Committee hears testimony on bills to expand on‑farm sales of raw and farm‑made products

Supporters of two bills to expand direct‑to‑consumer farm sales told the Michigan House Rules Committee the measures would provide small farms a viable path to profitability and more consumer choice, while industry and state agencies registered written opposition.

Chelsea, a small farmer who identified herself as representing farm families, told the committee the regulatory burden prevents small producers from selling value‑added dairy and other products. "What's wild is it's safe and legal to give away these foods. But as soon as money exchanges hands for the products, they magically become unsafe for human consumption," she said, adding that the cost to raise animals and access processing facilities makes retail sales prohibitive.

Ashley, who said she holds a PhD in engineering and works on connections between food and public health, argued pasture‑based small farms can produce raw milk with high hygiene standards and framed the bills as matters of consumer choice and small‑farm survival. "We need to acknowledge a simple reality: many consumers are increasingly frustrated with the conventional food system and want access to traditional farm fresh foods," she said, and cited a 2023–24 salmonella outbreak linked to raw milk that she said resulted in "171 documented illnesses." Jesse Meerman, who said he served on the work group that developed Michigan's policy on fresh unprocessed whole milk, urged the committee to consider how state definitions and CDC counts are compiled and offered a 2012 work‑group report as context.

The clerk reported 230 cards of public support filed for the legislation. At the same time, written testimony in opposition was filed by Jackie Klippenstein of Dairy Farmers of America and Mikaela Hefferman of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; the clerk also listed opposition or non‑speaking filings from the Michigan Manufacturers Association, Michigan Dairy Foods Association, Dairy Farmers of America (Scott Korn) and Michigan Milk Producers (Sheila Herkhart).

Committee members questioned witnesses about which forms of sale would be permitted on farms and asked staff to locate comparative safety and mortality data from states that allow retail raw‑milk sales. The committee did not take final action on these bills during the hearing; committee members requested additional information before further consideration.

The committee moved on to other bills after testimony concluded.