Pennsylvania Amish Farmers Organic Farm Raided Over Licensing Issues

Amos Miller, a Pennsylvania-based Amish farmer, found himself under the radar of law enforcement officials as his private organic farm was raided due to non-compliant registration and licensing practices. The farm, Millers Organic Farm, situated in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, has been a source of organic food, including pastured meats, raw grass-fed milk, and eggs, for its private membership association.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been tracking Miller since 2016 when they detected listeria in his raw milk; the bacteria bore a genetic resemblance to those found in two individuals who developed listeriosis, resulting in one death. In 2019, Miller found himself sued by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service for not adhering to federal food safety regulations.

Although Miller resolved a dispute over unpaid fines and the case was closed in August 2023, trouble revisited him on January 3, 2024. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture executed a raid on his farm, armed with a search warrant issued based on a report of a foodborne pathogen in a product consumed by a minor.

Officials seized various organic food items during the raid and left a detention order on the remaining products, barring their sale without authorization. This action has elicited strong reactions on social media and from public figures like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who criticized the governments priorities and the consequential impact on small farms and food choices.

A GiveSendGo fund set up in support of the farm has already amassed over $44,000. The incident has underscored the ongoing tension between small organic farms and government regulations, and poses questions about the balance between food safety and consumer freedom of choice.

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Amish Farmer's Organic Farm Raided: Licensing Controversy - BNN Breaking