Gov. Inslee: We want to purchase meat direct from the small producer now!
Gov. Inslee: We want to purchase meat direct from the small producer now!
The Issue
Governor Inslee,
The State of Wyoming recently passed an 'animal share/herd share' law that will allow Wyoming consumers to buy any amount of meat from a local livestock producer instead of having to buy a quarter, half or whole animal. This is good for the rancher who may now sell direct without having to transport the animals to a USDA inspected processing facility. It will also make livestock producing more accessible and profitable for smaller-scale producers. It will be good for families who include meat in their diets by allowing them to buy direct, obtain really fresh meat products and support their local food systems.
All Wyoming did was interpret existing USDA regulations that specifically exempt animal or herd owners from USDA inspection when processing their meat by allowing the rancher to sell livestock shares to consumers prior to processing.
Governor Inslee, you could enact this much needed change by executive order since it is merely an interpretation of existing USDA regulations. This way, the practice could be begun in the state now, during the COVID-19 pandemic that has so severely impacted the centralized meat processing industry, rather than waiting for the legislative process to run it's course. This way, the benefits to farmers and eaters could commence immediately.
The Wyoming law states an “animal share” is “an ownership interest in an animal or herd of animals created by a written contract between an informed end consumer and a farmer or rancher that includes a bill of sale to the consumer for an ownership interest in the animal or herd and a boarding provision under which the consumer boards the animal or herd with the farmer or rancher for care and processing and the consumer is entitled to receive a share of meat from the animal or herd.”
You could make this happen in Washington with the stroke of your pen. We urge you to do so!
To make it easy for you, we have provided for you some suggested language for your executive order that may be viewed here:
1,301
The Issue
Governor Inslee,
The State of Wyoming recently passed an 'animal share/herd share' law that will allow Wyoming consumers to buy any amount of meat from a local livestock producer instead of having to buy a quarter, half or whole animal. This is good for the rancher who may now sell direct without having to transport the animals to a USDA inspected processing facility. It will also make livestock producing more accessible and profitable for smaller-scale producers. It will be good for families who include meat in their diets by allowing them to buy direct, obtain really fresh meat products and support their local food systems.
All Wyoming did was interpret existing USDA regulations that specifically exempt animal or herd owners from USDA inspection when processing their meat by allowing the rancher to sell livestock shares to consumers prior to processing.
Governor Inslee, you could enact this much needed change by executive order since it is merely an interpretation of existing USDA regulations. This way, the practice could be begun in the state now, during the COVID-19 pandemic that has so severely impacted the centralized meat processing industry, rather than waiting for the legislative process to run it's course. This way, the benefits to farmers and eaters could commence immediately.
The Wyoming law states an “animal share” is “an ownership interest in an animal or herd of animals created by a written contract between an informed end consumer and a farmer or rancher that includes a bill of sale to the consumer for an ownership interest in the animal or herd and a boarding provision under which the consumer boards the animal or herd with the farmer or rancher for care and processing and the consumer is entitled to receive a share of meat from the animal or herd.”
You could make this happen in Washington with the stroke of your pen. We urge you to do so!
To make it easy for you, we have provided for you some suggested language for your executive order that may be viewed here:
1,301
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on May 19, 2020