Ep 047: Food Freedom - Loopholes to Legally Source Locally

Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says, "I don't want to tell you what you can and cannot eat. I just want you to know what you're eating."

 

Today's episode is about providing solutions to help you cut out the middleman and take control so you KNOW what you're feeding your family - and can support local, small family farms along the way.

 

In this information-packed episode of the Nutritional Therapy & Wellness Podcast, host Jamie Belz welcomes Alexia Kulwiec, Executive Director of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, for a solution-focused conversation on how to legally source raw milk, pasture-raised meat, and nutrient-dense whole foods directly from local farmers.

 

We’re not just talking about what not to eat—this is your real-world roadmap to clean food access in a system that often seems stacked against us and our access to nutrient-dense foods from local farmers.

 

From raw cheese loopholes and herdshares to custom meat processing, cottage food laws, and buying club tips, we explore how families can cut through red tape and bring real, nutrient-dense, ethically raised, and legally protected food to the table. Whether you’ve been making “egg deals in gas station parking lots” or just trying to figure out how to find a trustworthy source for raw milk, this episode is both empowering and practical.

 

Alexia explains:

 

• Why it’s so hard to legally access raw dairy and clean meat in many states
• How federal and state food laws are designed to favor industrial agriculture over local farms
• What legal loopholes consumers and small farms are using (herdshares, custom exempt meat, cottage food laws)
• The truth about organic certification (and why it’s not the gold standard)
• What you need to know about raw cheese, pastured poultry, and produce exemptions
• Where to start if you’re ready to vote with your dollar and support regenerative food systems

 

You’ll also hear actionable tips on:

 

• Navigating state-specific food laws
• Understanding the difference between “grass-fed” and “pasture-raised”
• How to talk to your farmer—and what questions to ask
• How to legally join or form a food buying club, private membership association, or herdshare

 

This episode is packed with legal insight, food freedom advocacy, and practical strategies for any parent, health-seeker, or food rebel looking to build a better grocery cart—one local farm at a time.

 

 

Visit Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund Online: https://www.farmtoconsumer.org/

 

Join/Donate: https://members.farmtoconsumer.org/general/register_member_type.asp

Sign-up for Action Alerts: https://www.farmtoconsumer.org/actionalerts/

 

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