This week has been a busy week in DC. The TAFTA negotiators were in town and NFFC, along with other members of the Citizens Trade Campaign, greeted them on gray Monday morning.
Down to Earth: Small Farm Issues In a Big Farm World
Students at Ball State University created this excellent short documentary on the state of small farms in the U.S., thanks in no small part to insights imparted by NFFC director Kathy Ozer. The film focused on the story of the Becker Family Farm and featured interviews with Kathy and other notable individuals, including Will Allen of Growing Power and Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN).
December Newsletter
Happy December Everyone! Inside our latest newsletter, you’ll find an article about Nelson Mandela from Ralph Paige, a recognition of Arden Tewksbury’s long service to his community,and reports from Ben and Kathy. Also, we have two pages dedicated to member group Holiday Items for Sale!!
Trade
The faith, labor, family farm, consumer, environmental, human rights and social justice organizations within Citizens Trade Campaign (CTC) wrote Obama urging him to enact meaningful trade reform as his administration enters into negotiations for a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement (TPP). To learn more about the TPP, visit www.citizenstrade.org/tpp.php.
Food Safety Modernization Act Update
NFFC joined approximately 300 farms, farm businesses and allied organizations on this Food Safety Modernization Act sign-on letter defending the Tester-Hagan exemption. It was submitted to the USDA as a formal comment on FSMA to both the Produce Safety and the Preventive Controls rule.
Updates on Two recent Protests in DC
NFFC joined Friends of the Earth in a protest outside of the Charlie Palmer’s Steak House where USTR Mike Froman had lunch with “green groups” to discuss the Trans Pacific Partnership.
Fall 2013 Newsletter
Check out our latest Newsletter!
Letter to President Obama on Sect. 2501
Here is a new letter sent to the President about restoring full funding for Section 2501 of the Farm Bill.
Farm Bill Conferee Letters
This week, we cosigned two letters address to the Farm Bill Conferees. One is on the Farm Bill in total and one is specifically on GIPSA. Please read them below.
Growing Food and Justice Initiative Debrief
Immediately after the Food Sovereignty Prize, Rachel flew to Taos, New Mexico to represent NFFC and USFSA at the Growing Food and Justice Initiative Gathering. She attended the Intensive Leadership Facilitation Training as well as the main conference to join the conversation about racism and structural inequality in our food system.
The Food Sovereignty Prize from New York Debrief
On October 15th, the US Food Sovereignty Alliance hosted the 5th annual Food Sovereignty Prize at Cooper Union in New York City. Representatives of the honorees and USFSA opened the ceremony with a Mystica, wearing flags that represented the honorees as well as other liberation fighters. The Mystica participants carried bowls of seeds, water, soil, and aspirations through the audience to join Mother Earth center stage. Chants and a song of struggle and liberation were shared with the audience before moving into the formal ceremony.
We Need A Full and Fair Farm Bill Now!
Amidst discussion of the potential government shutdown, the Farm Bill extension from 2012 is set to expire October 1st.