Baldwin Brook Farm

Grass Fed Pork & Beef!

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:16:00 +0000

Once again Baldwin Brook Farm is pleased to offer our own organic, grass-fed pork and beef for sale for the 2011 season .

The various cuts of meat will be sold by the piece in our newly arranged farm store.

The meat products available are:

BEEF
Chuck steak w/bone

Chuck Roast w/Bone
Beef Sausage Links
Rib Eye steak w/ bone
Standing Rib Roast
Brisket
Top Round Steak
Bottom Round Roast
Short Ribs
Skirt Steak
Face Rump Roast
Ground Beef
Boneless NY Sirloin Steak
Top Round Roast
Ground Beef Patties--6 oz. patties
Flank Steak
Shoulder Roast
Beef Heart, Tongue, & Liver
London Broil from Round
Eye of Round Roast
Beef for Stewing
Tenderloin Steak
Sirloin Strip Steak

PORK
Country-style Pork Ribs
Smoked products available March 2011
Loin chops (2 per pkg.)
Bacon
Regular Pork chops
Ham
Ground Pork

Smoked Pork Shoulder
Sweet Italian Sausage
Back Fat

There is a huge demand for our natural, hormone-free products. Please come and visit us soon.

We also have maple syrup, honey, and sweet cream butter in our farm store!

Call us at 860-546-2137 or e-mail us at cmnewt at sbcglobal.net for more information.

Welcome to Baldwin Brook Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Sat, 01 May 2010 10:11:00 +0000

Welcome to Baldwin Brook Farm! Baldwin Brook farm sits on approximately 75 acres of pasture and woods and is surrounded by stone walls, meticulous pasture, native wild flowers and a large New England covered bridge that must be crossed each time you enter our farm. The Baldwin Brook Farm, LLC is a state licensed raw milk dairy that is family owned and operated in the town of Canterbury.

Baldwin Brook Farm is owned and operated by the Newton Family; Chris, Mavis, Baby Clay and Aunt Phyllis. Chris and Mavis were raised on small farms in the mid-west. Their busy careers brought them to the east coast, but their love of agriculture followed them here. When they purchased their first home in Rhode Island, they started planting a garden and raising chickens. When their garden over flowed, they sold the extra by the roadside on the honor system.

Chris and Mavis’ passion for farming had them longing for a family cow, so their search began for more acreage. In November, 2004, they purchased Baldwin Brook Farm along with their first cow, Bambi. Immediately Chris began to experience the joys of hand milking his family cow before and after his Corporate America job. At the same time, Mavis experienced the dilemma of what to do with all the milk one cow can provide! Word soon spread throughout the community of the extra milk on the farm and it was clear to Chris and Mavis that they needed to pursue proper licensing if they were going to provide milk to other people.

Baldwin Brook Farm is committed to providing farm fresh products to their community. Raw milk from their Jersey cows is bottled every other day in old fashioned glass bottles. Fresh raw milk can be purchased on the farm in half gallon bottles for $4 and half gallons along with quarts can be found at small grocery and health food stores in Eastern Connecticut.

On the farm you can also purchase fresh eggs, local raw honey, local maple syrup and Baldwin Brook Farm raised nitrate-free pork from heritage breed pigs.

Customers quickly become friends and are always welcome to visit the farm with their families. Chris, Mavis, Clay and Phyllis look forward to your visit.

Baldwin Brook Farm
176 Depot Road
Canterbury, CT
(860) 546-2137
cmnewt@sbcglobal.net

The farm is open 5 days a week 10AM to 6PM. Closed Sundays and Thursdays.

Directions:
From the East – Take 165W to 138W. Right on Ross Hill Road, right on Phillips, right on Route 169, right on Depot Road. 176 is the first driveway on your right.

From the West – Route 2E to 395N to exit 83A. Take a left off the ramp and drive approximately 4 miles. Depot Road will be on your right. 176 is the first driveway on your right.

