LOBBY DAY
The Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association (VICFA) is convening on the General Assembly Tuesday, Jan. 27 in Richmond to lobby for a proposed constitutional amendment.
THAT THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE THE FOOD OF THEIR CHOICE FROM THE SOURCE OF THEIR CHOICE, WITH MUTUAL CONSENT, SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.
Delegate Eric Zehr has put the bill in as HB699.
This is the most bold offensive tactic yet by this small by dynamic organization, whose mission statement is simple: to promote and preserve unregulated direct farm-to-consumer trade that fosters the availability of locally grown products or home produced food.
Here are instructions:
We will meet up in the main lobby of the General Assembly Building, located at 201 North 9th Street, 23219. The public entrance is located on the East Broad Street side of the building. We will meet in the General Assembly's main lobby at 8:00am and start lobbying around 8:30am. HB699 is not on the docket to be heard yet, and currently it is in the House General Laws Committee, but could be moved to be heard as early as tomorrow. We will be adjusting our visit to that information. Call your Delegate and Senator and make an appointment to see them.
We are scheduled to meet with Delegate Zehr at 2.30 pm.
Please contact Suzi Croes at 540-419-6571 or Dan Lafever, 484-318-3789 with any questions
Unfortunately I am in Florida on a farm consultation and unable to be there, but I hope others can be there or call your delegate to show support for this measure. This is part of a nationwide groundswell at the state level to free farmers from industrial-scale food regulations that deny consenting adults exercising freedom of choice to give their microbiome agency from having to ask the government's permission to engage in a food transaction.
The opposition says this freedom will create an epidemic of sick people due to unregulated food and dirty farmers selling to their neighbors.
Do you think this food would be safer or less safe than government-sanctioned fare?
