Do regulators understand small farms?
Still, critics say regulators suffer from a lack of understanding of small farm operations, and that it shows when rules are drafted. “The process of establishing these guidelines and turning them into standards that must be met to enter certain markets has been a purely technical one, and has not included organic or diversified farms as part of the discussion,” said Russell Libby, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, in a newsletter. Maine requires growers to meet the FDA’s suggested guidelines if they want to sell their produce to the school lunch program. Gorny said the proposed congressional food safety bills are intentionally broad to allow flexibility in the way they are implemented. Small farmers will have plenty of opportunity to weigh in during FDA public comment sessions before any specific regulations are set, he said. Congressional aides say the bills are aimed at big industrial producers and will not apply to small farmers who sell only