From the North – Route 14 to 169S, Depot Road will be 4.3 miles on the left. Do not take Depot Road Extension. 176 is the first driveway on your right.

From the South – 95N to 395N to exit 83A. Take a left off the ramp and drive approximately 4 miles. Depot Road will be on your right. 176 is the first driveway on your right.

Please note that Butts Bridge Road is closed until August 2010.

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:52:00 +0000

Dear Subscribers and Readers,

Thank you for reading this blog and for your support of raw milk in Connecticut. Effective May 1, 2010, this blog will be the new home of Baldwin Brook Farm. Baldwin Brook Farm, LLC is a state licensed raw milk dairy that is family owned and operated in the town of Canterbury, Connecticut. We hope that you will continue to subscribe in support of raw milk and our other farmstead products, which promotes the purpose of sustainable agriculture in Connecticut, along with the core values of Baldwin Brook Farm, LLC.

Sincerely,
Chris and Mavis Newton
Baldwin Brook Farm, LLC

Room For More On The CT NOFA Tour!

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:02:00 +0000

The word was just passed along that there's still room for more on the CT NOFA Tour on Saturday the 17th of June. On line registration is closed, but you can call the CT NOFA office at 203-888-5146.

CT NOFA Farm and Agriculture Tour 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:49:00 +0000

We are pleased to have one of the Connecticut raw milk farms on the CT Nofa Farm and Agriculture Tour this year. Baldwin Brook Farm in Canterbury will be one of the stops along the tour. Chris and Mavis Newton are the owners of Baldwin Brook Farm. The Newtons are happy to have their farm be part of this tour along with Bird Song Farm and Still River Mill.

The CT Farmstead Dairy Alliance will be featured as part of the tour of Baldwin Brook Farm. Steering Committee Members will highlight some of the products produced by raw milk dairy farms in Connecticut and conduct workshops.

Check here for more details on the tour.

Article Links for CT Farmstead Dairy Alliance

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:56:00 +0000

Here is a link for an article written about the CT Farmstead Dairy Alliance in the Norwich Bulletin, and another article (go to page A4, Thursday, April 30th) published in the Mystic River Press.

Below is an article in its entirety from the Waterbury Republican:

Alliance fights for right to drink raw milk
Group says product is safe and healthy
BY BRIGITTE RUTHMAN REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

Farmers, food store owners and consumers have banded together to try to stop the state from removing raw milk from retail store shelves.

The new Connecticut Farmstead Dairy Alliance was formed in the aftermath of discussions in February when legislators considered a bill, endorsed by the state Department of Agriculture, that would have tightened restrictions on raw milk sales and banned retail sales to assure a safe supply.

The bill did not gain enough support to be put to a vote. With the support of Agriculture Commissioner and Winsted native F. Philip Prelli, it is expected to resurface someday.

Farmers say it could limit raw milk sales to those within traveling distance of farms that sell it, and make it harder for the dairy industry to survive against rising costs and shrinking profits. The popularity of raw milk offers dairy farmers another option, one that can be more profitable.

Just as Prohibition pushed alcohol sales into illegal and unregulated territory, a raw milk ban would create a black market, they say.

Prelli told legislators in February the new rules were prompted, in part, by a July outbreak of E. coli that sickened seven people in the Granby area. Raw milk is inherently risky, he said, no matter how carefully it is collected. “There is a reason why we have been pasteurizing milk for more than 50 years,” he said. “Before that, 25 percent of food illnesses came from milk products, and that number is now down to one percent. It’s one thing to go to the farm and make a decision and effort to buy raw milk and another to buy it in the store where it is presumed safe.”

More attention is currently given to monitor health and safety standards at the state’s 14 farms that produce raw milk than the 150 others that send their milk to be heated and churned to kill bacteria and increase shelf live, processes known as homogenization and pasteurization.

