The American government has launched a major new escalation in its campaign against food rights by arresting on criminal charges the manager of the private Rawesome Food Club in Venice, CA, a farmer who supplies the club, and her assistant.
The circumstances of the arrest, following on an investigation by California and federal officials involving purchases of raw dairy products by undercover agents who joined the club, sound eerily similar to the case brought last April against Amish farmer Daniel Allgyer. In that case, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials spent 13 months in an undercover investigation, in which FDA agents joined a Maryland food club under assumed names.
The California arrests, following on a new raid on Rawesome, come just 13 months after the same agencies launched a highly publicized raid on the food club. It re-opened the next day and has been operating since, fighting off efforts by the Los Angeles Building Dept. to shut it down.
Re-opening won’t be so easy this time around, since the club’s manager, James Stewart, is in jail, apparently being held on $125,000 bail.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said the three “were arrested today on criminal conspiracy charges stemming from the alleged illegal production and sale of unpasteurized goat milk, goat cheese and other products.”
“Sharon Ann Palmer, 51 (dob 04/14/1960), James Cecil Stewart, 64 (dob 07/26/1947) and Eugenie Victoria Bloch, 58 (03/17/1953) were charged in a 13-count complaint, BA 385253, which includes four conspiracy counts. Stewart and Bloch were expected to appear in Department 30 in the Foltz Criminal Justice Center Thursday for arraignment, said Deputy District Attorney Kelly Sakir of the District Attorney’s Environmental Law Section. Palmer’s arraignment hearing has not been set.
“Palmer owns Healthy Family Farms, LLC, in Santa Paula, which prosecutors allege has operated without any type of license or permit for milk production since 2007. The business Healthy Family Farms and Palmer are charged in nine of the 13 counts. Bloch works for Palmer and is charged in three conspiracy counts.
“Stewart runs the Venice market Rawesome, which has been in operation for more than six years but has never had any type of business permit or license, prosecutors allege. Stewart is facing 13 counts.
“During a year-long investigation, investigators made undercover purchases of unpasteurized dairy products from Healthy Family Farms stands at Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara county farmers markets and at Rawesome. The products included unpasteurized goat milk, cheese, yogurt and kefir.
The investigation found that Healthy Family Farms and Rawesome customers were required to pay a membership fee of up to $50, or purchase a one-time ‘day pass’ at Rawesome to purchase products there. Bloch reportedly informed undercover operatives that the membership payments and paperwork were needed for ‘legal’ reasons, and they were not supposed to sell dairy products to nonmembers.”
And if you doubt this latest escalation wasn’t well coordinated among American government agencies, consider this from the D.A.’s press release: “Agencies taking part in the ongoing investigation include the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the California Franchise Tax Board; the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch and the department’s Division of Measurement Standards; the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office; the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, the Ventura County Department of Public Health; the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.” How many is that? Eight, nine? I’m rushing here to catch a plane…
It’s more clear than ever that FDA officials are leading an expanding national effort to smash private food organizations committed to obtaining nutrient-dense foods for their members.
-Blair
The ENTIRE raw milk community of California (and the rest of the country) needs to stand behind Rawsome.
I'd like to hear from those in California in regards to
http://www.unhealthyfamilyfarm.com
In the real food movement trust is paramount.
This is a PRIVATE FOOD CLUB, it is ILLEGAL what they DID!!!
I guess Aajonus is no longer associated with Rawsome. Smart.
Greed is not good.
Dig a little…all is not smelling like a rose.
Sinverguenzas!
-Blair
Now more than ever.
-Blair
"Government officials say that even contaminated ground turkey is safe to eat "
Contaminated crap is "safe" to eat……
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/03/rawsome-raid-_n_917540.html
"To express dismay at the Rawsome Food Co-Op raid in Venice CA, pls call California Dept of Food & Agriculture: 916.654.0773 (direct)."
Thanks too, I love it when someone uses a word that I have to look up…although I am partial to English usage. lol
In reading the evidence section, history and facts, it appears that Vonderplanitz is the owner/author of the site and that he has been at odds with Palmer and Stewart for a while.
I am very proud to announce that the first directors meeting at Raw Milk Institute was held today. We are so very proud and excited to have this behind us and now we can address our mission with zeal.
As to the FDA Waterloo….
All day long I have been working with Kim Hartke and Ann Marie Micheals, and others across America to get a rally coordinated at the court house in the morning.
My first order of business this morning was to beg Victoria and James not to post bail and instead go before the judge in the morning and get arraigned. The charges that the FDA have laid on them…will not stick. Conspiracy to committ a felony is a joke when applied to food. It stinks of Salem Freedom Marches and outright civil nutritional unrest. It is grossly unjust on its face and I think the judge will smell the rat….then they will all be released on zero bail and egg will land on the FDA's face.
We have much more up our sleaves….
I guess the FDA is just really stupid. They just do not learn. In order to have a movement, there needs to be an incident. They just delivered the greatest gift to Raw Milk that could ever be packaged. A great big huge raw milk incident. They arrested the sacred cow of Raw Milk in CA….Victoria Block….big mistake….huge mistake!!! Talk about creating a Martyr!!
Lesson to the FDA and CDFA. There is an inverse association and relationship between FDA and CDFA harrassment of raw milk and its popularity. Oh I forgot…..the FDA and CDFA do not learn things.
