We need you to write letters to your representatives in St. Paul, and the Governor's Office. Below are some talking points to incorporate into your letters and phone calls. There are also many reasons the representatives and senators would want to support the bill.
S A M P L E T A L K I N G P O I N T S:
- Raw, unprocessed, farm-fresh milk has always been a legal, traditional food in Minnesota; however, there is an outdated law on the books from the 1940s requiring people to obtain it “at the farm” and only “occasionally”. The existing law discriminates against raw dairy farmers and violates the Minnesota state constitution which states the farmers’ right to peddle their products. It also creates hardships for Minnesota consumers and is wasteful, unwise, unsustainable and impractical to force individual consumers to drive long distances each week to obtain fresh milk.
- The law must be updated to reflect modern farm-to-consumer commerce. The new bill would protect the right of farmers of unpasteurized milk and food products to produce, sell, and deliver their products directly to their customers.
- Foods which are already legally available in Minnesota could be delivered to homes, private food
clubs, etc. It is not a retail bill. It removes the requirement for customers to each drive to the farm to
pick up their products.
- It is important to ensure the right of private delivery and improve access to wholesome, farm-fresh foods of our choice.
T H E M A N Y R E A S O N S T O S U P P O R T T H I S B I L L:
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Consumers are only asking to have this legal farm food – raw milk – deliverable off the farm to the city. This bill is only about allowing the farmer or a designated person to be able to bring the milk to the consumer. This is about better access.
The sale of raw milk is already legal in Minnesota.
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- This bill simply improves practical access to an already legal food.
- This bill reduces government spending on enforcement of an outdated law.
- This bill is an economic boon for farmers who sell directly to consumers since raw milk sells for substantially more than conventional milk.
- This bill is NOT A RETAIL BILL; rather, it simply provides for private delivery like other farm foods.
- Raw milk produced for human consumption is safe. There are 2 forms of milk production. One type of milk must be pasteurized. The other type is produced under different conditions and can be consumed raw.
- This bill addresses the transportation, access and efficiency issues. Farms are no longer close to urban consumers.
- Consumers of raw milk are making educated choices by studying the health aspects and choosing their foods and farmers wisely.
- This bill supports family farms, food security, food choices/freedom and the revitalization of rural economies.
- This bill supports sustainable, grass-based farming which is protective of the land, water, animals and people.
- This bill supports healthy citizens and could help to reduce health care costs. Raw milk consumption has been shown to reduce asthma and allergies which add skyrocketing costs to the state's health care system.
- Pasteurized milk is a processed food. Nutrition and health professionals recommend less processed foods.
T A K E A C T I O N N O W ! ! !
1) Call & Write the Governor & your State Legislators (the legislators for your neighborhood at the state level, not the national level legislators). It’s easier than you think! See contact info below. Tell them where you live, why raw, farm-fresh milk is important to you, and ask them to support this bill. Keep it positive, do not bash Big Ag, and focus on why this is important for YOU.
2) Ask for a meeting in person with your State Legislators
Ask to meet briefly at the Capitol (usually about 15 minutes), at a coffee shop in your neighborhood, or at your home with a small group of like-minded friends. We can help you with writing letters or meeting with your legislators – see our contact info below!
Governor Dayton: call (651) 201-3400, or go to http://bit.ly/GovDayton
Senate: call (888)234-1112 House: call (800)657-3550 or go to http://bit.ly/mnlegislator