The Alliance , which has a steering committee of seven, is working to develop a manual of management practices for farmers and to educate consumers. A Web site is planned. The group will also serve as a voice in Hartford for the state’s 14 licensed raw milk producers, a number that is expected to grow as interest in community supported agriculture and locally grown produce expands.

Milk sold to processors returns a little more than $1 per gallon. Farmers are getting $5 to $8 from consumers eager to shell out the extra.

“It’s a quality issue,” said John Pittari, owner of New Morning Natural and Organic Foods in Woodbury. People want to know where their food is coming from, and are willing to take some risks for what they are buying. Raw milk is the handcrafted edition.”

In Litchfield, retired microbiologist Dorothea DeCecco is a proponent of the taste and health benefits of raw milk, and a member of the alliance’s committee. “The bill was an overreaction to an isolated incident,” DeCecco said. “We should be helping these people, not driving them out of business.”

At the Abbey of Regina Laudis Dairy in Bethlehem , Sister Telchilde Hinckley supervises a small dairy of five cows which produces milk and cheese for up to 60. “We are committed to the highest standards so you can feel safe in your choice,” Hinckley said. Milk collected safely from a healthy cow is not inherently risky, she said.

CT Farmstead Dairy Alliance

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:00:00 +0000

In response to the increased consumer demand for quality raw milk and locally grown food in CT we proudly announce the formation of the CT Farmstead Dairy Alliance, a coalition of retailers, consumers and licensed producers of raw and pasteurized farmstead dairy products.

The Alliance is dedicated to the following:
1) to be a voice for small dairy farmers in CT through the development of working relationships with regulatory agencies
2) to retain consumer confidence through commitment to the highest professional standards of management and milk quality
3) to advance consumer education through the use of credible science-based information

The members of the Steering Committee are:
Chris Hopkins, Stone Wall Dairy, Cornwall Bridge CT
Melynda and Ruth Naples, Deerfield Farm, Durham CT
Liz McAlister, Cato Corner Farm, Colchester CT
Mavis and Chris Newton, Baldwin Brook Farm, Canterbury CT
Sr. Noella Marcellino and Sr. Telchilde Hinckley, Abbey of Regina Laudis Dairy, Bethlehem CT
Dorothea DiCecco, microbiologist, Litchfield CT
John Pittari, New Morning Natural and Organic Foods, Woodbury CT.

For more information, contact Chris Newton at cmnewt (use @ symbol) sbcglobal.net

A Long Overdue Bill Report

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:45:00 +0000

The wait has been long for an update on bills 6312 and 6313!

The good news is, bill 6313 has died in committee. Bill 6313 was the bill that would eliminate raw milk sales from anywhere but the farms, outrageously increase the fees for testing and numerous other things that you can review here. This bill has died in committee, but that does not mean that all is clear. This bill could quite possible be slipped through on another bill up until the end of the session, which is June. It’s time to write one more letter. Write your representative and ask them to be watchful of this kind of activity and if they see a bill with 6313 attached somehow – ask them to reject that bill!

If all goes well until June and this bill does not come up, the road does not end here. The Raw Milk and Cheese Producers of Connecticut are organizing and will raise the standards of their industry on their own.

Bill 6312 – the adulterated milk bill, did pass through the Environmental Committee. You can see the status of the bill here. This was the bill that was written primarily to stop unlicensed people from producing milk and milk products illegally. Part of the bill is aimed at licensed producers and a penalty should adulterated milk be for sale or sold. The penalty is an infraction for the first offense and a Class A misdemeanor if there is a second offense within a year. We were hoping that the legislators would re-write this line and not impose a criminal penalty for a civil crime, but it went through as written. Diana Urban did help to change some of the language so that raw milk farmers were not singled out.

Please don't delay on writing your representative and ask them to be watchful of any bills with raw milk attached to them - specifically limiting the sales of raw milk to farms only!

Stay tuned for more information….

Raw Milk & Cheese at Ag Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:00:00 +0000

On Wednesday, March 18th, the Raw Milk and Cheese Producers of Connecticut participated in Ag Day at the State Capitol Building in Hartford. Nearly every type of agriculture in the state of Connecticut was represented at this event.

