Category: Announcements

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Farm Update

This is the part of the season where farmers are planting, weeding, and harvesting as well as planning for the next season. Last week, the harvest rotation was cucumbers, snow peas, snap peas, raspberries and zucchini. This week, we have the same harvesting schedule, but less of some and more of others. Raspberries will taper off, with peas, cucumbers and zucchinis kicking in to high gear. We will also be harvesting red leaf lettuce and kohlrabi and a few bunches of chives and sunflowers. Once the harvesting is finished, we have weeding, and lots of it.

Now we are adding irrigation. Irrigation—some farmers lovingly refer to it as “irritation” J. No water, no crops, no food—funny how that works. Fortunately, our soil has a good water-holding capacity, so we get by with a lot less “irritation” than most folks.

Wedding

Our second son, Aaron, has found the love of his life and asked her to be his wife. We are delighted to add Emily to our family and host their wedding in late August on the farm.

The wedding date has precipitated a change in our annual farm festival, which has traditionally been the third weekend in August. As parents and hosts of our son’s wedding, we have decided to change the festival to a series of educational farm walks and events.

So, in lieu of our annual farm festival, we are hosting two farm tours, a fun run (tentative), our squash fest and a garlic planting day. We are excited to share our love of farming and our farm with each of you through these fun, interactive and informative farm days. Each of the listed events are free to our customers, except the Harvest 5k Fun Run. If your school group, church group, book club, etc. would like to come see the farm on a different day, give the office a call and we would love to schedule a farm tour.

Schedule of farm events:

Friday, August 1st, 7pm and 8pm, 1 hour farm tour with wagon ride through the farm.

Thursday August 28th, 7pm and 8pm, 1 hour farm tour with wagon ride through the farm.

September 27th Harvest 5k Fun Run, supporting the Port Susan Food and Farming Center.

September 27th (same day as the Harvest 5k Fun Run) noon to 5pm. Come and help farmer Tristan harvest winter squash and potatoes.

October 12th Garlic Planting, 9am to noon. It will be a clove-popping, garlic-planting party.

See you this summer,

 

tristan-sign

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What Are You Wearing?

laundry soap_cedar & lemongrass

Handmade La Conner Laundry Soaps

Now that you’re on the road to better health by eliminating toxins that go into your body, what about the toxins you’re putting on your body?

Laundry detergents usually contain chemicals that are dangerous to the health and irritating to the skin. A residue of these chemicals remains on clothing after it is washed that then transfers to your skin. Clear evidence of this can be found in scented products, because chemical fragrances would be useless if they were simply washed out. Chemical fragrances are especially bad and are known for aggravating asthma. Laundry product manufacturers sometimes add formaldehyde to their formulas. Formaldehyde is carcinogenic, a skin irritant, and a respiratory poison.

We’ve recently come across a natural laundry soap crafted locally by Handmade La Conner that we are really excited to share with you. These ultra-concentrated laundry soaps are handmade in small batches, absolutely never using fillers, parabens, phosphates, chlorine, artificial colors or fragrances, making them ideal for those who have sensitive skin. They are safe for both septic systems and high-efficiency washing machines.

We are making this laundry soap available to you in these refreshing options: cedar & lemongrass, lavender, sweet orange, spicy citrus, as well as unscented (fragrance comes from pure organic essential oils). Each 16-ounce jar of this powdered soap will wash up to 64 loads of laundry in a high-efficiency washing machine. Order some today and take your detoxing efforts to the next level.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out the natural, skin-loving, earth-friendly soaps and lotions handcrafted by EcoSations available on our website.

 

Septic Cents™

Septic Cents™ is a liquid enzyme product that stimulates broad ranges of desirable microbe populations commonly found in septic tanks to ensure optimum performance from your septic system.

Benefits of Septic Cents™:

  • Reduces and liquefies contents of your septic tank and drainfield.
  • Reduces build-up of solid organic waste and allows it to flow freely through the leach bed.
  • Improves percolation and absorp-tion many times over, even in clay.
  • Helps eliminate messy back-ups.
  • Cleans and maintains drainfields, septic tanks, cesspools, pipes, and grease traps.

Visit the products page of our website for more information.

