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Book Group: Biting the Hands that Feed Us Thru Failing Food Regulations, by Baylen J. Linnekin

May 4, 2017 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Free
Baylen Linnekin is the author of "Biting the Hands that Feed Us: How Fewer, Smarter Laws Would Make Our Food System More Sustainable", a book about our failing food regulations.

The Slow Food Russian River Book Group will be discussing a book about failing food regulations, Biting the Hands that Feed Us: How Fewer, Smarter Laws Would Make Our Food System More Sustainable (Island Press, 2016) by Baylen J. Linnekin, with a foreword by Emily Broad Leib.

To RSVP email the Book Group at sfrrbookgroup@gmail.com.  The Book Group is open to anyone who can read, loves cooking a dish, and likes a good conversation.

The Book Group meets the first Thursday of the month, 7 – 9pm in Sebastopol. It’s a convivial dinner. Please bring a dish for four and a beverage.

Membership

To be a member of the Book Group you don’t need to be a member of Slow Food, although – of course – we hope that with time you will become one.

Summary of Biting the Hands that Feed Us: How Fewer, Smarter Laws Would Make Our Food System More Sustainable

Food waste, hunger, inhumane livestock conditions, disappearing fish stocks—these are exactly the kind of issues we expect food regulations to combat. Yet, today in the United States, laws exist at all levels of government that actually make these problems worse. Baylen Linnekin argues that, too often, government rules handcuff America’s most sustainable farmers, producers, sellers, and consumers, while rewarding those whose practices are anything but sustainable.

Biting the Hands that Feed Us introduces readers to the perverse consequences of many food rules. Some of these rules constrain the sale of “ugly” fruits and vegetables, relegating bushels of tasty but misshapen carrots and strawberries to food waste. Other rules have threatened to treat manure—the lifeblood of organic fertilization—as a toxin. Still other rules prevent sharing food with the homeless and others in need. There are even rules that prohibit people from growing fruits and vegetables in their own yards.

Read more…

Reviews

From the Hit and Run blog on Reason.com

Baylen Linnekin writes about “food freedom” at Reason every Saturday (check out his archive here). His new book, Biting the Hands that Feed Us: How Fewer, Smarter Laws, is drawing strong notices for its mix of libertarian brio and familiarity with the artisanal food scene. Biting the Hands that Feed Us exposes many absurdities in current food law, while celebrating ethical entrepreneurs,” says Whole Foods’ John Mackey. “This witty, incisive book will outrage and ultimately inspire you.” And here’s Booklist, “His book cleverly and precisely decries how the federal government’s rules and restrictions regarding food are a serious disservice to producers and consumers alike.”

