Raw Milk Advertising in Illinois Day 2

First I must comment on yesterdays blog comments. Outstanding. Seems I have hit a nerve in regards to the right of a farmer to grow and sell AND ADVERTISE his own products, and in the case of this writer, raw milk. Keith and I have talked often about this issue and are ready to move forward with our own little battle here in the Midwest. This morning we posted signs, for the first time in 17 years, about the price of our raw milk. We posted the signs on our own property, in the milk house where customers come to fill their own containers and in our farm store where they can buy containers but cannot buy pre-filled milk bottles.

"You tell them Anastasia"
"No,  Lucinda, you tell them"
"OK we'll both tell them "
"RAW MILK for sale $5 a gallon !"

In case this is your first visit to my blog...This is Michael Schmidt's 21st day without food as he fights for individual freedom in food choice. This will be umpteenth post on raw milk laws in Illinois but only my second post since making the commitment to take action towards changing a law related to advertising raw milk sales.

Read more about Michaels struggles http://thebovine.wordpress.com/

To understand more about the changes I am proposing its important to understand the law as it stands in Illinois today. So many farmers as well as consumers in general believe it is illegal to sell raw milk in Illinois. It is not.

Raw milk builds muscles

I started with the web site for the Illinois General Assembly and went to the section that deals specifically with Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Milk Products Act. The link for that section is
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1580&ChapterID=35   Be warned, it is lengthy and in my opinion confusing and as you wade through it, should you choose to lose precious moments of your life you will never get back, you might notice that direct off the farms sales is indeed mentioned...but oh so quietly. I highlighted it for you.

410 ILCS 635/8) (from Ch. 56 1/2, par. 2208)
Sec. 8. After the effective date of this Act, no person shall sell or distribute, offer to sell or distribute any milk or milk product for human use or consumption unless such milk or milk product has been pasteurized and has been produced and processed in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Department.
The term "sell or distribute for use or consumption" means to sell or distribute to a person for human use or consumption and not for processing or resale in any form.
The pasteurization requirement of this Section shall not be applicable to milk produced in accordance with Department rules and regulations if sold or distributed on the premises of the dairy farm.
(Source: P.A. 83‑102.)


Note again, in the entire section of The Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Milk Products Act there is no mention of how the consumer can buy the milk from the farmer (with their own container) or the part about No Advertising which is the bone I am here to expose, pick apart and attempt to change. That is deeply hidden somewhere else which I'll share tomorrow.

On Monday I will start with the phone calls and letters to my representatives. Stay turned and buckle your seat belts.