Farmers rally to draw attention to food origin labeling

ROME, Ohio – The security of knowing where our food is produced was the focus of an informational rally at the North Union Farmers Market in Shaker Square in Cleveland April 14.
The Ashtabula, Lake, and Geauga County Farmers Union hosted the event on country-of-origin labeling (COOL) of food.
Law. “We shared information with consumers on the importance of country-of-origin labeling for beef, lamb, pork, fish, produce and peanuts. This law was part of the approved 2002 farm bill and has yet to be implemented,” stated Bryan Wolfe, a dairy farmer from Rome Township and president of the Ashtabula, Lake, and Geauga County Farmers Union.
State Sen. Capri Cafaro expressed strong support for the COOL legislation. She told vendors and shoppers at the farmers market that they have a right to know in what country and under what conditions their food is processed.
She is also supportive of the recent Ohio House of Representatives resolution co-authored by Rep. George Distel that encourages Congress to enact legislation providing for the funding and immediate implementation of the portions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 dealing with country or origin labeling.
Incognito. John Kinsman, a dairy farmer from LaValle, Wis., and president of Family Farm Defenders, and John Peck of Madison, Wis., Family Farm Defenders executive director, participated in the rally dressed as Holstein cows.
Kinsman spoke on behalf of cattle, humans and pets on the need for food safety. Knowing the country of origin for food products is a major step in that process.
For more information on COOL or Farmers Union, contact Wolfe at 440-563-5473.