Published January 29, 2021 In the midst of the COVID pandemic, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is insisting on inspecting small produce farms…
FARFA asks Journal to revise process following publication of flawed study
Published January 22, 2021 In late December, the Journal of Food Protection published a study from the University of Houston, claiming to have found safety…
FARFA’s 1st bill for 2021 gets officially filed
Published January 19, 2021 Welcome to your weekly update on the Texas Legislature, sustainable agriculture, and local food! After establishing the rules for proceeding this…
FARFA’s Priority Bills for Texas’ 2021 Legislative Session
Updated March 1, 2021 Among its many impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of our food system. In March, grocery store shelves emptied, not…
The 2021 Texas Legislative Session has begun!
Published January 13, 2021 Texas State Representatives and Senators gathered on Tuesday for the opening day of the session. For the next 140 days, our elected officials…
FARFA’s comments on Texas’ proposed raw milk rules
Published January 11, 2021 In response to the Texas Department of State Health Services’ proposed new rules for the sale of raw milk in…
Good news (mostly) for raw milk in Texas
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has published proposed rules for raw milk that make important improvements to the current rules! For those who…
Flawed study claims Texas small farms grow unsafe foods
Published December 21, 2020 Last week, a website article circulated claiming that research from the University of Houston indicates that small produce farms in Texas…
USDA opens new funding program for farmers hurt by COVID
The USDA has launched a second round of COVID-19 relief payments that will hopefully reach more farmers, many of whom were left out of previous aid…
Texas health department seeks comments on food establishment rules
The Texas Department of State Health Services has published draft changes to the Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER) – which govern restaurants, grocery stores, co-ops, delivery services,…