Town of Sedgwick Maine Declares Food Sovereignty, Becoming Country's First
The town of Sedgwick, Maine, has declared food sovereignty - something that no other town in the United States, and few in the world have done. By passing a food sovereignty ordinance, the town declared citizen rights to produce and sell foods of their choosing, without givernment intervention.
The "Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance", at its core, allows buyer and seller to enter agreements that override health codes, bans, and regulations when dealing with transactions involving local foods. It notes that the consumer must educate themselves on the risk of consuming raw products (such as milks, cheeses, meats and vegetables).
In doing so, the ordinance references the United States Constitution, the Main Constitution, and the Maine Revised Statutes.
While the ordinance has yet to be challenged at the federal or state level, it is a symbolic victory for the local food movement. There are now even websites to track the spread of local food sovereignty ordinances around the country that are expected to spread from this decision.
Perhaps soon, everyone will be able to enjoy that raw milk cheese!
Follow Technorati