***MD - ACTION ALERT***

A bill creating opportunity for Maryland egg producers is in the Health and Government Operations Committee

Delegate Jeannie Haddaway's bill, HB1542,  would limit county health departments' involvement in direct farmer-to-consumer sales of eggs.  Please contact the committee members immediately to express your support of HB1542.

Background:  On farm sales of eggs are legal in Maryland.  However, county health departments require compliance with varying degrees of licensing and regulation for farmers to sell eggs at local farmers' markets.  These regulations and permitting fees are cost prohibitive for small producers.  Because of this, most egg producers are not able to legally sell their eggs at local farmers markets.  This legislation would eliminate the Department of Health licensing and inspection requirements by making an agricultural farm market an extension of the farm so farmers can once again sell us their eggs at our local markets
 
ACTIONS:

1. Call, email, or fax the members of the House Health and Government Operations Committee and ask them to SUPPORT HB1542 (contact info below)

You can use the wording below as a guide for your email  (please change to your own words expressing why you care about access to eggs at local markets)

"I support HB1542, introduced by Del. Haddaway. Please vote FOR HB1542.  I support the right of farmers to sell what they produce at the farmers markets.  The passage of this legislation will create economic opportunity for Maryland farmers and provide consumers with food from local sources.  Thank you for your support."

Link to HB1542

Benson, Joanne C.    p (410)841-3692,    f (410)841-3442
Bromwell, Eric M.    p (410)841-3766,    f (410)841-3850
Costa, Robert A.    p (410)841-3551     f (410)841-3549
Donoghue, John P.    p (410)841-3125     f (410)841-3414
Elliott, Donald B.    p (410)841-3118     f (410)841-3349
Hammen, Peter A.    p (410)841-3772     f (410)841-3505
Hubbard, James W.    p (410)841-3103     f (410)841-3234
Kach, A. Wade    p (410)841-3359     f (410)841-3850
Kipke, Nicholaus R.    p (410)841-3421     f (410)841-3553
Krebs, Susan    p (410)-841-3200 f (410) 3028
Kullen, Sue    p (410)841-3231     f (410)841-3335
McDonough, Patrick L.    p (410)841-3334     f (410)841-3598
Montgomery, Karen S.    p (410)841-3110     f (410)841-3053
Morhaim, Dan K.    p (410)841-3054     f (410)841-3385
Nathan-Pulliam, Shirley    p (410)841-3358     f (410)841-3850
Oaks, Nathaniel T.    p (410)841-3283     f (410)841-3244
Peña-Melnyk, Joseline A.    p (410)841-3502     f (410)841-3342
Pendergrass, Shane E.    p (410)841-3139     f (410)841-3178
Reznik, Kirill    p (410)841-3039        f (410)841-3003
Riley, B. Daniel    p (410)841-3280    f non listed
Tarrant, Shawn Z.    p (410)841-3545     f non listed
Turner, Veronica L.    p (410)841-3212     f (410)841-3105
Weldon, Richard B., Jr.    p (410)841-3240     f (410)841-3308

Emails:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Please forward to other interested groups.  To join our mailing list please sign up at www.micfa.net

INFORMATION: Tom Hubric 410-873-3346

Yours for food freedom,
Liz Reitzig, President
Maryland Independent Consumers and Farmers Association
[email protected]

Maryland Independent Consumers and Farmers Association
Our purpose is to promote and preserve unregulated direct farmer-to-consumer trade
that fosters availability of locally grown or home-produced food products.