Small farms that sell direct to consumer get exemption in food safety bill

Smaller farms that make most of their income from selling direct to consumers through community supported agriculture (CSA) shares or farm stands will not have to abide by new stricter food safety standards, if a newly passed Senate bill also passes the House.

The food safety bill that passed the Senate 73 -25 this morning has been under scrutiny from some local-food proponents worried that it would place a great burden on small producers. But the bill now carries an amendment proposed by Montana Democrat Jon Tester that exempts farmers who make less than $500,000 a year selling food within a 275-mile radius direct to consumers, restaurants and grocery stores. The exemption doesn't cover sales to brokers and processors.

Advocates of the bill say food will be safer because the FDA will have broader powers to recall tainted food and demand more accountability. Small producers might be subject to FDA action, too, if the federal agency finds a farm's produce has sickened customers.

John Mesko, a farmer and executive director of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, says small farmers already are concerned with customers' health and wouldn't be able to stay in business if they had to do more paperwork. He says state regulations already restrict farmers from processing their food, which can include skinning and bagging carrots for sale.

We see that exchange of product with customers as a relationship between two people. All farmers in direct marketing are concerned about their customers. They become a part of your family. They are an important part of your income. You want them to stay healthy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that thousands of people die from foodborne illness every year. Joellen Feirtag, professor and food safety specialist at the University of Minnesota Extension says although small producers aren't usually the source of repeated tainted food issues, they should be required to take food safety classes.

You should be concerned about anybody who prepares food and gives to the consumer. It's the same risk. If you're going to expand and make these farms community farms or larger, then more issues come up as you make things bigger. The handling is different if I have a row of lettuce, now I have a whole community garden worth of lettuce.

The bill does not change U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations, which cover meat and poultry. The FDA does not cover all of that industry.

Another wrinkle is the House may opt to let the bill die rather than accept changes made in the Senate.

For more: food safety expert Mike Osterholm today told Morning Edition's Cathy Wurzer the small-producer exemption is a mistake. Listen to the interview.

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