The Complete Patient

Have no fear, your intrepid reporter is here. I've got this Canadian raw milk incident covered, and here's my theory: the U.S. and Canada have initiated their mutual defense pact to fight the raw milk wars. Each country figured the wars are too big to fight alone, so they've decided to put their treaty to the test. After all, an attack on one is an attack on all. 

You want another prediction? Michael Schmidt, the owner of Glencolton Farms, the raw milk dairy in Durham, Ontario, raided by Canadian authorities last Tuesday (see photo at right taken from his farm the day of the raid), will bring them to their knees.

I'm making that prediction based on his honesty and resolve. Here is part of his statement explaining his hunger strike:

"In 1994, I was charged and found guilty for exactly the same offences, that is, providing a service to our customers with products that they wanted. I was placed under probation for two years, meaning that I was not to produce and process any milk. During that time, I offered the Government this farm as a research facility for the production of farm fresh milk...

"When there was no response, I announced that I would conduct my research independently and made it clear at that time that, if the farm were subjected to any more raids and interference, I would go on a hunger strike.

"(The Nov. 21) event means that I must act on what I said more than 11 years ago. As of now, I will begin the hunger strike until all of the equipment, documents and other items removed from this farm have been returned. The Government has to agree to be financially liable for the personal property of cow shareowners. As well, they need to agree in writing that the farm is to be left alone, so that it can carry on its service to the 150 families, until and unless all of the issues have been dealt with in court or in the Legislative Assembly or House of Parliament."

I spoke this afternoon with Beverly Viljakainen, an assistant to Michael, and she indicated everyone, including Michael, is in good spirits about both the raid, by about twenty Canadian agents, and the hunger strike. She noted that the agents were sort of considerate in that they didnt take the farm's milking machines and returned the farm's computer a few days after the raid. Michael, who is 52, is on day five of the hunger strike. "The headaches are kind of ferocious," she said, "but he's over that. He hasn't lost his midriff yet."

Otherwise, the entire affair sounded depressingly similar to raids of American raw milk dairies. It was sparked by a mother and child who drank raw milk and became ill 18 months ago--in the mother's view, because of some contaminated hamburger meat, Beverley stated. There were lots of agents scurrying around, disrupting operations, confiscating milk and other products. No charges have been filed in this case, and lots of cow share owners are now without their milk.

Back to another raid, The Detroit News had a surprisingly straightforward account of the Ann Arbor case.