What a trooper. Kudos.
Cable News Network (CNN) went to visit Raw Farm in Fresno, California. CNN’s Julia Vargas Jones walked the cow dairy, the milking parlor and the testing lab, then tasted some raw milk with Mark McAfee and later balanced the discussion with an interview from the opposition.
The full clip is titled Under RFK Jr., will there be a raw milk revolution? and the browser tab is titled Make milk great again? How cow’s milk became a culture war flashpoint | CNN. You might already know I hate culture war framing, but this segment was very good.
Mark McAfee is one of the original raw milk producers and advocates of the modern raw milk year, dating back into the late 20th century. He was invited to apply for an advisory role in Health Secretary RFK Jr‘s FDA and says his drafted FDA Raw Milk Ordinance is ready to go.
Will raw milk be legalized?
Raw milk is governed by the states. View the Raw Milk Law Map
The FDA currently blocks interstate sales of raw milk in commerce, without affecting private membership associations like herdshares. Whether or not your local farmer can sell raw milk is between you and your local representatives, but it might become a lot easier to access raw milk across state lines if McAfee’s raw milk ordinance is put into law.
Opposition to raw milk
The opposing arguments were presented by The Center for Dairy Research. The CDR is funded by several sources, including organizations with a stake in the conventional dairy industry:
- Wisconsin dairy farmers: Through the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: As part of the university’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
- Dairy industry partners: Such as dairy companies, organizations, and associations.
- Government grants: From federal and state agencies, like the US Department of Agriculture.
- Research grants: From various funding agencies, foundations, and institutions.
These funding sources support the CDR’s research, education, and outreach programs, which aim to enhance the dairy industry’s competitiveness and sustainability.
