More raw milk cowshares in New York

Raw milk intelligence from David E. Gumpert at the Complete Patient:

That's Michael Schmidt at the right in this painting of raw milk luminaries. Details at end of post.

“During the question-and-answer period following my talk at the Northeast Organic Food Association-NY conference in Saratoga last month–about the government-industry campaign to rid us of raw milk–a man piped up to say he ran a herdshare operation in New York, and was wondering about the Meadowsweet Dairy case.

Agribiz realizes it has a PR problem

From The Ethicurean:

“Spin-dustrial ag: Two dozen of the nation’s largest and best-funded farm groups have formed a coalition to counter poor publicity, reports the AP (LAtimes.com). What are they mad about? “Videos that show male chicks being put into grinders, egg-laying hens in battery cages and the mistreatment of hogs in large confinement operations,” — you know, evidence of industrial farming’s everyday practices. (It’s all about the) money quote:

Joe Cornely, a spokesman for the Ohio Farm Bureau, said the alliance may help create more realistic expectations among consumers. “So often people advocate for a utopian world and it’s not doable,” Cornely said. “Feeding the world requires us to kick up some dirt and create a few odors. That is just a reality of producing food and fiber that may not fit in with the utopian vision. The vast majority of people are reasonable people, they just need to know that you can’t have the perfect world.”…”

Michael Hartmann facing contempt of court charges and possible felony for supplying raw milk in Minnesota

Mark Steil, writing for Minnesota Public Radio news:

“A southern Minnesota dairy farmer accused of selling contaminated raw milk that sickened 15 people has a contempt of court hearing today in a Sibley County courtroom.

State Agriculture Department officials say Michael Hartmann has ignored a court-approved embargo placed on his food. Criminal charges are rare in food-borne illness cases, but state authorities have said the case could warrant felony charges.

So far, the contempt of court allegation is the state’s most serious legal action in the 8-month-old case.

The state has cited Hartmann with a long list of violations, most of which the Gibbon-area farmer denies.