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Oso Mudslide Relief Efforts

My family is from the Oso community. My cousins have been among the many volunteers on the ground doing an amazing work. Being “locals,” their understanding of the area has been absolutely critical to the relief efforts. Their knowledge of the location and usability of back roads, the location of heavy equipment and where to find local resources, like gravel, is invaluable. I have cheered them on and checked in every day. I have listened to the stories and hardships—it is heart-wrenching.

 

The news is doing a good job of not over-sensationalizing this event because it really is as bad, and might be even worse, than reported. I have worked on many disaster sites and led a few teams, but I have never seen devastation like this before. The loss of life and the magnitude of the slide and its location have created a very challenging rescue and recovery operation.

 

I am heartened by the efforts of the Oso, Arlington and Darrington communities and the work of Snohomish County, the State and the Federal response teams. We are at the point where large sums of money are being donated and used to stabilize the situation and lots of government agencies and large non-profits are in full support mode and using their expertise to help these communities. Although this outpouring of giving and help is incredible, from my past experience during and after disaster responses, it usually wanes fairly quickly, but the physical, emotional and financial impact will continue for those rebuilding their lives. It is a part of human nature to rally our efforts at a time like this, but these efforts are hard to sustain long-term.

 

So here is what I am proposing:

 

The Klesick Family Farm would like to engage in the disaster relief for the long haul. I have budgeted $1,000/month to help put families back on the ground. We will be working with local community churches that are nimble and able to quickly get resources to the impacted families.

 

Like us, many of you have already donated –thank you. However, I would ask you to consider partnering with us for the long haul and setting up a recurring tax-deductible donation on your account. Imagine if half of our customers added an extra $1 per delivery—we could raise $3,500 per month to extend hope to our neighbors in Oso and Darrington.

 

How to Help the Oso & Darrington Communities

 

  • Give through Klesick Family Farm: Give your charitable contribution through Klesick Family Farm and we will get it into the hands of the locals. You can either make a one-time donation or add the donation as a recurring item to your regular produce delivery. Recurring donations will be scheduled to terminate at the end of June or sooner if you’d prefer. 100% of donations will go local community churches and other non-profit organizations to directly help families who have been most impacted. Donations are tax-deductible. Donors will receive a tax statement at the end of the year. Please visit our website to donate. 
  • Red Cross of Snohomish County: If you wish to help victims of the Oso mudslide, cash donations are preferred. The American Red Cross is no longer collecting items. Go to the Red Cross of Snohomish County at www.redcross.org/snoco to donate. People can also text “RedCross” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
  • Darrington Community Center: The Darrington Community Center welcomes any donations brought into the center, which is located at 570 Sauk Ave. 360-436-1217.
  • Check with your local bank, as many have set up accounts to donate toward the relief effort.

 

Thank you for your generous outpouring.

 

tristan-sign

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I am your ingredients farmer

20110204-FAT SICK and NEARLY DEAD

After watching the DVD Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, I went to the “Extras” section and watched a few of the deleted scenes. There were some great farm interviews that didn’t make the cut and also a section on “How to Shop” from Harvard Nutritionist, Stacy Kennedy. 

One of the most memorable or significant messages she was driving home was to buy ingredients when you shop, not food. Now, most everything at the grocery store is technically food. However, what Stacy would call food is that which comes in a box or jar, whereas ingredients would be those things which are unprocessed or unpackaged. So, her emphasis was to just buy ingredients. For the last 15 years, we, at Klesick Family Farm, have been supplying families with ingredients—ultra fresh and organically grown ingredients. 

Another observation was that our shopping should not be in the middle of the grocery store. That makes sense. After all, that is where all the sugary drinks, the sugary cereals and the processed other foods are merchandised. Most ingredients are located on the perimeter where you find the produce, meat, and deli departments. 

One additional suggestion I would have would be to bring a shopping list to the grocery store and stick to it. Those end cap displays are there for a reason—because the stuff being merchandised there sells really well. But, if those items are not on your list, keep moving. Shopping at the grocery store can be like going to war with yourself. Most of the products being offered are not healthy or processed and it can take an incredible amount of will power to come through the checkout without extra stuff. Of course, if you shop at one of the natural food stores, the potential for damage is less, but those places sell a lot food too.

Ironically, because you receive a “box of good” you actually save money on your food bill, because you don’t have to fight with your will power at the grocery store as often. You are also getting a lot of great ingredients to keep you and your family healthy, conveniently delivered right to your door.

