After reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, A year of food life by Barbara Kingsolver, I resolved to eat as much locally grown food as possible. The book is a memoir of a family living off what they could grow or buy at local farmers markets or directly from producers.
This week a bill was introduced in the Senate that would make it easier for those of us living in Colorado to get really yummy foods from small producers. Senate Bill 11-258, sponsored by Gail Schwartz is designed to facilitate retail access to low-risk foods produced by small farmers—everything from fresh eggs to yummy jams and jellies to pies and tarts. It also encourages schools to develop a farm-to -school curriculum, encouraging kids to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
This bill removes some of the regulatory burden on food producers who sell less than $5,000 in product annually direct to consumers out of their home, at a farmers market, or at a food stand at the place of production. The product must contain at least one food item grown by the farmer in order to qualify for these relaxed regulations. The produces must also be trained in safe food handling.
Growing and eating locally grown foods is good for our local economy and good for our belly. Foods that go directly from producer to consumer are fresher and more nutritious. They also use less fuel to get them to market, thus minimizing their carbon footprint.
This bill will be heard first in the Agriculture Committee of the Senate. Committee members are Senator Schwartz, Chairman; Senator Jahn, Vice-Chairman; and Senators Brophy, Giron, Grantham, Guzman, and Harvey. Let’s get our elected officials on board! Call Steve King and ask him to support this bill.
Contact information: 303-866-3077 or steve.king.senate@state.co.us
Homework
Senate Bill 11-258
This week a bill was introduced in the Senate that would make it easier for those of us living in Colorado to get really yummy foods from small producers. Senate Bill 11-258, sponsored by Gail Schwartz is designed to facilitate retail access to low-risk foods produced by small farmers—everything from fresh eggs to yummy jams and jellies to pies and tarts. It also encourages schools to develop a farm-to -school curriculum, encouraging kids to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
This bill removes some of the regulatory burden on food producers who sell less than $5,000 in product annually direct to consumers out of their home, at a farmers market, or at a food stand at the place of production. The product must contain at least one food item grown by the farmer in order to qualify for these relaxed regulations. The produces must also be trained in safe food handling.
Growing and eating locally grown foods is good for our local economy and good for our belly. Foods that go directly from producer to consumer are fresher and more nutritious. They also use less fuel to get them to market, thus minimizing their carbon footprint.
This bill will be heard first in the Agriculture Committee of the Senate. Committee members are Senator Schwartz, Chairman; Senator Jahn, Vice-Chairman; and Senators Brophy, Giron, Grantham, Guzman, and Harvey. Let’s get our elected officials on board! Call Steve King and ask him to support this bill.
Contact information: 303-866-3077 or steve.king.senate@state.co.us
Homework
Senate Bill 11-258
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