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The freedom to make personal choices goes to the heart of the Fourth of July, and farmers of Lancaster County are celebrating victories in their campaign to provide food directly to the public.
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, a national organization created to fight for farmers' rights, will hold an on-farm picnic today in Christiana on the group's first anniversary.
The picnic and celebration, open to the public, will take place at Meadow Breeze Farm in Christiana. The Amish farm, owned by Jake and Barbie Zook, practices traditional pasture-based agricultural methods.
Launched last July 4, the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund defends family farmers who provide raw milk and other foods directly to consumers.
Taaron Meikle, president of the Fund, based in Virginia, said the group has grown to more than 1,200 members across the country, including 450 active farmers.
Meikle said she educates both consumers and farmers on such issues as raw milk, animal identification and direct-to-consumer sales.
"Until we have freedom for our sustainable farms, we will be kept very busy," Meikle said. "Everyone can agree that freedom of choice is what our country needs, and they just don't understand how those freedoms are being taken away."
The Fund has already been called into action in Lancaster County. Its first case was representing Levi Miller, an Amish farmer in Leacock Township who was charged by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture for selling raw milk without a permit.
Gary Cox, general counsel for the Fund's legal team, said Miller's case has been tabled in the Pennsylvania court system.Cox said the Fund's lawyers are defending farmers in California, New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania and are working with legislators to help draft bills and enact legislation that will allow for direct farm-to-consumer food sales.
Congressman Ron Paul of Texas has been working with the Fund to introduce a bill that would allow the transport of raw milk across state lines.
"Individuals have a fundamental right to produce and consume the food of their choice," Cox said. "And if they want to go to a farmer to directly obtain the food of their choice, then government really should not interfere with that."
In addition to the luncheon, partygoers will learn about sustainable agriculture, and there will be farm tours, demonstrations and games for adults and children, including an egg toss.
Meikle said one of the biggest problems with direct-to-consumer issues is an overload of information in the public as people deal with the sagging economy, the war in Iraq and the housing market.
But Meikle said the most important issue for people should be their health, and one of the best ways of staying healthy is knowing the source of food.
"If they're in a poor state of health, they can't possibly focus on any of the other issues," Meikle said. "It's time for people to get to know their food source and to be more in control than they are now."
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund picnic will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Meadow Breeze Farm, 7445 White Oak Road, Christiana, just south of Nine Points off of Route 896. The potluck lunch includes barbecued pork, beef with gravy and noodles, vegetables, rolls, butter and sauerkraut. Attendees are asked to bring a salad or dessert. Admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children 10 and under. Proceeds go directly goes to the Fund. Call (703) 208-3276 for more information.
(701) (148) (54) (32) (19) (2) (2) (2)E-mail: myoder@lnpnews.com
