Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Impacts on RI Farms

Co-Sponsored by NOFA/RI, Farm Fresh RI, URI Extension, New England Farmers Union and USDA Farm Service Agency.
For directions click here.

A panel of experienced farmers and business leaders will explain how the proposed FSMA’s Produce and Preventive Control Rules will affect their farms.

RI farmers, processors, handlers and distributors will face increased costs and documentation requirements under FSMA rules. Higher food prices and increased scarcity of fresh local foods are likely as small family farms are forced out of business under FSMA’s potential burdens.

Unless we help reduce the burdens.

Farmers, producers and consumers need to educate themselves on FSMA issues and to send comments to the USDA before the rules become final. Please help make the new rules manageable, not burdensome, for RI’s family farmers.

Comment Rules

Several national organizations have sent major e-blasts asking readers to fill out their enclosed proxy or send in their standard letter. The organizations gather the replies and “hand deliver” them to FDA personally. The FSMA Comment rules say all proxies delivered to FDA will ONLY COUNT AS ONE COMMENT (even if there are thousands). The same goes for petitions or other standardized replies. The rules are clear, only individualized comments will be counted.

EVERY VOICE is important on this important issue. Many small farmers assume they are “exempt” but may not be. The proposed FSMA is not science-based, but has the authority to greatly impact how farmers’ farm and eaters’ abilities to make localized food choices.

Panelists:

· Dr. Richard Bonanno, farmer and President of Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Pleasant Valley Gardens, Methuen, MA. 

· Jack Kittredge, organic farmer, NOFA/Mass Policy Director and Editor of “The Natural Farmer.” 

· Skip Paul, organic farmer and educator, Wishing Stone Farm in Little Compton, RI. 

· Roger Noonan, organic farmer and President of New England Farmers Union, New Boston, NH. 

Learn more about FSMA at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s website sustainableagriculture.net/fsma or www.newenglandfarmersunion.org/food-safety-modernization-act. For an overview of the issues, see or see farmtalkfsma.org.

The FDA is accepting comments on its proposed regulations of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) until November 15, 2013. Learn how to send in your comments at sustainableagriculture.net/fsma/speak-out-today.

Coffee, tea and snacks will be served. This event is free and open to all. Please RSVP via email tonofari@live.com.