The Agency of Agriculture isn't entirely wrong in warning Rural Vermont for what they are doing. The way the Agency is interpreting the law, Rural Vermont is in violation. It is the job of the Agency of Agriculture to enforce the written law. It is the job of Rural Vermont and other raw milk advocates to constantly work on strengthening bills in order to meet the needs of farmers and interested parties.
Although it is crazy to think the government can say who can and cannot make yogurt from their raw milk is beyond me (a little of my New Hampshire roots are showing here :)). However, we are a democratic society, and thus we make laws. 6 V.S.A. Chapter 152: Sale of Unpasteurized (Raw) Milk, is quite ambiguous pertaining to the act of holding raw milk processing workshops. One way you can look at it is that the bill doesn't explicitly ban these sorts of activities and Rural Vermont isn't "selling" the processed raw milk. The other way you can interpret it is the bill doesn't allow anything other than the selling of unpasteurized raw milk for "fluid consumption". The bill also explicitly defines "unpasteurized raw milk" as "unpasteurized raw milk sold for fluid consumption". Thus bringing up the point that this bill permits the sale of "unpasteurized raw milk for fluid consumption", but not for anything else- for example, the use of raw milk in raw milk processing workshops. This again reiterates why we need to be crafty with our legislation- make it clear and concise and foresee any future ambiguity. You can read the full bill here :http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullchapter.cfm?Title=06&Chapter=152
I'm not saying the folks who worked on passing this bill didn't work hard, and I also don't know how much the bill was compromised in order to get it passed. However, our neighbors in NH and ME both have stronger Raw Milk bills that offer more freedom, so what can we do to make sure that we Vermonters have the freedom to do as we wish with our raw milk?
If you are a Vermonter, please contact your local House Representative and Senate members and tell them that you want to see 6 V.S.A. Chapter 152 strengthened .
Directly selling raw milk to consumers is an extremely valuable part of many dairy farmers income. By cutting out the middle man and costs of transporting, processing, bottling, and transporting again in bulk milk sales, farmers are being paid a reasonable (and the fair) price for their milk. Vermonters benefit as well, having access to the freshest and most nutritious form of milk available. Also, consuming your milk raw is the most efficient and thus "environmentally friendly" way to buy and sell milk. I'm not saying that ALL milk should be consumed this way. I am saying that if Vermont Farmers want to sell, and Vermonters want to buy and consume milk this way, they should have the freedoms to do so.
I feel so lucky to have such a close connection to the milk products I consume. I go to the barn, milk the cows, and take my fresh milk home with me. I want to go to the source of my food and so do many people in this society. The freedom to go to the farm and get milk in a glass jar knowing that 100% of the price paid goes directly into the farmer's pocket is really a rare act. We are lucky in VT to have the freedoms we have with fluid raw milk consumption, but that doesn't mean we have to stop there. We need to constantly evolve and grow our laws to encompass all righteous food acts.
What do you think about the raw milk debate? Do you think Vermont can strengthen the law and allow for more freedom with raw milk?
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