Guest guest Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 Today the news seems to be that the pasteurization of almonds has been postponed to march. Yesterday, it was certain that it would be halted.Please visit The Conucopia Institutes website (http://cornucopia.org/index.php/almonds/) and send your thoughts to Mike Johanns and others. If we all work together and keep harassing them, they will listen to us.Almond Pasteurization Update (Good News)ShareOver the last few weeks I've been staying in touch with the Cornucopia Institute and getting the latest and greatest on the almond pasteurization issue. Here's are the most recent happenings and why this all matters....Good news, the mandatory pasteurization has been delayedLast week the Almond Board of California suddenly asked the USDA to delay the pasteurization mandate till March, 2008,(the original date was Sept 1st). The Almond Board is requesting thedelay because farms need more time to get prepared, but the health foodcommunity knows better: Someone's feeling the heat, and it ain't thealmonds.Pressure, verbal protest, letters,calls and other forms on action must continue and become even strongthan before. The Cornucopia Institute and my technology firm DBoostare working on centralizing the community with a website that willcentralize farmers, retailers, non-profits and the general caringpublic.What's really happening here? Is this some vast conspiracy?No,but it is about money. The biggest almond farms, which are pushing forthe mandate, don't grow organic or even raw almonds. They growpesticide ridden, fertilizer grown, junk almonds that often are justadded to other foods. And because they know their large factories andcommercial farming practices encourage bacteria and salmonellacontamination, they are pushing for pasteurization to cover their dirtywork. Basically, the Almond Board doesn't want the industry to sufferthe way that the commercial spinach farms suffered with their E.colioutbreak.By trying to protect its rear though,the Almond Board forgot about the raw + organic crowd. Honestly, theyprobably thought it wouldn't even be a big deal. And maybe only a fewhippies in Sedona, Arizona would be worried about it and everyone else wouldn't even notice. Well, they were wrong.That'swhy this campaign has to be about being heard. The Almond Board has cutcommunication off with concerned farms, therefore it is ourresponsibility to make noise and make sure the press hears that noise.That's the only way we've gotten this far and it is the only way we'llmake anything happen moving forward.The Larger IssueThisis about total food freedom. Having the ability for health to takepresidence over what some big agra-farm feels is convenient. WillFantle from Cornucopia put it best:"Fantlecharges that the rule could very well establish a precedent for moregovernmental control of fresh foods. Says Fantle, “If almonds requirepasteurization, what foods will be next on the list of mandatorysterilization, heat treatment, and irradiation? Truly raw, untreatednuts, fruits, and vegetables might no longer be legally available inthe marketplace.â€LoopholeLastly, just so that farmers and consumers are informed, there is a loophole. Via Cornucopia:"Theonly exemption to the almond treatment regulations will be an allowancefor growers to sell truly raw almonds directly to the public fromfarmstead stands. Unfortunately, this will give only a limited numberof consumers in specific areas of California, the only state in thenation that produces almonds, access to untreated nuts."Organic Pastures is one of the farms that has announced it will proceed with the loophole if the mandate goes through.----------There you have it, the latest and greatest on Almonds. For more detail check out the full almond press release by the Cornucopia Institute.Posted by Dhrumil on August 0--ScottDon't under estimate the wisdom of nature.If man made it, don't eat it.100% Raw Vegan Learn about the power of raw foods at ---> http://www.rawfoods.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2007 Report Share Posted August 9, 2007 Well, I sent another letter. This one was just a quick short one. I urge everyone to send one. Here is a sample letter with email addresses: http://www.cornucopia.org/almond/AlmondSampleLetter_USDA.docHere is what I wrote:Dear Secretary Johanns,I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw the news about the postponement of almond pasteurization. I am against this rule and am doing everything in my power to help prevent it from coming to fruition. However, without your help, this will be a lost cause. Please do the right thing and help the American public by fighting, and overturning this rule, as so many of us are trying to do. It is already very difficult to find healthy organic foods in stores. I am a person who has recently converted to a raw vegan diet, for health and environmental reasons. I now buy most of my food from local organic farmers. Raw organic almonds are an important staple in my diet. They are currently the main source of protein for me. There are thousands of others just like me. Please help us by keeping the toxins out of the human food chain, and allowing us the right to continue eating "truly raw" foods. We are all already exposed to a lot of toxic and harmful stuff on a daily basis, which builds up over our lives, and can cause all sorts of degenerative illnesses. Thank you for your time.--ScottDon't under estimate the wisdom of nature.If man made it, don't eat it.100% Raw Vegan--- scottm wrote:Scott <scottm , Almond Pasteurization HaltedThu, 9 Aug 2007 04:33:08 -0700 Today the news seems to be that the pasteurization of almonds has been postponed to march. Yesterday, it was certain that it would be halted. Learn about the power of raw foods at ---> http://www.rawfoods.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 I hope that Organic Pastures goes ahead with the plan to sell raw almonds after the pasteurization date goes into effect so more folks have access to purchase. My one concern is that I have read their farm's primary source of business is raw milk--maybe I am being sensitive but I would be more comfortable knowing that the cows and their "runoff" are no place near the almond orchards. If I am being overly paranoid, some one please let me know!! And as far as I know, the only way currently that a company can use the "direct sell loophole" is when selling directly to the consumer at a local farmer's market (and not online or through a subsidiary or wholesale arm of their own company). But I am hoping for the best. Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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