*****Take Action - to Protect The integrity of Organic Standards*****

Senator Leahy (D-VT) is introducing the Organic Restoration Act to
repeal this rider along with Representative Sam Farr (D-CA) in the
House. Both of these bills were introduced on February 26, 2003.

Co-sponsors are needed ASAP in the House AND Senate - both Republicans
and Democrats.

For the repeal bill to be successful, we must generate a lot of interest
and public comment on the Organic Restoration Act all across the nation.
It is important that everyone - farmers, consumers, environmentalists,
and the entire organic industry - talk to their members of Congress and
get them on board in supporting the Organic Restoration Act. We must
stand up to this blatant attempt by agribusiness to have their way with
the organic standards.

****What You Can Do - Take Action!******

Contact your representatives in Washington and demand that support the
Organic Restoration Act to repeal the language inserted into Section 771
of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill undermining the integrity of the
organic label for meat, poultry, eggs and dairy.

The message is simple: Urge your Senators and Representatives to support
the Organic Restoration Act that was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy
and Representative Sam Farr to repeal Section 771 of the Omnibus
Appropriations Bill. Repealing this section is in the interest of
consumers, organic farmers and the environment. Repealing this section
will encourage continued growth of organic agricultural production in
the United States, one of the bright prospects for U.S. agriculture
overall.

You can find your Senator here -
www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

You can find your Representative here -
www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.html

Representative Farr's office has asked that we target the following
Representatives, if you know of folks that live in their states please
forward on this email to them.
Allen Boyd, Jr. (D-FL/2) 202-225-5235 Agriculture Aide:Charla Penn
Jerold Nadler (D-NY/8) 202-225-5635 Agriculture Aide: Kisette Morton
Dennis Rehberg (R-MT) 202-225-3211 Chief of Staff: Erik Iverson
Jim McDermott (D-WA/7) 202-225-3106 Agriculture Aide: Sean Hughes
Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD/1) 202-225-5311 Agriculture Aide: Jeri Finke

Please also let your local health food store know what you are doing.
Tell them to carry NO products by Fieldale Farms, the company in GA that
instigated this movement to gut the organic livestock feed standards.
They also produce poultry under the Springer Mountain Farms and Redding
labels.

STAY TUNED TO OUR WEBSITE IN THE COMING DAYS FOR MORE INFORMATION AND
SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE!!!

Tom Taylor
Field Organizer
Organic Consumers Association
Tel: 612-331-7309
Fax: 612-331-7483
tom-AT-organicconsumers.org