RALEIGH -- Farmers from across the state are worried that potential food-safety legislation could hurt their livelihoods and forever change the way they operate.
A meeting Monday at the State Fairgrounds brought together farmers, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, plus state agriculture officials.
It was one of several "listening sessions" planned by the FDA to solicit input on how new guidelines regarding the safety of agricultural produce in America should be written.
A panel of six farmers took turns telling the officials about their concerns, which stem from a new food-safety bill that has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and is awaiting action by the Senate.
Despite the state's shift to technology and science, farming is still a major industry in the state, with sales of crops totaling more than $2.9 billion in 2007.
Among the top concerns for many farmers: a fear that sweeping legislation would be a hurried response to recent high-publicity food-safety scares such as the ones involving fresh spinach and peppers.
The farmers said they were concerned laws that are too stringent would make it difficult for them to continue to operate, either because complying would cost too much money or take too much time.
"You should not prevent new farmers from wanting to enter the market," said John Vollmer, whose family operates the Vollmer Farm in Franklin County. "When Farmer John croaks, who's going to take it on? I hope [complying with the new rules] won't be such a mountain that my son and daughter-in-law won't want to take it on."
Other concerns on the list for farmers: improving the methods used to trace food back to its source, water quality standards and rules regarding the proximity produce can have to animals or livestock on the farm.
"We paid attention long before someone forced us into it," said Philip Barker, who works with the Operation Spring Plant Cooperative in Sampson County, a group that works to train and assist minority farmers. "Cumbersome rules that don't serve basic purposes will basically put us off the farm."
Many wanted assurance that any new rules and regulations would not be redundant with those already in place.
"If there's going to be another layer [of regulation], it needs to coincide with what's already in place so that we don't have to reinvent the wheel and redo processes that are already in place," said William Shelton, who grows hydroponic lettuce, tomatoes and peppers on his farm in Jackson County.
The government officials who took part in the meeting said they gathered useful feedback and information that will be taken back to Washington.
"We're going to be fully accountable to do this in a smart, common-sense way," said Mike Taylor, senior advisor for the FDA.
The feedback from these "listening sessions" will help shape the proposed rules and guidelines that will be submitted in about a year, Taylor said. The FDA is unsure of how many sessions it will hold.
For those who attended, the session was a positive sign.
"I like the fact that they were willing to listen," said Jackie Rogers, who drove from Shannon in Robeson County with her father. Together, they run the John L. Council Farm. "But we don't know until [the legislation] actually comes out."