The lobby of the State Capitol was extremely crowded. Supporters of Connecticut farms browsed and picked up information and free samples from the many tables and booths.

State Legislators were among the crowds. Representative Diana Urban took the time to visit the Raw Milk and Cheese booth. Representative Urban is not only a friend of the raw milk dairies, but of agriculture in general. Above, Representative Urban poses for a photo with Chris Newton (center-owner of Baldwin Brook Farm) and Chris Hopkins (left-owner of Stone Wall Dairy).

Pictured above are Melynda and Ruth Naples from Deerfield Farm. Melynda was instrumental in organizing this event on behalf of all the raw milk dairies. Liz McAlister from Cato Corner Farms was very generous and brought a variety of cheeses from her farm for visitors to sample. This made the Raw Milk and Cheese Producers booth very popular.

Many owners of the raw milk dairies could not be at this event in person, but all were represented at the booth by brochures and by a flyer listing the location of each farm. Literature from Weston A. Price was also available among the brochures.

The message of the day seemed loud and clear: No Farms - No Food. Connecticut needs to support its' farmers no matter the product. Support your local farmer today!

Stay tuned for a legislative update on the bills....

Deerfield Farm on Channel 8

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:47:00 +0000

No word yet on bills 6312 and 6313. Check out this video clip from News Channel 8 in Connecticut. Melynda from Deerfield Farm was interviewed a few weeks ago concerning the financial impact on her business if the bills pass.

How Did It Go?

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:38:00 +0000

How did it go? That's the question everyone has been asking since the raw milk hearing. We had a great show of support - thank you all! It was a very long day and many of you waited for hours before your turn to speak in support of the raw milk dairy farmers. The last person spoke close to 6:30 PM.

It's not over yet. The Environmental Committee still has to meet and decide where to go from here. If you have not written the Environmental Committee yet, please do so. Here are their emails so you can cut and paste: Beth.Bye@cga.ct.gov; David.McCluskey@cga.ct.gov; Thomas.Kehoe@cga.ct.gov; Jim.ORourke@cga.ct.gov; James.Spallone@cga.ct.gov; Ed.Jutila@cga.ct.gov; Edward.Moukawsher@cga.ct.gov; Diana.Urban@cga.ct.gov; Bryan.Hurlburt@cga.ct.gov; Annie.Hornish@cga.ct.gov ; Roberta.Willis@cga.ct.gov ; Craig.Miner@housegop.ct.gov ; Clark.Chapin@housegop.ct.gov ; John.Piscopo@housegop.ct.gov ; Mary.Mushinsky@cga.ct.gov ; Steve.Fontana@cga.ct.gov ; Theresa.Conroy@cga.ct.gov; jason.perillo@housegop.ct.gov; Paul.Davis@cga.ct.gov; Richard.Roy@cga.ct.gov; Terry.Backer@cga.ct.gov; Lawrence.G.Miller@housegop.ct.gov; Jack.Hennessy@cga.ct.gov; Kim.Fawcett@cga.ct.gov; Terrie.Wood@housegop.ct.gov; Fred.Camillo@housegop.ct.gov; DeFronzo@senatedems.ct.gov; Meyer@senatedems.ct.gov; Maynard@senatedems.ct.gov; John.McKinney@cga.ct.gov; Andrew.Roraback@cga.ct.gov; Thomas.Kehoe@cga.ct.gov; Roberta.Willis@cga.ct.gov; Steve.Fontana@cga.ct.gov; Theresa.Conroy@cga.ct.gov; Terry.Backer@cga.ct.gov; Terrie.Wood@housegop.ct.gov

Written Testimony

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:22:00 +0000

If you will not be attending the hearing for An Act Concerning Raw Milk (6313) and An Act Concerning the Sale of Adulterated Milk and Milk Products (6312) and would like to submit a letter for written testimony - you deadline to send it to chooserawmilk@resetyourways.com is Saturday (2/7) night at midnight. 50 copies will be made of each letter will be handed in to the Environmental Committee at the hearing on Monday.

