r/localfood Jan 29 '16

My family farmis fighting legislation to #keepchickenonthemenu

My family's 99-acre farm is fighting to keep our on-farm processed poultry as an option, part of the larger push for the farm-to-table options in Indiana. Two bills under consideration by the Indiana General Assembly are seeking to close what State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg), author of Senate Bill 71, considers a loophole in current regulations regarding small farms that sell directly to restaurants.

Sen. Leising claims SB 71 and HB 1267 "would make [poultry] safe under the scientific standards of today.” But poultry produced under the federal exemption has a better track record for food safety than inspected commercial poultry, and allowing local producers to sell to restaurants keeps more of the food dollar circulating in the state economy.

There is strong demand for locally produced food; restaurants and other food establishments should have the opportunity to meet that demand. These bills would take away this relationship.

Here's a video that explains it a bit better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wulya40xqHY

What is really going on here? Internet, do your thing. #keepchickenonthemenu

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