Dairy Producer Rights For Dummies
Friday, August 26th, 2005CGFI launches producer resources page on milk is milk Web site to help producers protect their farms (and the industry)
Milk is Milk Blog by Alex Avery
For more than four years the Center for Global Food Issues (CGFI) has been collecting information on dairy marketing-related concerns directly impacting producers, consumers and the environment. We have successfully shared (and acted on) this information with citizen and consumer protection groups who are concerned about truthful, non-misleading marketing - but seldom dairy producers.Oh we’ve had a few producers involved here and there - but not to the level that one might expect. The alarming truth is that many producers are unaware of their rights and the various avenues available to protect themselves against unfair competition from false or misleading claims disparaging their products. Others are concerned about the negative impact that unethical or illegal absence claims (such as hormone-free) have on consumer attitudes and purchasing habits. And, most are unaware of the extensive network of allies (including consumers) and support resources available to help them combat such malicious marketing practices.
Think they don’t exist? There are a plethora of government, academic and consumer resources and Web sites dedicated to producer (and consumer) rights. Our hope is to catalog these resources with our four plus years of information and industry experience in our new producer resources page to help dairy producers understand their rights. You have to register, but don’t worry, we just ask for your name, zip code, affiliation (producer, processor, etc.) and e-mail. I hate it when you have to name your childhood hero (mine was spiderman) - so we don’t go there. We are going to take the process one step further by offering several unique perks - a place to take and view producer-related surveys, report misleading dairy labels, voice and share concerns, and request additional information.
to help dairy producers understand their rights. You have to register, but don’t worry, we just ask for your name, zip code, affiliation (producer, processor, etc.) and e-mail. I hate it when you have to name your childhood hero (mine was spiderman) - so we don’t go there. We are going to take the process one step further by offering several unique perks - a place to take and view producer-related surveys, report misleading dairy labels, voice and share concerns, and request additional information.Imagine a place where you could discuss the fact that your conventionally produced product is the same as super-ultra-pasteurized (organic production often requires milk be exposed to intense pasteurization - 280 degrees F to increase shelf life because organic dairies had problems with consumers returning milk because it ‘turned’ - the fresh conventional milk you drink subject to normal pasteurization has a life of 14-21 days, then a week or so after opening - if milk had a born on date you might start to wonder about organic milk) hormone-antibiotic-pesticide-thermonuclear-free organic milk (by the way - there is no such thing as hormone-free milk) without being chastised with the ‘what if’ fear-based ideology rooted in marketing lies. Don’t be fooled - fear-based marketing and ideology are a driving force in a consumers purchasing decisions. Check out an article on the subject from the Journal of Advertising.
Let’s face it - the dairy industry is facing several challenges. Continued black marketing by some unscrupulous interests is scaring consumers away from dairy products on baseless fears. Some of these groups are taking their marketing strategies to new lows by attacking each other! Now normally I wouldn’t advocate in favor of cannibalism - however…
So what can you do? Study your rights; learn them - because the dairy industry and consumers need to hear your voices in unison if you ever hope to start the healing one of America’s most wholesome and treasured industries. The message is simple - milk is milk!
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