The USDA is at it again!!

Early this past spring I wrote about the possibility of the Federal Government enacting regulations that would potentially drive local produce growers out of business--well, the House of Representatives has PASSED the legislation--it is now headed to the Senate Click Here for a good summary of what they are working towards. Now the USDA has further narrowed the scope of their target.  This time, the proposal is known as the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA).  The current proposal has been negotiated with and approved by the largest fresh greens growers in the nation (they are located in the southwest corner of the nation.)  And as the plan is written...and as I understand the "legal-eze" we as growers will be assessed a fee to join the USDA's GAP program, and be assessed a fee based on our sales of leafy greens and be required to purchase USDA approved labeling for each individual product sold--here is the list of the proposed produce to be affected:

§ 970.15 Leafy green vegetables.

Leafy greens means the fresh mature

and immature leafy portions of any of

the following: Arugula, cabbage (red,

green and savoy), chard, cilantro,

endive, escarole, kale, lettuce (iceberg,

leaf, butter, head and romaine), parsley,

raddichio, spinach, spring mix (baby

leaf items including, but not limited to,

cress, dandelion, endigia, mache,

mizuna, tat soi, winter purslane) or any

other leafy green vegetable

recommended by the Committee and

approved by the Secretary. The

Committee may also recommend,

subject to the approval of the Secretary,

the removal of any leafy green vegetable

from this definition.

We would also be required to prove traceability of all of our greens products from seed to your table.  A realitively easy task for the major producers with the use of bar codes, but very impractical and nearly impossible for the small scale grower.  Our large coolers of lettuce, mesclun, kale and other leafy greens would not be within the proposed parameters, we would need a refrigerator at market--something that is not possible with our current infrastructure!  We would loose nearly 1/3 of our produce sales--a loss that would be difficult if not impossible to make up!

So, I'm not sure of the timeline, nor can we be certain about the final draft, but if there are not substantial changes made to the current draft you will not be likely to find any greens available locally. Yes, there needs to be better traceability and high standards for growers, but with the ever growing popularity of local foods...I have to ask myself if the corperate growers aren't trying to send your local growers the way of the local dairy farmer!  (I have been told--by a reputable source that up to 30% of PA dairy farmers will be out of business before next spring!!!)

Feel free to give Senator Spector a call or email and let him know how important the local grower is to you!!

Harrisburg office: 717-782-3951

or follow this Link to his web site contact form