Guest blog post by: Farmers Union member, Spoiler Alert Healthy Acadia is a Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to build healthy communities. In partnership with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Healthy Acadia coordinates gleaning opportunities throughout Hancock and Washington counties, a region characterized by significant levels of poverty and food insecurity. Healthy Acadia connects volunteers … Read More
Consumers
Member Profile: Spoiler Alert
Ugly but lovely, imperfect, misfit, cosmetically challenged, produce with personality — whatever you call it, the wonky fruits and vegetables movement has gained traction within the last year, and Spoiler Alert is working to help farmers make the most of their oddly shaped and blemished product. We all know that a lot of great produce … Read More
Food Safety From Farm to Table
GUEST BLOG POST By Elanor Starmer IF you are a farmer interested in selling produce wholesale or direct to a retailer, restaurant or institution, you probably have food safety on the brain. A growing number of buyers require farms to demonstrate compliance with a food safety standard, often through an audit and certification program. That takes … Read More
Study Finds GMO Label Will Not Act as Warning Label
GUEST BLOG POST By Joanna Schroeder Consumers have a right to know what’s in their food. It was this statement that began a movement that included genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling initiatives. The first such “contains GM” labeling legislation (Act Relating to the Labeling of Food Produced with Genetic Engineering) was passed by Vermont and on … Read More
GMO Voluntary Labeling Bill Fails in Senate
A bill put forward by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) that would have created voluntary labeling standards for GMOs and preempt states’ rights to require such labeling, failed on Wednesday to get the votes it needed to move forward. Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee may rework the bill, referred to by opponents as the DARK … Read More
Spirited Convention Includes Keynotes from Sec. Vilsack, Gen. Clark
Family farmers and ranchers are the best advocates for agriculture, and over the last four days, the National Farmers Union has provided more than 500 members and delegates of the 114th Anniversary Convention with the advocacy tools they need to be better informed about topics important to farm policy and the industry. “We came to … Read More
Gatherings Bring Together Co-op Supporters
Co-operators from food co-ops throughout New England gathered in Greenfield, Mass., this weekend at the fifth Annual Meeting of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA). The NFCA is an affiliate member of New England Farmers Union, and the two organizations have partnered on many projects and programs, including Healthy Food For All, a program that … Read More
Direct Marketing is Invaluable for Consumer Education on Agriculture
GUEST BLOG POST By Katie Fisher, government relations intern, National Farmers Union On Feb. 2, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research held a hearing examining the opportunities and challenges in direct marketing. It provided first-hand accounts from farmers and ranchers involved in direct marketing ventures, such as local farmers markets, direct to restaurant or … Read More
Understanding AMS’ Withdrawal of Two Voluntary Marketing Claim Standards
New England Farmers Union Note: USDA AMS withdrew its grass-fed standard last week and there were a lot of questions from Farmers Union members. The New England Farmers Union legislative chair joined a recent stakeholder call to find out more about how this impacts producers. FSIS has committed to ensuring that all grass-fed claims remain truthful. … Read More
Convention Paints Strong Picture of Local Agriculture
New England Farmers Union’s sixth annual convention, Gearing Up for Success, drew roughly 60 members of the farming community when it met on Nov. 6-8 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH. Attendees heard from national, regional, state, and local agricultural leaders on subjects such as federal agricultural policy, food safety, local and regional … Read More