If there are petitions still floating around out there, please bring them to the hearing by 9:00. Have them tallied for me. Ask around for the producers secretary to find me.

Stickers will be made and distributed to wear to signify the supporters of raw milk. Make sure you get one so that the committee members will be able to identify us as a group.

Please consider coming to Hartford in support of these farmers! Hope to see you there.

Hearing Date is February 9th!

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:13:00 +0000

This info is not yet in the Bulletin on www.cga.ct.gov, but we've been contacted by a legislator and one of our watchful consumers found the confirmed hearing date on the Environmental Committee meeting agenda for Monday the 9th. See for yourself here.

Please see the post earlier today requesting copies of letters sent to the Environmental Committee or any of the legislators.

We have been told by legislators that we NEED people to attend this hearing! Here is my question again: Will you be able to attend and to support your right to buy raw milk in stores, and keep your raw milk dairy farmer in business?

This is the time to keep raw milk laws the way they are. Did you know Connecticut is one of only 28 states that raw milk is legal? If we let this pass by not getting involved, it will be much more work to ever get it back again.

Hearing Update

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:31:00 +0000

As you may have guessed by now, the hearing will not be this week as we thought it might be. We do now know that we will be given 5 business days notice. As soon as it is listed on www.cga.ct.gov, we will let you know via this blog.

The lawyer from Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund has requested of the consumers that sent letters to legislators. He would like you to please send a copy of that letter to chooserawmilk@resetyourways.com so that they may be in the hand of the producers' secretary on the day of the hearing. The thought is that perhaps some of the letters may have gotten overlooked or put to the side. The producers' secretary will print them and hand them in to the Environmental Committee on the day of the hearing.

Will you attend the hearing? Will you be prepared to speak? Anyone can speak but will be limited to three minutes.

Thank you for all your help!

Get Ready!

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:09:00 +0000

An Act Concerning Raw Milk has received a bill number. The bill is number 6313.

An Act Concerning the Sale of Adulterated Milk and Milk Products also received a bill number - 6312.

The hearing is going to take place very soon. Sooner means quite possibly this week, (2/1-2/7), but we do not have an exact day yet. We have been told by more than one source that it is extremely important to have as many people as possible come to this hearing. We realize that it's not easy to drop everything you're doing to be in Hartford for the day without much notice, but as soon as we know when the exact day of the hearing is, we'll pass the info on via this blog.

The producers appreciate all you have done and look forward to your support!

Petition holders: please contact chooserawmilk@resetyourways.com to return your petitions!

Please, if you haven't already written to the Environmental Committee, now is the time. All of their emails are on this list. Let's fill up their mailboxes. Use the above bill numbers for reference.

Newspaper Articles

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Check out these newspaper articles concerning raw milk in Connecticut.

The Norwich Bulletin ran this article on January 19th. Read to the end of the article, the comments from readers are pretty good.

The Hartford Courant printed this article on January 20th.

Contact chooserawmilk@resetyourways.com if you find any other articles on this fight for raw milk in Connecticut.

Time To Act!

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:30:00 +0000

The time has arrived....

A bill number, as of this moment, has not been assigned to An Act Concerning Raw Milk. Representative Diana Urban has met with the producers and advises that we begin sending our letters NOW, even without a bill number.

Supportive letters need to be sent to your own CT house and senate representative (who is my representative?) and the Environmental Committee (click here for the names and addresses of the committee and other important people to write to).

This proposed legislation is in the hands of the Environmental Committee right now and Representative Urban is not only on the committee, but she also stands in favor of the raw milk farmers and preservation of these small businesses.

Things are going to speed up quickly and we need to unite in our efforts. Please read here to review the issues so that it is clear what we are asking of the legislators. Personalization of your letter is important, but please let the issues be clear and foremost. Hand written personal letters are going to get the most attention.

Out of state raw milk consumers, your letters to the Environmental Committee count too!

Please e-mail chooserawmilk@resetyourways.com if you have any questions.

Milk Board Meeting Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Click here to read the notes taken during the Milk Regulation Board meeting on Wednesday, January 21st.

Disclaimer: these notes were taken by a CT citizen and are NOT the official notes from the Milk Regulation Board. Great effort was taken to record comments as they were said, but it was not possible to capture each and every word.

Words in parentheses are that of the note taker. Quotes are indicated by quotations.

A Brief Update

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:58:00 +0000

The Milk Regulation Board met yesterday, January 21st at the State Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut - here was their agenda. Nearly all of the raw milk producers were in attendance along with many consumers. Thank you to all who took time out of their busy schedule to show support!

The details of the meeting will be typed up today by acting secretary for the producers and will be available here on the blog as soon as possible.

Directly after the Milk Board Regulation meeting, some of the producers met with a pro-milk legislator who is spear-heading this for us.

It is important that all of us unite in our efforts in order to be effective. By speaking up and letting our voices be heard, the consumers of raw milk will help to preserve the freedom of choice by standing by these small farmers.

We need to be ready for things to speed up at this point. This proposed legislation could get a bill number at any moment. When the bill number gets assigned, it will be posted on this blog. Then it is time to get serious about letter writing.

When putting your letter together it is important to state the facts clearly (details for all listed below can be found under Defining the Issues):

Urge these legislators to keep raw milk available in stores as it stands right now. The proposed advisory warning label has been agreed upon by the producers. This new labeling will eliminate any customer confusion as to what kind of milk consumers are purchasing.
The state’s proposed enhanced testing exceeds that of other states which permit the sale of raw milk. The burden of these additional testing fees cannot be paid by the farmer (it will put them out of business). The proposed fecal testing has not been proved reliable and is not a good indicator of milk quality.
Tell these legislators that the proposed consumer advisory poster is redundant and a misplaced sign could lead to confusion for the consumer. It would be difficult for producers who are not present in the stores to monitor sign placement.

Please subscribe to this blog if you haven't already so that we can update you as soon as we have a bill number. Then we will have a link available here with all the names of the legislators on the Environmental Committee. This is the committee that will vote on the proposed legislation.

What do you need to do right now? Prepare your letter and wait for the bill number to be assigned. When we have the bill number, let's really let them hear us. You can send letters to your House and Senate Representative and every member of the Environmental Committee.

Out of state residents can make a difference too! You can write the representatives for the district of the farm or store you buy from, Governor Rell, Office of Policy and Management and the Secretary of State. That info will be here as well. So get your letters ready too!

More to come! Stay tuned....

Raw Milk Update 1-19-09

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:21:00 +0000

By finding this blog, you must be aware that the raw milk dairy farmers in Connecticut are in need of your help.

The Milk Regulation Board will be meeting this Wednesday, January 21st a the State Office Building in Hartford, 165 Capitol Avenue at 10:00 AM. You can see here that they will be discussing An Act Concerning Raw Milk. Spokesman for the Connecticut raw milk producers did request to be put on the agenda, but has not gotten a response as of yet.

Thanks to all who are working hard to get signatures on the petitions! Want to help? Please contact chooserawmilk@resetyourways.com to request a copy of the petition.

Raw Milk Update 1-7-09

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:40:00 +0000

By finding this blog, you must be aware that the raw milk dairy farmers in Connecticut are in need of your help.

We'd like to thank all the people who have left comments and e-mails. We appreciate your support and your willingness to help defend your raw milk producers.

The Milk Regulation Board will be meeting on January 21st at The State Office Building, 165 Capital Avenue, Hartford. You can read here for the agenda. The Connecticut Raw Milk Organization has officially nominated a spokesman that will speak on our behalf should the need arise. Spokesman and owner of Stone Wall Dairy has contacted the Department of Agriculture and asked to be put on the agenda. You are invited as a citizen to join us and show your support at this meeting. The room has been changed again and we don't know exactly what room the meeting will take place in. Check back for updates.

