This is concerning if true. According to Knoxnews.com congress is has a bill afoot that will potentially, "force anyone who produces food of any kind, and then transports it to a different location for sale, to register with a new federal agency called the "Food Safety Administration." The news comes via various blogs, including one that look's for conspiracies. Never the less, considering the AIG bailout fiasco, one should not underestimate congresses ability to screw things up. The husband of the bills sponsor works for Monsanto?
Since this information is comming out of various blogs, I would want to find out more. According to one blog, cryptogon.com, the bill would" force anyone who produces food of any kind, and then transports it to a different location for sale, to register with a new federal agency called the 'Food Safety Administration.' Even growers who sell just fruit and/or vegetables at farmers markets would not only have to register, but they would be subject inspections by federal agents of their property and all records related to food production."
In the name of food safety, the government wants to make it harder on the local growers and farmers markets. Do not underestimate the governments ability to take a good thing and turn it into a nightmare of regulation, that forces some of your favorite local growers out of business. The food safety issue is not about your local farmers market, but large agri-business. Most of these small farmers are just hanging on, and if forced with more red tape they will fold.
Does anybody know more about this bill, and it's affects on the small farmer and farmers markets? Is this much a do about nothing, or a potentially bigger problem? Considering this congress, and what it's done so far I would be very suspicious.