Chris Hopkins of Stone Wall Dairy Farm in Connecticut. I’ve given talks about my book, The Raw Milk Revolution, in all kinds of interesting places–university classrooms, Congressional hearing rooms (where the microphones didn’t work and I had to shout to be heard), an old-age home, hotel ballrooms, but last evening, I gave my first talk in a coffee house. It was the Molten Java Coffee House in Bethel, CT, which is actually next door to the Relay Bookhouse, host of the event.
The strong smell of coffee kept me alert, though I told the audience that the half-dozen guitars mounted on the wall had me feeling like I should be singing; unfortunately, I can’t sing a lick. The jazz group that followed me took care of that.
It was a fun evening. About 25 people crowded in, and I tried to explain why this seemingly simple milk thing is so damn complicated. At least one audience member had read the book, suggested it be turned into a movie. I told her there were about half a dozen documentaries on raw milk in process, and suggested people might want to read the book first, and see whether the documentaries do it justice.
There were also a couple of raw dairy farmers present, and afterwards they passed out lots of samples, which made for a kind of party atmosphere, while I signed books.
One of the farmers was Chris Hopkins (pictured above), owner of Stone Wall Dairy Farm in Cornwall Bridge, CT. He told attendees that he distributes milk to about 20 retailers around the state (Connecticut allows retail sales of raw milk), and also has a farm store. Customers tell him that raw milk helps them alleviate certain conditions, most notably, lactose intolerance. Because he’s only an hour north of New York City, he says he gets people of all nationalities at his store. “I love to hear Pakistanis and Russians and others talking among themselves about raw milk–I can’t understand what they’re saying, but it’s nice that this is what brings all these people together.”
Enjoying the dairy reception at the Molten Jave Coffee House in Bethel, CT.He told me that the Connecticut Farmstead Dairy Alliance, a standard-setting organization,
is moving along toward a formal launch. It will be seeking to provide for stricter safety standards than the state–for example, monthly testing and inspections rather than the quarterly ones provided for by the state. It will also be open to dairies that produce pasteurized milk, since some Connecticut dairies do both. It’s not clear yet whether it will do its own inspections. The Connecticut dairy group will be the second such standard-setting group, following up on Colorado’s Raw Milk Association.
There are discussions in Wisconsin to launch a similar group.
These initiatives help counter the argument from public health people that raw milk producers don’t care about safety. They also provide assurance to consumers about safety.
***
As Mark McAfee reported in a comment on my previous posting, Organic Pastures Dairy Co. finally concluded the civil suit brought by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, via an injunction and summary judgment. The suit accused OPDC of selling milk in interstate commerce and of promoting raw milk as medicine. OPDC must alert its distributors about the judgment, which prohibits it from selling raw milk in other states, and from promoting raw milk as a cure for asthma and other ailments. The summary judgment is notable for not allowing the FDA at-will inspections of OPDC, which OPDC would have had to pay for. As I reported recently, a federal judge scolded the FDA for seeking such a settlement provision.
This is good news (glad to see Mark McAfee agrees in previous post comment). Raw milk is not a "medical food," and should not be marketed that way. Perhaps FDA over-stepped their bounds wanting the farmer to succumb to extra inspections and even pay for them; but, in the end, the system worked. One could almost say that the ruling is a win-win.
You are so very wrong….
The FDA does not have any power what-so-ever over my first amendment rights of free speech and I can say what ever I want about raw milk. The Wanger decision gave the FDA very little beyond what they already had in the criminal settlement. The judge slapped them down hard and retained juristiction to make sure that the FDA behaved themselves in the future.
To quote Dr. Susan Stone MD in Fresno CA…."Raw Milk is Medical Food and I use it very effectively in my practice".
To quote Dr. Donald Fields ( pediatrician ) VCH Fresno CA…."raw milk stabilizes MAST cells and it is very effective in the treatment of allergies and Asthma". ( Dr. Fields teaches at UCSF as an associate professor of medicine ).
Lykke….you have a very serious issue with freedom and allowing people to chose food over FDA medication that sometimes fatal side effects.
Which drug company do you work for??
I will educate people at every possible chance that raw milk is a medical food….but I will use my first amendment rights to do so.
I am a free person in this America and I will excercise these rights just as you have the right to spread your failed, fear based, immune system depressing germ theory dogma.
I gave seven presentations in the last five days ( each nearly two hours long ) . Five of these were at the request of PhD college professors at Anatomy and Physiology classes where my presentation was mandatory for class credit. They are now wanting me to speak to all the faculty and all biology students next year. Hundreds attended these mandatory class sessions. At the end of my presentations the professors made statements of support for the data that I shared.
My background is A & P and teaching emergency medicine.
This message is compelling….becuase it replaces drugs that kill and puts prevention and food in their proper place. First place.
