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New federal regulations will likely bring big changes in how food is grown, harvested, packed, and processed in the U.S.; small farms and local and regional food systems will feel it too. The Food Safety Modernization Act, passed in 2011, is currently in the “rulemaking” stage: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as the responsible agency, drafts rules and offers them ...

Nick Andrews, Lauren Gwin | Jul 2013 | Article

What do we know about heavy metals in soil? What do we know about lead exposure through soil and garden plants? What do we know about cadmium and arsenic in soils? What can I do if I’m at risk for heavy metals in my garden soil?

Jul 2016 | Article

When produce contaminated by E. coli, Salmonella or other human pathogens is distributed by large shippers, food scares show up on the front pages and the evening news. While food safety problems in local food systems are less likely to make the national news, people can still be made ill or in rare cases killed, and the impact on a farm can be financially and ...

Nick Andrews | Jun 2013 | Article

Small-scale poultry producers in Oregon who meet certain conditions have the option of slaughtering their poultry in an open air setting.

Lauren Gwin | Dec 2016 | Article