Please Help Restore Farm Food Freedom: HB2903 Study Group "Listening Sessions"

July 25, 2005

Wednesday AUG. 24 & Wednesday AUG. 31ST
1:00 - 5:00pm

Patrick Henry Building, HR1 [House Room 1]
1111 E. Broad St.
Richmon, Virginia

Attend One or Both Meetings or Both Meetings
and Write to the "Study Group"

On Feb. 14th, 2005, when HB2903, a bill that would have restored some of the rights of on-farm food sales, lost in the Senate Ag. Committee by a vote of 9 - 6, Senator Hawkins, who chaired the committee (and voted against the bill), said he would create a committee to "study this further." He turned to Virginia Sec. of Agriculture Bloxom and VA Sec. of Health and Human Services Woods and asked them to study this and send to Hawkins et al a report of their findings. Many of the invited speakers are strongly AGAINST unregulated direct farm-food sales, so please write and make your views part of the record!!

The meetings have been posted in the Virginia Register, are open to the public, and may be recorded. Invited speakers will speak first and individuals may speak if time allows, BUT any public comments submitted in writing will become part of the record of the study group and will be included in the report the group will submit to Hawkins and the rest of the Ag. Committee.

PLEASE SUBMIT COMMENTS BY AUGUST 31

This is an opportunity to make our voices heard.
You may mail comments to:

Don Blankenship
VDACS
P.O. Box 1163
Richmond, VA 23318

or email to him at: don.blankenship (at) vdacs.virginia.gov

IF YOU SEND AN EMAIL, PLEASE PUT IN THE SUBJECT FIELD:
HB2903 STUDY GROUP