Raw Milk is a very effective "medical food" and there is nothing you can do and say that will change this truth.
Yes the FDA mandates that the OPDC website be sterilized of raw milk commercial medical speech. That is just part of the war being waged. This will change someday. But they have no control at all over this blog or any other free-speech forum or raw milk educatutional outreach.
I have six more presentations in the next week. My schedule is packed full. It is full because it is true and it works. Snake oil does not have this effect.
Mark
Win-win. Consumers are protected from misinformation in marketing. You still have free speech, but have to follow the same rules as big ag…have you heard that Danone isn’t claiming probiotic effects anymore for their yogurt…http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/02/post_222.html and
Danone withdraws health claims for Actimel and Activia
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8622017.stm
While corporations do and should be held responsible for the claims they make (all in the name of profit)…persons don’t have to follow these same guidelines. Only those who really and truly intent to deceive would seek to quell free speech, and the interchanging of ideas and experiences. Marketing of raw milk is more effective when done by consumers….real people.
Fact is Mark doesn’t have to udder another word (lol)…as long as he continues the milk flowing (as with all of us milk farmers)…the truth will get out. Raw milk is changing America (and least the brave AND intelligent) and the health benefits for the 99.9999% can’t be disregarded, shoved under rug, or silenced by a power structure that is beholding to those who profit by feeding the masses crap. The Word is already out…and many more people are starting to understand they’ve been lied to.
PS I’m not sure what exactly actimel or the other thing is…but they really can’t be real food with names like that. Equating whole unadulterated foods, with stuff they make in the lab, is a reflection of the problem….your science (and arrogance) has distorted your perception of reality.
Maybe, looking for insight. If you think posters like cp and Lykke are arrogant (or work for drug companies, funny)…you don’t understand or care to understand the complexity of the debate/discussion.
The 5 AM farm raid.
Here is the REAL story of the day! OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK. Another VILE example of the REAL STATE OF FREEDOM or rather the lack of the rule of common law or common decency in America today. As the STATIST among us CHEER those that can spell the word FREEDOM MOURN!
When THEY come for the Amish farmers who will speak up for them when THEY come for us raw milk drinkers [their customers] who will speak up for us and when THEY come for you folks that enable such conduct who will be left to speak up for you?
ANY ANTI-RAW MILK PERSON OFFENDED AT THESE ACTIONS OR IS IT JUST FOR THE COLLECTIVE GOOD OF US ALL???
The only way that Lykke will ever see the truth is if s/he loses his/her job, so is no longer required to ignore the bright reality of the health benefits of whole unprocessed farm-fresh milk.
http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001sR5DqrsuDUlvRIP2WsKReP3cvp0u3WH_Wiu3IhyroXj60wRx-3y_8ErzkOg6KGCt1-X7AvhzlOohRSZ6gd0p3piUNeNp6855d1P1s5-RCws=
Raw milk is a "medical food" and prevents or heals:
Asthma, Allerigies, Crohns, IBS, Osteoporosis, Arthritis, Ulcers, ear infections, Excema and prevents colds and flu.
It is the strongest naturally occuring immune rebuilding food on earth and always has been.
I am going to repeat this and other true raw milk medical claims every where and every day.
I ( we ) have all the medical evidence needed to defend these statements. Email me and I will send you the EU and other studies that prove what I have said.
http://www.mark@organicpastures.com
When senator Dean Flores held SB 201 senate hearings on the benefits of raw milk and its safety in CA in 2008….the FDA failed to show up. They had their chance to defend their dead food lies and dogma. Instead the best scientists and doctors showed up along with more than 1400 people in three hearings. It is now legislative record for all the world to see.
When the truth is spoken the FDA flakes out and is shown for what they are….. a huge mouth piece for drug pushing and big ag. They are cowards. Sheehan is a coward when he refuses to be interviewed and defend his anti raw milk Russian Roullette statements. The FDA should be ashamed and would be if they had a conscience or any ethics or morals.
The biggest question of all….why are there not hearings being held to hold the FDA responsible for the tens of thousands of deaths caused by their drugs….drugs that they say are safe and tested.
Avandia….VIOXX….Celebrex…. Fosamax…..killer pediatric cold rememedies….antibiotic abuse in animal feeds….will all be etched on the FDA tombstone someday when America is liberated from their scurge.
Mark
http://www.latebloomersfarm.com/index.php/2010/04/about-the-raw-milk-revolution/
If the US is now effectively a police state (which, for the purposes of this post, I’m defining as a country where citizens don’t have the rights they thought they did), then it will take more than just polite testimony to end the struggle once and for all.
Of course, if we are willing to provide polite testimony time and time again and each time more restrictions are placed we willingly play along, then we can continue to survive in this police state and our denial of that condition will continue to frustrate some – and inspire others.