Love for Life

I just found out about this this morning. The FDA is planning to require the pasteurize /irradiation of all leafy green vegetables This will make all leafy green vegetables dead food. They recently required almonds to be pasteurized in September now it is greens.

TODAY Monday Dec. 3rd is the last day the pubic can voice their opinions! Be sure to read towards the bottom to get the web sites to go to to take action. - Treja

This is from the Organic Consumers Association eNewsletter.

The USDA is accepting public comments until December 3 on a new proposed rule that would force small farms growing green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and lettuce, to put into place industrial-style sterilization measures that reduce biodiversity and soil fertility. The proposal follows in the wake of the USDA's recent controversial crackdown on raw almonds, continued interference with raw milk production, and bans on the sale of locally produced organic meat directly to consumers.

The proposed rules basically cover up the fact that e-coli 0157H contamination in lettuce and spinach crops comes from feedlot or industrial livestock-contaminated irrigation waters or contamination in large processing plants. The rule limits hedgerows, and other non-crop vegetation commonly found on and around small organic and sustainable farms. In addition, although every organic farmer knows that healthy soil is literally alive with multiple types of healthy bacteria, the rules also discourage the development of beneficial microbial life in the soil.

Send a message to the USDA using one of the following methods:
1) Use the automated petition form below. (FORM IS IN LINK SITED ABOVE.) The manner in which this comment period is constructed requires that comments be manually faxed or entered on the regulations website. If you use the automated petition form below, you cannot change the text. Your signature will be added to the petition and a single document with all signatures will be submitted to the USDA prior to the comment deadline.
or
2) Write your own comments and submit online: Go to www.regulations.gov . In the middle of the screen, you will see "Search Documents."
In Step 1, choose "Documents with an open comments period"
In Step 2, choose "Agriculture Marketing Service"
In Step 3, choose "PROPOSED RULES"
In Step 4, choose "Docket ID" and then type in "AMS-FV-07-0090"
Hit "Submit."
Next, you will see a column titled "Comments, add/due by." Click on the tiny tan dialogue icon, and you are now ready to submit your information and your comment.
or
3) Fax your comments to: (202) 720-8938.

This is the Federal Register and FDA web sites to view the proposal http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2007-10-04-E7-19629

http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/modockets/fv079621an.htm

Below are some action web sites. To take action, go to these web sites.

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/campaign.jsp?c...
http://www.rawfoodsnewsmagazine.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&fil...
Here is sample letter you can use to fax or email in. You can change it to however you want.

As an American citizen who frequently purchases organic leafy green produce from local sources, I am deeply concerned about the proposed regulations in AMS-FV-07-0090. Our local farms are a valuable resource to our state and contribute to our growing local economy.

The costly and overly burdensome regulations for small- and medium-scale growers could drive these farmers out of business which could cause significant financial harm to our rural state. As a consumer of leafy greens and a supporter of environmentally sustainable, local food systems, I urge the USDA to not support one-size-fits-all requirements that would dictate to farmers how to grow their vegetables, especially when such guidelines are not evidence based and are written by and for large-scale operations, not small local farms for whom these regulations would be prohibitive to their sustainability.

Sincerely
(your name here)

This is from the Organic Consumers Association eNewsletter.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/campaign.jsp?c...