Suit or Cowboy?  Local or Industrial?  Factory or Family?  Food or Food-like Substance?

Everybody eats.  Every day.  And everyone who wants access to good, healthful, local food produced by Oregon family farmers and ranchers should have it.  Sounds simple enough right?

Unfortunately, it is not that easy.  Rules and regulations set up for industrial-style food production also affect family-scale farms that are working to bring clean and safe food directly from their farms to your plates.  The good news is that you can help change this and support Oregon’s farmers and ranchers at the same time.

As an eater and consumer, you wield a lot of political power in Salem when it comes to policy and legislation.  Through H.B. 2222 and HB 2872, you can help ease some of the burdens faced by Oregon's family farmers and ranchers, while not putting any additional budgetary demands on the state.  You can ensure that our farmers have the infrastructure, support and resources they need to grow their business and fill the demand for local food.  You can help create the kind of food system you would like to see in our state. 

In many places across Oregon, we are fortunate to have fresh, local food, beautiful farmers' markets and a growing number of family farms and ranches.  This vibrant local food economy is built on the relationship between eaters and farmers; just as the health of your family is affected by the way the food is grown.  The strength of our community is demonstrated every time Oregon's family farmers, ranchers and eaters join together to ensure that our food is grown close to home, by people we know and trust.

Please contact your State Senators and Representatives and ask them to support H.B. 2222 and HB 2872.   

HB 2872 will allow Oregon's farmers to raise, process, slaughter and sell up to 1000 birds a year on their farm. 

HB 2222 is asking for representation on the State Board of Agriculture for family farmers and ranchers who are growing food for their communities (so that the Oregon Department of Agriculture can better support this constituency), and incentives that will make it easier for new Oregon farmers and ranchers to get on land so that they can start producing food for all of us.

Please act now!  The 2011 Legislative Session is underway and your input is needed.  Tell your legislators that you support these changes so that we can have better, fresher food in our stores, homes and farmer’s markets.  To find your legislators and their contact information so that you may contact them directly, visit http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr

UPDATE:

Come to Salem for the Family Farmer and Rancher Day at the Capitol on March 15th. Talk to your legislators about the importance of local agriculture, support our farmers and ranchers, and help create the kind of food system you would like to see in our state. This is your opportunity to ask them directly for their support of H.B. 2222 and other legislation that will positively affect our farms, ranches, and communities. For more information, visit http://www.friendsoffamilyfarmers.org/?page_id=961