I am going to speak to the media about raw milk…I am going to speak to the media about the FDA. How pasteurized milk is listed as the most allergenic food in America at their own website, yet they jail those that try their best to provide this unprocessed foods to consumers that need and demand it. There are no illnesses….
Turkey appears to have just killed a person and sickened a hundred…what do they do, go after raw milk.
FDA – CDFA- DHHS- LA PD- LA Sherrif Dept-…. Waterloo anyone….whoops.
The FDA may have carted away 99% of Rawesome in a health department flat bed truck…but they also delivered the biggest truck load of lemons I have ever dreamed of to make sweet lemonade.
If you can get to LA at 0800 in the morning, this is it!!!!!!!
Be at the Court House at 210 W. Temple Los Angles CA, this is the location of the rally…it begins at 0800 in the morning and will end with the release of Victoria Block ( WAP chapter leader in LA ) and James Stewart ( owner Rawesome ) and Sharon Palmer ( organic farmer ) . The media are covering this nationally, with New York Times and LA coverage.
It is time to seize the micro-phone and seize the day. It is education time!! teach teach teach…Too bad Jamie Oliver is not in town.
Mark
http://www.thecompletepatient.com/journal/2010/9/2/as-pressure-builds-on-rawesome-its-manager-tries-to-make-sen.html#comment9608803
With all the media coverage about Rawesome Foods I became interested in the theories and history of Aajonus Vonderplanitz.
A quick internet search found three (presumably accurate) interview transcripts or other quotes from the man himself:
http://www.soilandhealth.org/06clipfile/Interview.with.Aajonus.Vonderplanitz.htm
http://www.whale.to/a/aajonus-interview-apr-2009.pdf
http://www.meatalovestory.com/excerpt.html
If we believe in the accuracy of the pieces, then we learn that Aajonus Vonderplanitz:
has craved orgasms since age three.
has overcome dyslexia, autism, juvenile diabetes, peritonitis, blood and bone cancer and eating the death cap mushroom.
began his raw food mission when (close to death in the desert) eleven coyotes fed him raw jackrabbits at a Native American burial ground.
has found value in a cleansing consisting of fasting, daily enemas and drinking his own urine for 41 days.
believes that AIDS was created at UCLA in 1961-62 and that AIDS, polio and swine flu are government conspiracies.
believes that you cant get viruses (say rabies, herpes) from an animal or another person.
has passed a 45-foot tapeworm.
has sex for between one and six hours every day.
and has a diet which will cure 90% of cancer cases.
To say the least, he is a colorful character.
cp
September 4, 2010 | Concerned Person
In all seriousness, this case is a perfect example as to why there needs to be some sort of regulation and government oversight of highly perishable foods like milk and meat, and why know your farmer cannot protect consumers from fraud or dangerous products. Without some sort of licensing oversight, some unscrupulous people will take short cuts and commit fraud on consumers just to make money.
If people want to drink raw milk or slaughter their own food, they are free to buy a goat or cow and treat the product anyway they want to, its their choice. I dont believe this is an issue about ones right to consume raw milk. What is at issue is the ability of anyone who wants to hang out a private buying club shingle and sell substandard and even dangerous food, without the least bit of validation.
Another example is that you are perfectly free to make lead-based toys and give them to your children, but laws protect you from a manufacturer making cheap toys and selling them to you. Why would we want any less for our food?
Sharon Palmer's credibility issues and Aajonus's complaints with her as a supplier is an issue to be sorted out between Rawsome management and its members. It has nothing to do with food freedom or food rights.
The raid on the Rawsome facility is an issue related to our right to choose the foods we want to eat. This is the key point.
Know your farmer only works when you really know your farmer…and actually see the farm. It shouldn't take a PI to find out who they are.
A rally is in order….but frankly, the deception that is obviously going on prevents this from becoming a significant watershed event.
Lying outsourcers are scum of the earth, and those that give them cover, even worse.
Yes Blair…now more than ever.
Thanks too, I love it when someone uses a word that I have to look up…although I am partial to English usage. lol
Milk Farmer – there is no equivalent word in the English language. Sinverguenza literally means without pride, without integrity nor fear of God. Sinverguenzas are destructive, evil and selfish. Sort of like D.C., or the FDA….greedy petty small self-serving parasites.
The possibility that RAWSOME had these sinverguenzas in their management and suppliers is repugnant, outrageous – it violates God, nature and every honest hard-working honorable farmer I've had the pleasure to work with.
As you said, Trust is Paramount.
-Blair
Aajonis (sp?)may seem like a kook to you, but his commitment, wallet, and voice shine a lot more true than yours does. Your posts always leave me cold; not from the heart or any real experience. You are just blowing air up your skirt.
Sorry,
-Blair
Please you folks, get a grip on reality. WAPF does not "bash" the vegetarian way of eating; they simply point out the misunderstanding between veggie people and WAPF principles. I'm sick and tired of vegetarians and vegans thinking they are God's gift.
Yes, just like all organizations/philosophies/movements – there will always be those on the fringes that do not represent the majority and WAPF is no exception.
Hopefully my point will not be lost in this side conversation as we are much stronger together and what can happen to one group can easily happen to another group so we should all remain vigilant and supportive!
Perhaps I have encountered more of the fringe than the core in my travels.
🙂