As a company, 95% of our sales are ingredients and all of those ingredients come from farms committed to raising food that respects the earth, the farm workers and the consumer. Which means every time you get your “box of good” two messages are sent: one to your body that you care about it and the other to the good food community saying, “Keep it up!”

Let’s keep working together to improve your health and the health of the world–one bite at a time.

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Juice Revolution!

A simple 3-day juice cleanse – a time to detox and reboot your body!

While we don’t recommend replacing your meals long-term with juices, a short stint of juicing can really make for a fresh start or a reboot when you’re feeling sluggish or bloated. Post-cleanse, we like to supplement a healthy diet with fresh juice, simply because it’s so refreshing! When you are done with the 3-day Juice Revolution cleanse, you’ll want to go directly to eating clean, fresh, whole foods for the next couple of days. Plan to follow up your cleanse with plenty of rejuvenating soups, salads, and fresh fruit (smoothies are great for this part). A juice cleanse can be a fantastic way to kick food cravings. 

You will need:

• A juicer

• Lots of organic fruits & veggies

• A positive  attitude

Get Started:

• Order your Juice Cleanse Box and included recipe plan here!

Reboot your health with this incredibly beneficial juice cleanse!

1. Feel better: Fresh juice is brimming with live enzymes, antioxidants, and vitamins! This is the stuff that nourishes your body, encourages cell renewal, and promotes energy and vitality. During fasting, the body burns up and excretes huge amounts of accumulated wastes and toxins. Once these have been disposed of, you will feel refreshed and renewed.

2. Get more vitamins: Juicing unleashes the vitamins present in whole, raw fruits and vegetables. A high-speed juicer breaks down the cell membrane walls of the plants, allowing your body to quickly absorb more vitamins and nutrients. Juicing gives you a quick hit of vitamins from the best source on earth: plants.

3. Get more veggies: You and every health expert in the world agree that you need your veggies. But, do you really eat enough? And, what about the really healthy stuff like dark leafy greens or beets? Juicing is an easy (and tasty) way to incorporate a variety of low-calorie, nutrient-dense vegetables into your daily routine.

4. Look better: Your skin will look and feel hydrated and you will likely even lose a few  pounds.

* A juice cleanse is not for everyone. Consult your doctor to be sure a juice cleanse is right for you.*

Check out what’s in our Juice Cleanse box here.

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News worth sharing: KFF Holiday Specials

We have great news worth sharing! Share them on your facebook wall and your name will be entered for a chance to win a signed copy of Tamara Murphy’s new cooking book: TENDER. (http://shinshinchez.com/tamara-murphy-tender)

This raffle will be a series of posts from now until December 15th. Every time you share a KFF post, your name will be entered on the raffle and the more chances you have to win.

NEWS WORTH SHARING: KFF HOLIDAY SPECIALS

This is a time of year when get surrounded by friends and family. We catch up on each others lives and we show them how much we love them! Because we appreciate you (and therefore your friends and family) we have a special promotion to show your friends how much YOU appreciate them.

– FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS*: For the month of December, not only will you receive the standard thank you gift for your referrals, we will take $15 OFF your next order when your referrals become new customers.
– FOR NEW CUSTOMERS**: Order two boxes and get the third one FREE plus a welcome gift from us.
– FOR RETURNING CUSTOMERS**: If your account has been inactive for the past 6 months or more, order two boxes and get the third one FREE …frankly, we have missed you!

Thank you for participating!
Restrictions:
*Not redeemable for cash.
**Buy 2, get 3rd box of equal or lesser value FREE.
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Labor Day Holiday Delivery Schedule

Our office will be closed September 5th in observance of Labor Day. Because of this closure, our deliveries for that week are scheduled as follows:

For delivery Wednesday:

Tuesday customers and Wednesday customers in Monroe and Anacortes.

For delivery Thursday:

Thursday customers, except south Marysville (south of 100th St NE) and remaining Wednesday customers.

For delivery Friday:

Friday customers and Thursday customers in south Marysville (south of 100th St NE).

If you are planning on being away during the holiday week, please inform us if you will need to skip your delivery or, better yet, consider having us deliver your Box of Good to a local food bank through our Neighbor Helping Neighbor Program.

Have a happy Labor Day!

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Old-Fashioned Farm Celebration! August 20, 2011

You are invited to come out to Klesick Family Farm for our annual old-fashioned farm celebration this Saturday! A fun and wholesome event for the entire family! Free admission!


