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Give the Gift (Membership) that Keeps on Giving     
Gift Memberships and Benefits  
 
 
FTCLDF was there in our hour of need! An overzealous health official tried to wreak havoc at our first Farm-to-Fork dinner asking for us to destroy all of our food and send our dining guests home. A quick call to FTCLDF had lead counsel Gary Cox promptly on the job walking us through the steps that we needed to take. A simple reminder of our 4th Amendment rights sent our "inspector" packing!  

FTCLDF further helped us to change the laws here in Nevada regarding on-farm events. I love knowing that our membership goes to not only watch our backs, but is there to help each of us, farmer and consumer, when our rights are trampled.


  -Laura (and Monty) Bledsoe of Quail Hollow Farm


Already a member yourself? 
Gift a farmer, friend or family now!


Why wait until you or your farmer have a problem?

Proactive consultation with attorneys reveals options before there's trouble.  

 

Supporting the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) also supports the work to improve the regulatory climate and prevent potential issues from arising.
 

Give the powerful gift of membership and protect your access to farm fresh food.

 

Membership fees and benefits are very reasonable especially when compared to the typical cost of a single phone call with an attorney.  

   

Gift Memberships Available for*:    

  • Farmers - $125 
  • Artisan Food Producers - $125 
  • Consumers - $50

*Non-Member Consulting Agreements (NMCA) available for those who have a philosophical objection to membership in an organization that litigates; all benefits apply except possible representation.   

 

For more details, see Become a Member.  

  

Benefits of Membership:   

  • Unlimited consultation with attorneys on matters within FTCLDF's mission statement;
  • Any contractual documents FTCLDF provides, e.g., herdshare contracts, buyers club agreements;
  • Unlimited consultation with dairy and farm consultant, Tim Wightman and with Food Club and Co-op Handbook author, John Moody;  
  • Toll-free emergency hotline to speak with an attorney if there is a surprise visit or inspection from a government agency;
  • The possibility of legal representation on matters that are within FTCLDF's mission statement at no additional cost; 
  • A 15% discount on all FTCLDF online store purchases.  

See more Benefits of Membership

Item1The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, Six Years Later videoImage  

  

Liz Reitzig 
Liz Reitzig, a Maryland mom

FTCLDF was launched on Independence Day, July 4, 2007 and is a non-profit organization recognized under the Internal Revenue Code as a Section 501(c)(4) organization. A (c)(4) organization is classified as a "social welfare" organization.   

 

FTCLDF protects the rights of the nation's family farms, artisan food producers, consumers and affiliate communities to engage in direct commerce free of harassment by federal, state and local government interference; it protects the rights of farmers and artisanal producers to make their products available and the rights of consumers to access the foods of their choice from the source of their choice.    

 

 

This year, the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund has:  

  •  
    The Hershberger Family

     
    Defended farmers like Vernon Hershberger and Christian and Lena Zook in court at no cost other than yearly membership fees.  
  • Enhanced the local food movement by uniting folks who care about real food and increasing conversation about real food issues through events like Joe vs. Joel: The Great GMO Debate and Save Your Bacon weekend.
  • Alerted Food Rights News readers of actions to take on local, state and federal levels regarding new raw milk bills, proposed GMO food products, the Food Safety Modernization Act, and much more. 
  • Kept numerous members out of trouble through FTCLDF's unlimited consultation services with the attorneys, the buyers club specialist, and the farm and dairy expert.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who made it all possible by joining, renewing, donating, volunteering, participating, and taking action.   

 

Please consider one last donation so we can all make it possible in 2014!

 

                     
Celebrate Your Food Rights with a Tax-Deductible Donation in 2013
All proceeds benefit the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund

   

 
Learn More Here 

Tax ID: EIN 26-0758408

The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is a true grassroots organization and receives no government funding and little or no corporate funding. Our main sources of revenue are membership fees, individual donations, and grants for public interest litigation (PIL) from our sister organization, the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation (FTCF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports farmers engaged in sustainable farm stewardship and promotes consumer access to raw milk and local foods.

One of the cases that the FTCF supported in 2013 through PIL funds granted to the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund was the State of Wisconsin vs. Hershberger. Dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger was acquitted by a jury on three of four criminal charges for violations of the Wisconsin food and dairy code. The acquittals enabled Hershberger to continue supplying raw dairy products and other nutrient-dense foods to members of his private buyers club, and they are a victory for the right of farmers and consumers to enter into private contracts for food, free from government interference. The Hershberger verdict represents the greatest court success to date for raw milk producers and consumers in the U.S. 


To make a tax-deductible donation
earmarked for "public interest
litigation" (PIL) [EIN 26-0758408], go to www.f2cfnd.org/donate. For
more details, go to
www.farmtoconsumer.org/pil.

Questions? Contact us by email at [email protected] or call 703-208-FARM (3276).

 

Any donation amount is appreciated and will be used to further the mission of the FTCLDF.  

Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, defends the rights and broadens the freedoms of family farms and artisan food producers while protecting consumer access to raw milk and nutrient-dense foods. Learn more About Us or check out the FTCLDF 2013 Summary.    
 
       
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Donations to the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund are always appreciated though not tax-deductible. Prefer to make a tax deductible donation? Go to www.farmtoconsumer.org/PIL for information about "public interest litigation" (PIL).