Santa Cruz 'Milk-In'

SANTA CRUZ 'MILK-IN'

WHAT: Protest of crackdown on dairy 'herd shares'
WHEN: 3 p.m. Wednesday 9/7/11
WHERE: Downtown Santa Cruz, near the Farmer's Market

Details at News Santa Cruz Sentinel link:
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_18821463

Local food advocates to protest in Santa Cruz a crackdown on small dairy farms Local Farmers Bring the Barnyard Down Town.

On September 7th the Santa Cruz Food Rights Coalition will be publically milking goats and distributing the milk to show California’s elected officials that Santa Cruzians have the right to grow and consume wholesome, unprocessed food.

The SC Food Rights Coalition banded together after recent, multi-agency actions taken against family farms throughout California.

“We aren’t asking for our rights we’re claiming them,” says Dustin Jensen co-owner of Milk Mama Goat Farm. “We want our elected officials to know that the people of Santa Cruz are free to make our own decisions about food without government or corporate mediation.”

The CDFA clams it regulates the owners’ consumption of dairy products from their own animals. This issue has been the focal point of county, state, and federal agency actions taken against family farms operating share-holder dairies. Agency officials cite public health risks and the requirement for all dairies to be licensed. While farmers and shared livestock owners point out that the small share dairies in question do not sell products to the general public.
Thus far, agency actions against shared dairy herds have ranged from issuing “Cease and Desist Letters,” to armed SWAT-style raids and arrests. Future agency actions also threaten to effect small livestock ranchers who raise animals for meat, and even fruit and vegetable farmers.

The milk-in is at 3pm on Wednesday September 7 near the downtown Santa Cruz Farmer’s Market. A small procession of farmers, food eaters, goats and sheep will be follow by goat milking and consumption of milk.

The Santa Cruz Food Rights Coalition is an organization of farmers, share-holders and people who like to eat.

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