Meet the people behind your “Box of Good” and celebrate the season with us. We will enjoy a fun-filled day with live music, wagon rides, a pioneer play area, face painting, tug-o-war, a balloon toss, a gunny sack race, a pie-eating contest, volleyball, wiffle ball, raffle prizes, farm walks with Tristan, good food, an espresso stand, and a produce stand. Bring a kite to fly, as we’ll have the room. Please bring your own picnic blanket or chairs.

The weather is going to be great, so jump in the car and enjoy the drive to our little spot in the picturesque Stillaguamish River valley!

Saturday, August 20th

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

24101 Miller Rd

Stanwood, WA 98292

Schedule of Events

10:00     Let the Fun Begin!

10:30     Demonstration: Potato Digging

11:00     Raffle  –  Farm Walk: Orchard, Vegetable, Cover Crop

11:30     Raffle  –  Music: Ben Booher (at the Hay Maze)

12:00     Demonstration: Juicer & Dehydrator

12:30     Raffle  –  Games: Tug-o-War, Balloon Toss, Gunny Sack Race, Pie Eating Contest

1:15        Raffle  –  Music: Ryan Foxley (at the Hay Maze)

2:15        Raffle  –  Farm Walk: Vegetable, Permaculture, Cover Crop, Beef

2:45        Demonstration:  Making Hay & Potato Digging

3:30        Raffle  –  Music: Spencer Clem (at the Hay Maze)

4:00        Ciao!

Please call us if you have any questions: 360-652-4663

We look forward to seeing you!

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Refer Your Friends and Win!

This is the time of year when people are making lifestyle changes for good. We all start to focus on maintaining healthy eating, exercising and setting goals for ourselves to keep us healthy. However, there are so many others—friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers—who could benefit from the fresh variety of fruits and vegetables that you’ve been enjoying!  This season, we want to partner with you in the goal to share the good!

Many new customers join our team of faithful customers at this time every year, and many of those new customers are referrals from you! We are always excited when a new customer signs up and gets on board with “a box of good.” In appreciation, we send out a thank you gift to both the new customer and the existing customer that referred them to us. The gifts have been a fun way for you to sample some of our product offerings, and have included fresh roasted coffee, artisan sourdough bread, and select organic grocery items.

For the next couple months, we have decided to make it even more fun for you to share the good with your friends by having our second annual “Share the Good” contest! From now through the end of March, not only will you receive the standard thank you gift for each new customer you refer, but for every two referrals, your name will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win a special prize! (Prizes and drawing dates are listed in the insert on the right.) So, refer four friends and your name will be entered into the drawing two times, six friends and it’ll be entered three times.

Our first drawing will recognize referrals from January through February. The second drawing will be for March referrals. The final grand prize drawing will include referrals from January through March. Winners will be notified immediately after the drawing.

We are excited about making your referrals more rewarding! So spread the word and share the good!

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“Share the Good” Contest!

This is the time of year when people are making lifestyle changes for good. We all start to focus on maintaining healthy eating, exercising and setting goals for ourselves to keep us healthy. However, there are so many others—friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers—who could benefit from the fresh variety of fruits and vegetables that you’ve been enjoying!  This season, we want to partner with you in the goal to share the good!

Many new customers join our team of faithful customers at this time every year, and many of those new customers are referrals from you! We are always excited when a new customer signs up and gets on board with “a box of good.” In appreciation, we send out a thank you gift to both the new customer and the existing customer that referred them to us. The gifts have been a fun way for you to sample some of our product offerings, and have included fresh roasted coffee, artisan sourdough bread, and select organic grocery items.

For the next couple months, we have decided to make it even more fun for you to share the good with your friends by having our second annual “Share the Good” contest! From now through the month of March, not only will you receive the standard thank you gift for your referrals, but for every two people you refer, your name will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win a special prize! (Prizes and drawing dates are listed in the insert on the right.) So, refer four friends and your name will be entered into the drawing twice, six friends and it’ll be entered three times.

Our first drawing will recognize referrals that customers have already been sending our way throughout this month. The second drawing will include all referrals from January and February. The final grand prize drawing will include all referrals from January through March. Winners will be notified immediately after the drawing.

We are excited about making your referrals more rewarding! So spread the word and share the good!

.

Share the Good Prizes!

