[Manyfeathers22]

Jon Tester - Bless you for stepping up to the plate. You did a great job representing us local producers. The truth is, because of all the suspicious mass produced food, the trend is to buy local for those that have food awareness. I am a local food producer and myself and colleagues have been watching this for months. Thank you for being there for us.