About Farm-to-consumer legal defense fund
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to protecting, defending, and broadening the rights and viability of independent farmers, artisanal food producers, and their consumers. The organization was founded in 2007 by a group of farmers who were concerned about the increasing number of regulations that were being imposed on small-scale agriculture.
The FTCLDF provides legal representation to its members who are facing legal challenges related to their farming or food production activities. This includes defending farmers against government agencies that are attempting to shut down their operations or impose fines for alleged violations of regulations. The organization also provides educational resources and advocacy efforts aimed at promoting policies that support small-scale agriculture.
One of the primary goals of the FTCLDF is to promote access to locally produced food for consumers. The organization believes that consumers have a right to know where their food comes from and how it was produced. By supporting independent farmers and artisanal food producers, the FTCLDF helps ensure that consumers have access to high-quality, nutritious foods that are produced in an environmentally sustainable manner.
In addition to providing legal representation and advocacy efforts, the FTCLDF also offers a variety of membership benefits for its members. These benefits include access to educational resources such as webinars and workshops on topics related to small-scale agriculture, discounts on products from partner organizations, and networking opportunities with other members.
The FTCLDF has been successful in achieving many important victories for small-scale agriculture since its founding. For example, in 2012 the organization successfully challenged a federal regulation requiring all livestock be tagged with electronic ear tags which would have been costly for many small farms without any proven benefit over traditional tagging methods.
Overall, if you're an independent farmer or artisanal food producer looking for legal protection or simply want more information about how you can protect your rights as well as those of your customers then joining Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is a great option. The organization has a proven track record of success in defending the rights of small-scale agriculture and promoting policies that support sustainable food production.