— For referrals the month of January

First prize drawing on January 28

Delicious Organic Pie:

Baked fresh by Scandia Bakery

— For referrals January-February

Second prize drawing on February 25

Organic Breakfast Box:

Real Maple Syrup

Fresh Eggs

Bilberry Nectar

Artisan Chuckanut Bread

Blueberry Lemon Fruit Spread

Coffee or Teeccino Herbal Coffee

— For referrals January-March

Grand prize drawing on April 1

Organic Snack Box:

Roasted Valencia Peanuts

Pistachios

Whole Wheat Crackers

Spiced Pepitas

Fruit & Nut Trail Mix

Cashew Almond Prana Bar

Apricot & Goji Prana Bar

Nutiva Hemp & Chocolate Bar

Theo Cherry Almond Chocolate Bar

Theo Bread & Chocolate Bar

Theo Fig & Fennel Chocolate Bar

(gluten and nut allergy options available)

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Connecting the Past and the Future

Gray hair isn’t a sign of old age, it is a sign of credibility. This past month the Stanwood community lost one of its farmers. Franklin Hanson passed away at the ripe old age of 88. Our family has only known the Hanson family for eight years. Bernice, who passed on a few years ago, and Franklin adopted us when we first moved to the valley and with the help of their three boys have been a huge blessing to our family. We have learned so much by their direct impact on our family.

Sadly, in our society, the gray head is not held in as high of esteem as it should be. Because of this, many of us, especially the youth, are missing out on some incredible insight. The generation that is passing from this life to the next has weathered some amazing times and gained a lot of wisdom as a result. And if this insight were sought out, it would reveal some very relevant information to make life richer. As an organic farmer—or if you will, an old fashioned farmer—I am always gleaning information about how things were done before tractors, oil, and synthetic fertilizers. By just sitting and listening to the years of experience, my children and I have been able to learn some of the wisdom of the ages.

As I think about the stories of old that I have heard, I am in awe of how resilient Franklin’s generation really was. Living through the Great Depression, forsaking comfort and safety to liberate Europe and then having to adapt from outhouses to indoor plumbing, from letters to party lines to no lines, from admiring birds to flying like them, and from using your mind to using a computer. Truly Franklin’s generation has seen much, given much, and has a lot to give still.

Now Franklin is no longer with us (we still have his three boys) and I can no longer grip his hand and seek his wisdom. Have you ever noticed the strength of an old man’s hand shake? The strength is an extension their lives, a strength that reminds us that we can make it through incredibly hard situations as well. I will miss the opportunities I have had to ask a question and then sit back and just listen, absorbing, and taking mental notes as he shared.

I love the Stanwood community. It is the place that our family gets to carry on the farming way of life with a community of farmers that have been here for three, four, and five generations. I humbly submit that my life has been richer because of some of these farmers–the Franklin Hanson family.

Franklin, you and your family have been an untold blessing to the Klesick family and many others. Thank you for sharing your time and your rich heritage with all those you came in contact with. Good bye Franklin. You might have passed from this world to the next, but your life will live on in the hearts of many.

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Fun holiday decorating ideas w/KFF produce

Deck The Door

For a simple door decoration, hang a juicy red pomegranate from ribbon Create a hanging loop by pushing the ends of a short length of florist’s wire into the pomegranate. Thread red ribbon through the loop and tie in a bow at the top of the fruit. Photo & Idea from: http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/indoor-decorating/christmas-decor-with-fruit/

Fragrant Fruit Bowl

This festive display adds color as well as spicy citrus fragrance to your holiday home. To make your own, press cloves into Clementine’s or Satsumas and arrange them in a bowl of cranberries garnished with a few sprigs of rosemary. Photo & Idea from: http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/indoor-decorating/christmas-decor-with-fruit/?page=11

Cranberry Bouquet

Cut a bouquet of ivory poinsettias for a table centerpiece. Cranberries in the clear glass vase hold the stems in place. Mingle the blossoms with Christmas greens if you wish. For a longer-lasting arrangement, insert each stem into a water-filled floral pick before adding them to the vase. Idea & Photo from: http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/indoor-decorating/ways-to-decorate-with-poinsettias/?page=16

Pear Place Cards

For each place setting, choose an apple or a pear with a sturdy stem—if necessary, cut a slice off the bottom so it sits straight, or make a knife slit and insert the card into a pear placed on its side (shown). To make name tags, cut green (or color of choice) paper into a holiday shape, square or that of a leaf will be perfect, punch a hole at one end with a toothpick, and write each guest’s name or initials with a gold metallic marker. Tie the name tag to the stem with a gold string or ribbon. Idea from: http://www.pillsbury.com/cooking-occasions/holidays/holidays-and-christmas/holiday-table-decorations Photo from: http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/indoor-decorating/christmas-decor-with-fruit/?page=9

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What a Storm!