The Weston A. Price Organization and Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund have come to our aid and will be assisting during the up coming legislative process regarding An Act Concerning Raw Milk. The membership for both of these organizations in Connecticut is very low and essentially, the membership dues from around the country are what will be paying for the expenses that will arise during the upcoming legislative process. We are encouraging farmers and consumers alike to join these organizations. Below are their fees.

Consumers
Weston A. Price Foundation------ $40.00 annually
(click for application)

Farmer to Consumer Legal Defense Fund---- $50.00 annually (click for application)

Producers
Weston A. Price Foundation------$40.00 annually
(click for application)

Farmer to Consumer Legal Defense Fund--------$125.00 annually (click for application)

The petitions are ready! Please e-mail chooserawmilk@resetyourways.com to request a copy.

Thank you for your continued support!

Defining the Issues

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:55:00 +0000

By finding this blog, you must be aware that the raw milk farmers in Connecticut are in need of your help.

Here’s what you can do to help to preserve your freedom to choose raw milk and aged raw milk cheeses:

1. Subscribe to this blog. This is the most effective way to communicate to the people who can make an impact and we will also have record of the number of people who cared enough about this subject to subscribe.

2. Ask questions by leaving a comment. If anything is not clear, or if you have a suggestion – speak up and leave a comment.

3. Write to your Connecticut House and Senate representative (see below for 2009 changes) now and after the bill number has been assigned. Let our voices be heard, otherwise this will be swept under the rug neatly and quickly. If you are an influential individual and can encourage many people to write letters - e-mail me for your own tools to help people find their representatives.

4. Petitions. E-mail chooserawmilk@resetyourways.com to request a petition.

Defining the Issues

You can read here, here and here to find out exactly how the proposed legislation reads. Below, some of the issues have been simplified with the effect it will have on the raw milk farmers and the consumers. Please note that these issues could very possibly result in the farmers shutting their businesses down because they will not be able to afford to do business.

Issue #1
Raw milk will only be sold on the farm.

Result
Farmer – much of these small farms’ milk sales come from retail stores where intelligent, conscientious, consumers shop. If consumers are only able to obtain these products on the farm, this will impact the farmer’s bottom line because not all the consumers who are currently able to access raw milk and cheeses from retail stores will be able to pick up from the farm.
Also:
· The farmers may have to decrease the amount of ‘happy’ animals on their farm because sales will most likely decrease.
· In order to increase farm sales, farmers will have to pay for advertising.
· The farmers will need to hire employees to keep regular on-the-farm store hours.

Consumer – not all raw milk consumers live near a raw milk farm or have the time to travel to a farm to buy raw dairy products. The conscientious raw milk consumer will need to have the time and gas money to travel to the farm to purchase quality raw dairy products that are now offered for sale at their local grocery or health food store.

Issue #2
New additional monthly tests and quarterly tests on the animals’ milk and feces will be taken at the expense of the farmer.

Result
Farmer – only the raw milk dairy farmers (not the other dairies) will be subject to these tests and the expense of said tests. This sounds like our state just wants to protect its’ citizens, right? By the time the milk is tested and we’ve got the results, the batch of milk has already been consumed! Not to mention the fact that the estimated cost per year of these tests would put about any small business under.

Consumer – again, this will affect us in the cost of the product. We all get to choose what we put in our bodies. Yes, that’s true. But if the proposed legislation gets passed, our right to choose raw milk and aged raw milk cheeses will be effected for sure if not eliminated due to these farmers being squeezed out of the picture by unnecessary overhead. Kind of sounds strategic, doesn’t it?