Read more…

“Makes a strong case that the biggest issues facing our nation’s food supply are ones deserving bipartisan solutions—and that those solutions might actually entail fewer, better food laws instead of a spate of new ones.” (Huffington Post)
“Applies a critical eye to the unintended consequences of many rules and regulations…Linnekin doesn’t just rely on stats, he tells the personal stories of small-business owners who’ve been harmed by various rules.” (Politico)
“Linnekin mixes his mastery of history and law with a great sense of humor and frustration at a regulatory and cultural system that is completely at odds with itself. This is the book to give to your farmer-market friends who love Whole Foods, mandatory GMO labeling, and dictating what is good not just for themselves but everyone in society.” (Reason)
“Promoting a libertarian take on the regulation of organic food, this engaging book presents a fresh perspective on a popular topic…With example after example, Biting effectively makes the case that organic farmers should be allowed to do what they do best, with less regulation and oversight…Regardless of their political affiliation, many audiences will find this book fascinating.” (Foreword)
“A seasoned food lawyer and law professor, [Linnekin] keeps an eagle eye out for the head-smacking inanities that creep into the regulatory language…Linnekin’s book is must reading for anyone affected by food regulations.” (Acres U.S.A.)
“Provocative…Linnekin leaves the reader with guiding principles of how we can transform food policy in a direction that promotes—not inhibits sustainability.” (Civil Eats)
“Equal parts tragedy and comedy, Biting the Hands that Feed Us exposes many absurdities in current food law, while celebrating ethical entrepreneurs. This witty, incisive book will outrage and ultimately inspire you.” (John Mackey co-founder and co-CEO, Whole Foods Market)
“A well-researched, fascinating investigation into how misguided government rules hinder our dreams for a future of sustainable, local food in America. From the unintended consequences of well-meaning rules to sheer manipulation of the system by Big Food, Linnekin shows again and again how small farms and family businesses lose out. Biting the Hand That Feeds Us reveals how the simple act of bringing food to market, has, under a thicket of regulations, become a Herculean task. For anyone interested in the farm-to-table movement, this book is a must-read.”(Nina Teicholz author of the New York Times’ bestseller The Big Fat Surprise)
“As Biting the Hands that Feed Us explains in an accessible and entertaining way, too often our legal system not only fails to protect us, but even undermines our efforts. While I don’t always agree with Baylen Linnekin, I appreciate his willingness to challenge assumptions about food regulations. His book is an important contribution to the food policy discourse.” (Michele Simon author of Appetite for Profit and executive director, Plant Based Foods Association)
“If you ever wondered why local, sustainable, innovative food is either expensive or difficult to find, Linnekin lays out the reason brilliantly: a plethora of antagonistic government rules. A must-read for all who desire the ultimate personal liberty: the right to choose our food.” (Joel Salatin third generation farmer, Polyface Inc. and author of Folks, This Ain’t Normal)

Bibliographic Information

Author Linnekin, Baylen. author.
Title Biting the hands that feed us : how fewer, smarter laws would make our food system more sustainable / Baylen J. Linnekin.
Imprint Washington D.C. : Island Press, [2016]

Descript xxi, 257 pages ; 24 cm
Contents Unsafe at any feed — “Big food” bigger thanks to “big government” — Wasting your money wasting food — I say “tomato,” you say “no” — There are good food rules.
Note Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-247) and index

Summary “Food waste, hunger, inhumane livestock conditions, disappearing fish stocks–these are exactly the kind of issues we expect food regulations to combat. Yet, today in the United States, laws exist at all levels of government that actually make these problems worse. Baylen Linnekin argues that, too often, government rules handcuff America’s most sustainable farmers, producers, sellers, and consumers, while rewarding those whose practices are anything but sustainable.Bitting the Hands that Feed Us introduces readers to the perverse consequences of many food rules. Some of these rules constrain the sale of ‘ugly’ fruits and vegetables, relegating bushels of tasty but misshapen carrots and strawberries to food waste. Other rules have threatened to treat manure–the lifeblood of organic fertilization–as a toxin. Still other rules prevent sharing food with the homeless and others in need. There are even rules that prohibit people from growing fruits and vegetables in their own yards. Linnekin also explores what makes for a good food law–often, he explains, these emphasize good outcomes rather than rigid processes. But he urges readers to be wary of efforts to regulate our way to a greener food system, calling instead for empowerment of those working to feed us (and themselves) sustainably”–Amazon.com
Subject Food supply — Government policy — United States.
Food supply — Environmental aspects — United States.
Food supply — Law and legislation — United States.
Food industry and trade — Government policy — United States.
Food industry and trade — Environmental aspects — United States.
Food law and legislation — United States.
Sustainable agriculture — Government policy — United States.
Livestock — Moral and ethical aspects — United States.
Nutrition policy — United States.
Food consumption — United States.
ISBN 9781610916752 (hardcover)
1610916751 (hardcover)
LC CARD # 2016938036
Standard # Island Pr, C/O Chicago Distribution Center 11030 S Langley Ave, Chicago, IL, USA, 60628 SAN 202-5280

Details

Date:
May 4, 2017
Time:
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost:
Free

Organizer

Slow Food Russian River Book Group
Email
sfrrbookgroup@gmail.com

Venue

Private Home in Sebastopol
Address with RSVP
Sebastopol, CA 95472 United States
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