The war against raw milk sales in a dairy state, a war whose generals are big business interests, is underway in Wisconsin. I’ve written about previously about Governor Doyle’s veto of a bill allowing modest raw milk sales, and about regulatory badgering of dairies that offer raw milk for sale. (Some raw milk may be sold even now, and Doyle vetoed a bill that would have allowed just a bit more.)
Over at the Huffington Post, David Gumpert, author of The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America’s Emerging Struggle Over Food Rights, has an essay explaining that money, and not safety concerns, motivates the war against raw milk sellers. See, Making the Business Case for Dairy Farmer Civil Disobedience.
Gumpert describes the situation in Wisconsin, one that’s favorable to raw milk sellers, all things considered:
Well, the big thing the raw dairies have going for them is that so-called “primary demand” for unprocessed foods is growing. Increasing numbers of people are learning about the dangers of processed foods and foods produced with antibiotics and pesticides. They want real milk, meat, and eggs produced locally by pastured cows and chickens, without the antibiotics, hormones and pesticides of the commodity segment. Similarly, they want organic fruits and veggies.
Also pushing primary demand is that more consumers are coming to understand that the commodity producers and their supporters rig the system. Big Dairy uses its pull to get the governor of a major dairy state (WI) to veto small-potatoes legislation that would open a tiny window of business opportunity for the little guys. The public health officials of a large urban state (MA) push for a crackdown on raw milk delivery services even though there’s not been a public health case in over a decade. A Big Dairy commodity producer thought to be friendly to farmers and consumers (Organic Valley) tries to squash raw milk producers that are grabbing more market share.
The result? Ever more interest and sympathy for the small producers. Stronger primary demand for raw milk and other such unprocessed products.
Gumpert contends that the claims of raw milk health risks that regulators and special interests make are wildly exaggerated, and are scare tactics, not sound public health policy. There are many similar regulatory efforts that are little more than government schemes to generate money through fines and penalties.
There will be a great many twists and turns in the months ahead, but I think that Gumpert’s right that raw milk dairies are likely to prevail, even against the powerful political forces arrayed against them.