Issue #3
New advisory label on all raw milk bottles will read in contrasting colors “Warning: raw milk has not been pasteurized and may contain harmful bacteria. Pregnant women, children, the elderly and persons with lowered resistance to disease have the highest risk of serious illness from use of this product.” NOTE: The producers have agreed to accept this new advisory label as written (without a second color print fee) to ensure that consumers know what kind of milk they're purchasing.

Result
Farmer - the cost of new bottles and containers with the advisory label in contrasting colors is extremely costly.

Consumer – According to the CT Department of Agriculture, this change is necessary because the average consumer is confused between raw and pasteurized milk.

Issue
An 8 ½” x 11” poster not less than 5 feet away from product will read the same warning as above.

Result
Consumers may be over-alarmed and as a result choose not to purchase raw milk and aged raw cheeses. Raw milk is a food that is discriminated against. Many people have become ill or even died from eating tomatoes and spinach and yet there are no warning signs on these products.

Letter Writing

This is crucial to get ourselves heard on this subject. Write your House and Senate representative. Please read the December 19th post for ideas of a sample letter.

The Freshmen representatives will be sworn in on January 5th, so this link for your representative is not 100% (update - 1/29/09: the lists are now 100% correct). First, find out your district by clicking here. If you live in the following districts, (what district do I live in?) meet your new representatives below.

House:
6 Hector Robles
9 Jason Rojas
11 Timothy Larson
17 Timothy LeGeyt
44 Mae Flexer
47 Christopher Coutu
49 Susan Johnson
61 Matthew Conway
62 Annie Hornish
63 John Rigby
65 Michelle Cook
77 Christopher Wright
94 Gary Winfield
100 Matthew Lesser
102 Lonnie Reed
103 Elizabeth Esty
105 Theresa Conroy
106 Christopher Lyddy
118 Barbara Lambert
129 Auden Grogins
130 Ezequiel Santiago
134 Tony Hwang
141 Terrie Wood
143 Peggy Reeves
145 Patricia Miller
151 Fred Camillo

Senate
8 Kevin Witkus
22 Anthothy Musto
24 Michael McLachlan
26 Tony Boucher
36 L.Scott Frantz

All letters can be addressed to your representative at the following address:

Legislative Office Building
300 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT, 06106

Corrections and additions may be posted to this list. For the most part I think it’s complete.

The Milk Regulation Board will be meeting on January 21st at 10:00 AM in room 126 at the State Office Building - show your support!

Please forward this blog to anyone who is interested in preserving our freedom of choice! If they take away our sources for raw milk and aged raw milk cheeses today - what will they take tomorrow? Thank you for your support!

Raw Milk in Connecticut

noreply@blogger.com (Wonderwoman) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:08:00 +0000

By finding this blog, you must be aware that the raw milk farmers in Connecticut are in need of your help.

Click here, here and here to see the proposed changes that could seriously impact their business by essentially 'nickel-ing' and 'dime-ing' them to the point that they will be unable to provide their product to the people that want it. Your right to buy raw milk in your local grocery or health food store will be taken away as well if the bill passes.

It's not too late to do something to help.

Write a letter to your State of Connecticut House and Senate representative and let them know that you care about your freedom to choose raw milk and aged raw milk cheeses over pasteurized. Ask them to reject the proposed bill; specifically - to reject limiting sales to the farms only and reject the additional testing costs at the expense of the farmers. These proposed testing fees could possibly prevent them from running their business.

Tell your representative why it's important to you that they reject this proposed bill.

This is just a suggestion of how a letter can be written, please use your own words and even a personal testimony:

Dear Representative,

Please be aware of a proposed bill that is soon to cross your desk concerning the raw milk and aged raw milk cheese producers of Connecticut. This subject is very important to myself and my family and we would like your support. I urge you to take action and reject this bill. Buying raw milk and aged raw milk cheese is a choice and choice is a freedom. Please help us to keep the freedom to buy raw milk at my local grocery store without any additional cost to the farmers.

Now raw milk - what's next?

Check back for information regarding the scheduled meeting at the State Office Building on January 21st, 2009 at 10:00AM in room 126.