Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Raw Milk News and Views

It's time for another raw milk update from we rebels who sell the wonderful stuff. If you are new to my blog be sure to check out my other Raw Milk posts (via this blogs search engine in the right hand column) so you'll be as brilliant as the rest of my followers.

Here's a good post to start http://midlifefarmwife.blogspot.com/2011/10/take-raw-milk-stand.html

So, to date, no word from any of the representatives I have emailed or spoken to concerning the rumored law that it is illegal to advertise, the sale of raw milk. Remember, in Illinois it is legal to sell it as long as the consumer comes to the farm with their own container. The farmer has been told he cannot legally transport it. But, on that note many folks are tired of that law and doing their best to make changes regarding transportation of such. Read about those fine folk here. http://rawmilkfreedomriders.wordpress.com/

Back to Illinois, where another law states this:

(505 ILCS 70/1) (from Ch. 5, par. 91)
Sec. 1. Every farmer, fruit and vine grower, and gardener, shall have an undisputed right to sell the produce of his farm, orchard, vineyard and garden in any place or market where such articles are usually sold, and in any quantity he may think proper, without paying any state, county or city tax, or license, for doing so, any law, city or town ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, that the corporate authorities of any such city, town or village may prohibit the obstruction of its streets, alleys and public places for any such purpose: And, provided further, that nothing in this Act shall be so construed as to authorize the sale of spirituous, vinous or malt liquors, contrary to laws which now are or hereafter may be in force prohibiting the sale thereof.
(Source: P.A. 84‑1308.)

See how confusing this all gets ?  The above law says a farmer has the right to sell the produce of his farm. Therefore it would seem logical that to sell it I must be able to advertise it.

So without clear input from those I sought for guidance, (Really, the words "guidance" and "government" are counter-productive , don't you think?  Well, I do)  we have no choice but to move ahead on our own, specifically, if we are going to make a living selling our products, we will need to TELL people about our products, since the majority of our future customers, although bright in their own ways, are not psychic.

Thus, last fall, we did the unspeakable. We advertised our raw milk, in Book of Face, Twitter, this Blog, and blatantly in our own little farm store. We even wrote signs in ink ! We waited for the G-men to come forth.

Nothing.

We moved forward a little more with a print ad in local newspapers just before Christmas; The Pantograph (Bloomington) and  The Daily Journal ( Kankakee.) We waited for Big Brother to come for coffee.

Nothing.

I approached number one son and webmaster , last week to list raw milk availability under "Products". So now even our web site is advertising our raw milk sales, something we have never done in the 5 years we've had a web site     http://www.south-pork-ranch.com/products.html     And we waited for Men in Black to arrest our cows.

Nothing.

This week we pulled the net in closer to home. So many local folks don't even know we exist here in our own community. Well, who's to blame for that ? That would be me, VP of Bacon.  So for the first time in the 18 years we have been on this farm, we ran an ad in our local small town newspapers. See below. And we waited for the phone calls.  We got a few...new customers ! But that's what advertising is all about isn't it?

7 comments:

  1. Good for you! Rock on with the Raw Milk attitude. This country is so backwards with it's foolish ways. A big deep sigh, since I think it's gonna get dumber out there, before it gets better!

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  2. Why not print-off 505 ILCS 70/1 (large scale) and hang it in the store. Maybe you already have.

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  3. Zan, I so agree

    Doug, thank you

    Cro, WHAT A GREAT IDEA ! I'm going to do that right now.

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  4. I just checked out your web store Donna.... I wish your farm was nearer me (like on the same continent!) To buy non-organic beef at my local supermarket I am paying a minimum of $9.00 per kilo(~2 lb)for the cheapest cuts :/

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  5. Oh dear Lord Topcat, even though the times I've been to Ireland meat was unbelieveably sky high it seems it's gotten worse. Really, the choice to be a vegetarian must be solely economic for some.

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  6. I agree with the others, hurray for you! I think they make the laws confusing on purpose. So much easier to entrap folks if they feel like it.

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