Like most of you, we really felt the house being buffeted by the wind.  Joelle and I have a date night with one child every Monday night. Last night on the way home it began to rain in earnest.  Once home Andrew went to feed the Labs and I went to feed the horses.  It was quite a thunder and lightning show and the horses were fairly unsettled with all the activity.  I am sure glad that I was feeding them on the other side of their stalls, because every time lightning flashed they would back up, turn around and head out the other side. Then they would calm down and come back in and start munching again.  After I had finished feeding them, it was about the time that the wind and rain came down in torrents. Naturally, I am nowhere near the house, where it is warm and dry!?!?!? Every gutter was overtopping and I said to myself, “I am going to get wet!” Just as I was beginning my dash to the house a huge gust of wind blew the main horse gate wide open.  EEEEK! Change of plans, secure the gate.

So now I am getting drenched, securing the gate and thanking the Lord that the gate blew open while I was still out there! I have chased lots of livestock in my farming career and I, thankfully, only have to imagine trying to find 3 scared, 1 ton, critters in the morning. They could have been hit by cars or cut themselves on a tractor implement or run through neighbors fence. But all that is purely conjecture because the horses were contentedly waiting for breakfast this morning.  Now we can head out to the fields and do some work.

Tristan

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A plea of for common sense to prevail.

Currently, there is a food safety bill working its way through Congress.  Apparently, Congress has decided to push this through before the change and balance of power is equalized in January.  Food safety is not a partisan issue, but if this bill passes, it will definitely discourage and make it almost impossible for small family farms to comply.

Please consider calling Senator Cantwell and Patty Murray’s offices and asking them to support the Testor Amendment excluding small farms for this legislation.

As supporters of local farmers this bill will make it harder  for small farms to stay in business and if the country needs anything it needs more farmers and lots of them dotting the landscape.

Let our Senators know know that you like supporting and eating food grown on small family farms.

Please email or call today! Thank you

Tristan

ACTION ALERT: Act by Nov. 17 on Senate Food Safety Legislation

November 13th, 2010

Call your Senators MONDAY or TUESDAY— Urge their support for the Tester Amendment
The Cornucopia Institute

It now appears that the Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) will be voted on in the Senate during the “lame-duck” session as early as Wednesday, Nov. 17.

This bill, as we have noted before, would impose extremely burdensome and unnecessary requirements on the thousands of small farmers and food processors who are producing safe, nutrient-dense foods for their local communities — in fact, it may force some of these producers out of business.

A key amendment sponsored by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) would exempt small farmers who direct market more than 50% of their products.

These famers must have gross sales (direct and non-direct combined) of less than $500,000, and sell to consumers, stores, or restaurants that are in-state or within 400 miles. This amendment is especially important for off-farm retail locations such as farmers markets and CSAs.

Please call your Senators today (most offices have voice mail where you can leave a message) and ask them to support the Tester Amendment on the Food Safety bill.

If you are a farmer this is important to protect your livelihood. If you are a consumer, where will you buy your safe and nutritious food if your local farmers are forced out of business?

It’s easy to call. Go to Congress.org and type in your zip code in the box in the upper right hand corner. Click on your Senator’s name, and then on the contact tab for their phone number. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard and ask to be directly connected to your Senator’s office: 202-224-3121. Once connected ask to speak to the legislative staff person responsible for agriculture. If they are unavailable leave a voice mail message. Be sure to include your name and phone number.
The message is simple:

“I am a constituent of Senator___________. I ask that he/she support the Tester Amendment to the food safety bill. The Tester Amendment will exempt the safest, small, owner-operator farms and food facilities and farmers who direct market their products to consumers, stores or restaurants. Food safety legislation should not create inappropriate and costly regulatory barriers to family farms and the growing healthy food movement in the drive to crack down on corporate bad actors. Please support the Tester Amendment and market opportunities for small and mid-sized family farms, and small food processing facilities.”

Thank you for your help and support for those producing some of the nation’s safest and most nutritious food!