Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

County Supervisor Terry Lamphier has been emailing a memo around or posting it on Facebook, seeking support for a bill that would allow people to use their home kitchens to legally make certain foods and sell them — albeit with restrictions.

The “California Homemade Food Act” is being considered by the state legislature.

“During these difficult economic times, our State should do everything possible to allow individuals to provide for their families and assist with our economic recovery,” a summary of the bill reads. “Home-based food production can allow micro-entrepreneurs to prosper during times of otherwise limited economic opportunity by meeting the desires of local consumers. Under current California law, they cannot do so.”

Thirty-one states have laws that permit the in-home production and distribution of homemade foods (for example, breads, tortillas, dry roasted nuts and legumes, jams, jellies and other products). Under current California law, a person may not use the kitchen in a private residence to produce any foods to be sold or traded for public consumption.

We would support this idea to help small businesses in our county. In our Sierra FoodWineArt magazine business, we regularly hear from customers or run into vendors at the Farmers Market or events would like to relax some of the restrictions on preparing commercial food — not abandon them, mind you.

One example: Baked goods that are sold at Farmers Markets or events. Many “brick and mortar” businesses get their start small — at Farmers Markets — so this could help them grow and create jobs. There is a dearth of commercial kitchens for food preparation, and the added rental cost can hurt small businesses.

BACKGROUND

Here is the background and whom to contact at the Rood Center:

From: Terry Lamphier
Nevada County Supervisor, District 3 Grass Valley

I’m writing to bring your attention to a bill working its way through Sacramento that I think would be good for our County. The bill would allow folks to use their home kitchens to legally make certain foods and sell them (yes, there are restrictions, but little steps help).

•The AB 1616 Fact Sheet 02 17 2012 is the easiest to read about the bill. The second one is the bill. The Grange Food Sovereignty-1 is a letter from the California State Grange in support of the bill and brought to me by their lobbyist (Michael Greene, (916) 736-1572, cdsconsulting@surewest.net) whom I met in Sacramento while testifying for this bill (AB1616). You may call him for info.

I think this could be a real help to folks in our County, and I want to get support for it.

Here’s what I need if you will help:

•Timeline is a problem. The bill has been passed by the Assembly and is working through the Senate, who will be dealing with the next step in August (Senate Appropriations)

•I want to bring letters/emails/calls of support to our County Board of Supervisors and ask the Board to support this bill but the deadline is MONDAY, July 9 for me to get it on the agenda for our July 17 meeting (deadline for constituents to weigh in). Our next meet won’t be until August 14 and that’s too late to get to the Senate.

•Please read, discuss and, if you think it is a step in the right direction for food rights/small ag, please get your grange to send in a letter of support.

Individual letters are good also, as well as letters from any others with an interest. Letters to your district supe best (or phone calls or emails!). You have until July 17 for this but I’d like to be sure there is some support before then if possible.

•If this comes together, please consider coming to testify at the Board meet July 17 as well. We always appreciate hearing from folks.

Thanks!

Letters:
Rood Center
950 Maidu Avenue, Suite 200
Nevada City, CA. 95959
Phone:
265-1480
Email:
(Best to contact your supe)
Format: terry.lamphier@co.nevada.ca.us

Terry Lamphier
Nevada County Supervisor, District 3 Grass Valley
(530) 265-1480

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I received this press release from Heidi Bergman of Think Local First. It is going to be an interesting discussion:

Think Local First will unite Grass Valley and Nevada City residents and business owners at the Nevada Theatre for a screening of the documentary Fixing the Future, with the goal of educating residents and spurring action toward strengthening local economies.

On July 22, Nevada City and Grass Valley will join dozens of other communities across the country that have shared the film with the goal of jumpstarting local, sustainable economies.

Featuring the screening of the documentary Fixing the Future, the region’s event will take place at the Nevada Theatre in Downtown Nevada City. A live discussion panel featuring local economy influencers and experts from western Nevada County will follow, preceded by a pre-recorded onscreen discussion panel featuring:

•Bill McKibben: Author, environmentalist, Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College 
•Majora Carter: Peabody Award winning broadcaster & Urban Revitalization Strategist 
•Mike Brady: CEO, Greyston Bakery & social entrepreneur 
•David Brancaccio: Host, NOW on PBS

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN

The event kicks off Nevada County’s participation in Fixing the Future Across America, a national campaign led by JumpStart Productions, Area23a and the media strategy organization Active Voice.

Think Local First is one of more than 50 groups around the country participating in the campaign, using Fixing the Future to encourage American communities to create resilient, local economies through innovative approaches to job creation.

Fixing the Future Across America also links together a national network of business groups and community-based organizations working to improve their local economies.

This community as a whole gets Local as an idea, but aren’t exactly sure what to do to be ‘Local’,“ says Think Local First’s board member Heidi Bergman. “This screening is a great opportunity to raise awareness about some ways we can strengthen our economy. It’s a sharing of ideas and way to get people involved. It’s down to earth, a real look into a do-it-yourself economy.”

Sierra Cinemas has generously agreed to screen the film at their Nevada Theatre in partnership with Think Local First and the event’s other co-hosts: BriarPatch Co-op, Sierra Commons and Green Life Eco fest.

In Fixing the Future, host David Brancaccio (of public radio’s Marketplace and NOW on PBS) visits locations across America that are using sustainable and innovative approaches to create jobs and build prosperity, inspiring hope and renewal amidst economic collapse.

These issues are particularly relevant to western Nevada County where unemployment remains above the state average and the threat of economic drain from out-of-area chains looms.

ABOUT THINK LOCAL FIRST, NEVADA COUNTY FOOTHILLS
Since 2008, Think Local First has worked to build a just and sustainable economy in the Western Nevada County region by connecting, promoting and strengthening locally owned, independent businesses which seek to serve the needs of customers, employees, our community and the earth. Learn more at localfirstfoothills.org, or on Facebook at facebook.com/localfirstfoothills.

ABOUT FIXING THE FUTURE
In Fixing the Future, host David Brancaccio (of public radio’s Marketplace and NOW on PBS) visits locations across America that are attempting a revolution: the reinvention of the American economy. By featuring communities using sustainable and innovative approaches to create jobs and build prosperity, Fixing the Future inspires hope and renewal in a people overwhelmed by an economic collapse. Fixing the Future was produced by JumpStart Productions. www.fixingthefuture.org

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