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Marty O'Conner of USDA at American Grass Fed
American Grassfed Association FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.americangrassfed.org
1648 Gaylord Street
Denver, Colorado 80206
Phone: 877-774-7277
Email: aga@americangrassfed.org
PRESS RELEASE
USDA TO MEET FACE TO FACE WITH PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS
AT
GRAZING AMERICA 2006
Martin E. O’Connor Chief, Standardization Branch, Livestock and Seed
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA will make a
presentation Friday, July 21 at Grazing America. This three-day event
sponsored by the American Grassfed Association will be held at the
Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments on a proposed minimum standard for grass fed marketing claims. This standard once adopted will become the U.S. Standard for Grass Fed claims. In an effort to promote comparative differences in their products livestock and meat producers are using production and/or processing claims to distinguish their products in the marketplace. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, through its voluntary certification and audit programs, verifies the accuracy of theses claims. The proposed standard will establish the minimum requirement for producers who want to use a grass fed label. Voluntary meat marketing claims are developed, modified, and interpreted through the Standardization Branch of the USDA of which Mr. O’Connor is the head.
Mr. O’Connor will be making a short presentation explaining the grass fed standard claim and then will entertain questions and comments from those attending. This first hand interchange will provide both the livestock producer and the enlightened consumer an opportunity to interact with the USDA concerning this proposed claim.
Eric Schlosser, award-winning journalist, and author of national bestsellers Fast Food Nation, Chew on This and Reefer Madness will be the keynote speaker at Grazing America 2006 – The Education and Celebration of Real Farm Food. This conference will forge a direct bridge between grass-fed producers, researchers, scientists, the Department of Agriculture and consumers.
The American Grassfed Association is an organization of producers, researchers, and consumers who believe that America is increasingly concerned about their food sources. The sustainability of the grass-fed production model benefits the animal, the environment, the family farm, and the consumer. Farmers who take care and pride in the quality and healthiness of what they produce. These comparable differences between their family farms and factory farms are appreciated by a growing number of consumers. Some groups who will be on hand at the conference to support and communicate directly with the producers include Slow Food, RAFT (Rescuing American Food Traditions), Chefs Collaborative, and the Weston Price Foundation. The consumer wants a product in which they can hold trust that it is exactly what claimed.
The AGA is very excited to have Martin O’Connor and Eric Schlosser
who will help to forge the bridge connecting the farm and the table.
###
If you would like more information or would like to attend please contact Patricia Whisnant (573) 996-3716 Carrie Balkcom of the AGA at (877) 774-7277 or aga@americangrassfed.org.
Posted by Patti on July 3, 2006
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