I'm excited to inform you that the Food Safety Modernization Act passed with an amendment that exempts small farmers and growers. The fear was the bill would exclude this vital amendment which would greatly encumber small and local food operations who are unable to afford the bill's requirements.

Senate earlier this morning voted 73-25. The Senate vote was the bill's biggest hurdle -- and we expect that the House of Representatives will soon send an approved version to the President for signature.

This is a huge victory for the Local Food Movement. I'm proud of all the great work and support received. Over 147 letters sent and 5,600 calls to Senate offices demanding that the most important Food Safety Bill in a generation didn't unfairly undermine local food producers. Thank you to those who participated in our campaign.

The Food Safety Modernization Act will give the Food and Drug Administration more power, providing better food tracking systems and more inspections of large-scale food production operations, especially those with poor track records. That any major legislation could be passed at such a partisan moment speaks to a deep level of the nation's concern with food production and safety.

The Senate bill survived a last-minute amendment that would have done away with its strongest provisions. The amendment was sponsored by Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), who said, "The problem with food safety is, the agencies don't do what they're supposed to be doing now. They don't need more regulations. They need less." President Obama supports the bill, and will sign the final approved bill which is expected in December.