Illegal organic milk is reportedly saturating the market and Midwest organic farmers are not standing for it.

According to a news release from Cornucopia Institute, in early July organic farmers and supporters from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa rallied in Wisconsin to convince Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to take immediate action against illegal organic milk . They expressed their fears and opinions on factory farm and labeling practices that are threatening their livelihood as well as the organic label.

Secretary Vilsack’s comments indicate that the farmers may have been successful in their mission. “We are focusing on rules that will level the playing field so that small and medium size producers have a fair shot,” said Vilsack, sparking applause from the crowd. “We are, as you are, asking questions about how producers can make so little and how others who are in the chain can make so much,” added Vilsack.

Small organic family farms are threatened to the point where they cannot retain their vendors, and are forced to use food stamps, reported several of the farmers at the demonstration.

Conrnicopia reports that food cooperatives were also present and making their voice heard:

One of the strongest supporters of the development of organic food and agriculture has been the nation’s 270 natural food cooperatives. Michelle Schry, the manager at People’s Food Co-op in Lacrosse, WI came to the rally to show their solidarity with struggling family dairy farmers. “Whatever we can do to support you, we will do,” Schry told the crowd. “We want that (organic) label to be protected as much as you do.”

Read the whole Cornucopia Article: Organic Dairy Farmers’ Rally — USDA Secretary Asked to Vigorously Enforce Organic Laws

This entry was posted on Friday, August 7th, 2009 at 7:38 am and is filed under Education, Healthy Updates Newsletter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.