URGENT action alert re WI raw milk

[Guest guest]

This just in from the Weston Price Foundation.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION IF YOU CAN.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL WHEN YOU CONTACT THESE OFFICIALS.

Dear Members,

This is a revised version of the previous alert - the two changes: phone number

for D.A. Barrett is different and the wording of how members get

products.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)

has been on the farm of Vernon and Erma Hershberger (Grazin' Acres) three times

in the past week. The Hershbergers have been distributing products of the farm

to members of a private buying club. DATCP is trying to shut down their

operation and has referred the matter to the Sauk County District Attorney even

though there have been no complaints against Grazin' Acres nor any record of

food produced at the farm ever making anyone ill.

The Hershbergers need your help in order to continue to provide healthy food to

the many members of the buying club.

ACTION TO TAKE

1. DATCP has referred the Hershbergers' case to the Sauk County District

Attorney, Barrett, for potential prosecution. Everyone is urged to

contact Barrett's office and request that she not prosecute the Hershberger

case. Sauk County residents are especially encouraged to contact the District

Attorney and inform her that you will not vote for her the next election if she

pursues the Hershberger case. The District Attorney has already taken so many

calls on this case that they are no longer accepting them; but you can still

contact the DA's office by email, fax and/or postal mail. Here is the contact

information:

Barrett, Esq.

Sauk County District Attorney

Sauk County Court House

515 Oak Street

Baraboo, WI 53913

Phone

Fax (608)355-3282

patricia.barrett@...

2. Contact the Sauk County Sheriff's office and urge them not to participate in

any investigation of the Hershbergers. Here is the contact information:

Randy Stammen, Sheriff

Sauk County Sheriff

Law Enforcement Center

1300 Lange Court

Baraboo, WI 53913

Admin Phone

Fax

rstammen@...

3. Use the talking points at the end of this alert to persuade the County DA and

the Sheriff not to pursue the Hershberger case.

4. Enlist others to join in this campaign to help the Hershbergers and farms

like Grazin' Acres.

BACKGROUND

On June 2, DATCP officials, Owens and Cathleen along with

Sauk County Health Department officials and deputies of the County Sheriff

descended upon Vernon and Erma Hershberger's dairy farm, Grazin' Acres in

Loganville, to execute a " special inspection " warrant. DATCP inspectors taped

freezers in the Hershbergers' farm store and placed a hold order on thousands of

dollars of food in the store, mostly raw milk and raw milk products. Under the

hold order, the Hershbergers were prohibited from selling or even moving any of

the food in the taped freezers. DATCP sent inspectors out to the farm because

the Hershbergers had refused to comply with an intrusive request by the agency

for documents and information going back over seven years.

The Hershbergers' on-farm store sold products only to members of the private

buying club. Vernon told reporters that under the Constitution, he was allowed

to enter into private contracts and that DATCP had no jurisdiction over his

operation. DATCP has referred the matter to the Sauk County District Attorney.

On June 8, Owens and returned to the farm without a warrant, attempting

to conduct another inspection of the farm store. Vernon refused the request for

an inspection and the officials left his premises. Before leaving, they served

Vernon a 'Special Order' which could subject him to fines of up to $5,000 per

violation if he is not in compliance with Wisconsin food and dairy laws.

On June 10, Owens and again returned to the farm, this time with a

warrant but the store doors were locked; so, again they left without searching

the store.

POINTS TO MAKE

1. The County DA and Sheriff should not be spending taxpayer money, pursuing

cases like this in which there is no victim or injury. There has been no

complaint filed by anyone against the Hershbergers.

2. The only injury in a case like this occurs when the farmer or food

distributor is prosecuted and consumers who were obtaining foods they deem best

for their health and the health of their families have now lost their source of

those foods.

3. The right of consumers to obtain the foods of their choice from the source of

their choice is a political issue; cases like this in which there has been no

injury do not belong in the courts nor should the Sheriff be participating in

any investigation of them. The County DA and Sheriff should exercise their

discretion not to get involved in these cases.

4. With the tough economic times and all the cutbacks in government spending,

the County DA and Sheriff should not be using their remaining enforcement

dollars pursuing victimless crimes.

5. Let the County DA and Sheriff know how food direct from farms has benefitted

your health and the health of your family.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL WHEN YOU CONTACT THESE OFFICIALS