Rockgate Farm

  (Conway, Missouri)
A Small Slice of Heaven!
[ Member listing ]

So, let the games begin!

So, it finally happened.....The Government drew a line in the sand  that I just wouldn't/couldn't cross.   Just one more hit to the small farmer/producer. 

In my misguided attempt to "do it right", I made it past the county and the state requirements.  I attended their Process Control School.  I got myself certified every which way....I cooked in a commercially inspected kitchen, but it just wasn't enough.

NOW, I need to be registered with Homeland Security....I could actually be a potential bio terrrorist.  Lord knows how many people I could do in with my Salsa and pickles...eh?  I realize that I could be considered a Serial Pickler, but this is down right ridiculous. 

Once I break down and register with Homeland Security...we begin the actual process control.  Each one of my products, in each size jar is considered a process.  Each process must be submitted to an independant Process Authority to be tested and approved.  That cost can range anywhere from $250-$500 per process.  I estimated that it would cost me somewhere in the $40,000.00 range to get all my processes approved.....That's a lot of pickles!!

And, should any of my ingredients change....such as the variety of tomatoes in my Salsa, it's a new process.  Sweet, huh?

So, bottom line.....it is no longer legal for me to SELL salsa, pickles or relish.  Can't afford the process costs.  So, I've closed my listings. 

Now, you dairy people out there who complain because you can only sell raw milk from the farm...take notice...I don't even have that option.  I cannot sell acidified foods at all.  I am completely shut down.  FEDERAL.  My Grandmothers would be mortified.

Home processing is now becoming a thing of the past.  Unless your name is Libby, Del Monte, or Vlassic....you are  most likely not producing legally.  Anything promoted as  Amish made....is actually produced in a factory.  Where I come from, Amish don't work in factories.  Home made pickles are only for personnal consumption.  Those Hot Pickled Eggs that I've made so popular...are no longer available....unless you have something to trade:)

Hey, let's bring barter back on a large scale!!

But then again, they would probably figure out a way to regulate that also :(

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