Small meat processors who work for local farms are being harassed and shut down by the USDA with constantly shifting requirements. Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), which makes local, humanely raised meats available to consumers who do not want factory-farmed meats, are being driven out of business when they cannot find a processor with USDA certification.
In the past year, two farms in two states (NJ & NY) from whom I buy beef, lamb & pork have had their local processors closed by the USDA. These small processors are being driven out of business, while big business processors with numerous health violations are ignored.
We need to support small businesses that help provide local, humanely raised meats to consumers, not drive them out of business.
Update #210 years ago
US Senator Chuck Schumer is stepping up to help with USDA dispute!
"Sometimes these bureaucrats, they look at their little book and don’t look at the practical realities. One of my jobs is to straighten out them, in terms of the practical realities, so we will try to help out Tri-Town."
http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/25385/20140710/schumer-lends-help-in-tri-town-usda-dispute
Update #110 years ago
Update: Here is more information on the issue with Tri-Town Packing and the USDA. This will put a lot of farms out of business, including 8 O'Clock Ranch, where we've been buying a pork CSA for years!
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20140620/NEWS05/140629944
These same kind of problems came up for Bringhurst Meats in NJ & the USDA just a couple of years ago.
