The Tug of War Between Traditional Farming & Corporate-Produced Food: Part Two

The Food Freedom Movement

A promising leap toward more food sovereignty in the US has been the deregulation of local food production and sales at the state level. Several states have passed bills to legalize or expand raw milk distribution, “cottage food” sales, and on-farm slaughter — regulations that had been prohibitive to traditional small farms in the past.

“Cottage food” laws permit the sale of small-production-foods without the burdens of fully licensed retail foods. State cottage food laws limit sales by the type of food products sold, the locations of sale, and the amount of revenue that a cottage food production can make to receive the protections of the law. A cottage food operation does not have to be licensed, regulated, or inspected, by state law.

Texas, for example, has passed many bills helping small farmers and local artisan producers, thanks to the advocacy of the nonprofit, the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA).