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To: bat-boy
Absolutely a great review for those of us who really do not know what it's like in the farmland.I would take a local farmers product butchered by a local guy every day of the week.I'd take a local dairyman's product every day of the week.BUT,our government boneheads know what's best for them...oops,us.The unfortunate thing is that controls would be incredibly sufficient and safe if things stayed local,but it isn't happening.Any ideas on if it can be changed and how?
27 posted on 08/28/2002 8:35:25 AM PDT by oust the louse
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To: oust the louse
If you truly want to buy from a local farmer, I can guarantee that there are farmers in your area willing to sell to you. As far as beef is concerned, you can legally buy a whole cow, a side (1/2 a cow) or a quarter-half (1/4 a cow), depending on the farmer. Many farmers will only sell quarter-halves if they have another quarter-half buyer. The way we get away with it is to sell the animal "on-the-hoof", which basically means live. Then the customer and farmer go together to the processor (in my area this is a non-state or USDA inspected plant whose specialty is processing game) and the customer tells the butcher how he wants the meat cut. This is perfectly legal because it is not required to have your meat inspected if you are doing it for your personal consumption.

Free range poultry can be bought from farmers off the farm in many states as well. It depends on the state. Let me tell you, if you haven't ever had free range chicken, you're going to be shocked at how different and how much better it tastes.

There is even a way to buy milk straight from the farmer, although, this gets a bit tricky, and many farmers will not do it unless they know you. Farmers can sell milk for "animal purposes" (I forgot the term used), i.e., to feed to an orphaned calf, kid, etc. However, if the authorities find out what the real deal is, then there can be some consequences.

The only way the laws will be changed is when enough people threaten to vote the scum out of office unless the laws are changed. I don't foresee a change though, as the consumer is happy with the way things are now. This is what they have grown up on. They don't know how much more delicious an non-commercial chicken or egg is. They are unfamiliar with grass-fed beef.

There is a "homeland security" arguement against a consolotated food industry. There are actually very few corporate processing facilities. This is because they are so huge. Animals are transported from all areas of the U.S. to these facilities.

Just think of the damage a terrorist could do working in a processing facility. He/she could poison Americans all across the country. Worse yet, if a terrorist destroyed these key processing facilities, it would cause devastation within the U.S.

Who cares though right? As long as the politicians stay in office.

70 posted on 08/28/2002 4:50:44 PM PDT by bat-boy
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