The Criminalization of Raw Milk -- A Mennonite Farmer is Hauled Away

dirtyp · #1 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 03:33 AM

in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Mark Nolt, a Wenger Mennonite (Horse and Buggy Mennonite) dairyman, threatened for months with arrest for selling raw milk without a permit was removed from his property by state troopers.

Jonas Stoltzfus, a friend, fellow farmer, and Church of the Brethen, was asked by Mr. Nolt to speak for him, and said of the raid yesterday - "Six state troopers and a man with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture trespassed onto his property, and stole $20-25,000 of his product and equipment."

Mr. Stoltzfus explained that Mr. Nolt did not have a permit because "he chose to turn his permit back in because it did not cover all the products he was selling. He felt he was being dishonest selling stuff that was not covered by the permit. He is a man of great integrity."

"According to reports from neighbors and the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, several officials of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture participated in the raid, and while Mark was being transported by police car to the courthouse, PDA officials confiscated $20,000 to $25,000 worth of dairy products and production equipment. Neighbors reported the farm had been closed and that a large group of officials had gathered, with videos prohibited."
The Criminalization of Raw Milk -- A Mennonite Farmer is Hauled Away

rob · #2 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 06:17 AM

If he was selling to the general public, items that required that he have a permit or license then he was wrong.

kgpoolerev · #3 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtyp

in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Mark Nolt, a Wenger Mennonite (Horse and Buggy Mennonite) dairyman, threatened for months with arrest for selling raw milk without a permit was removed from his property by state troopers.

Jonas Stoltzfus, a friend, fellow farmer, and Church of the Brethen, was asked by Mr. Nolt to speak for him, and said of the raid yesterday - "Six state troopers and a man with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture trespassed onto his property, and stole $20-25,000 of his product and equipment."

Mr. Stoltzfus explained that Mr. Nolt did not have a permit because "he chose to turn his permit back in because it did not cover all the products he was selling. He felt he was being dishonest selling stuff that was not covered by the permit. He is a man of great integrity."

"According to reports from neighbors and the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, several officials of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture participated in the raid, and while Mark was being transported by police car to the courthouse, PDA officials confiscated $20,000 to $25,000 worth of dairy products and production equipment. Neighbors reported the farm had been closed and that a large group of officials had gathered, with videos prohibited."
The Criminalization of Raw Milk -- A Mennonite Farmer is Hauled Away

Fascinating case. One of the areas the government is needed is in food protection. At the same time I wonder if the farmer was unable to get the permit to sell all of his products due to government interference. There is a lack of information to let anyone decide anything about this case in the linked site.

Tileman · #4 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 09:20 AM

The irony of this case is he would have not borken any laws had he given the milk away for free! To sell it though requires a permit...

dirtyp · #5 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 05:49 PM

He had a permit but they wouldn't allow him to sell it raw. So he gave his permit back and said its my right to buy and sell as I please.
People have been raised of it and they take the chance, Anti biotics vs Natural. Ill take the natural too.