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local stores in both Arcata and Eureka, and their McKinleyville store. He is also personally Yes, you read
working closely with many local food produc- committed to people having the freedom to that right,
ers, sent a letter to the board on December 16, choose their own foods. Posted on the windows
2016, specifically asking them to put the raw to his store, in large letters, is Hippocrates’ Humboldt
milk issue back on the agenda. It read in part, famous quote, “Let food be thy medicine and County, one
“On behalf of our more than 16,000 members medicine be thy food.” of the top
and 32,000 customers, we urge you to rescind Juan Gagne is a veteran in the natural
Title V, Division 1, Chapter 2, Section 512 of food scene in Humboldt, and in an interview, contenders

the Humboldt County Code and lift the ban on recounted some of the colorful local history. for the
the sale and production of certified raw milk Juan grew up in southern California where raw Cannabis
and certified raw milk products in Humboldt milk was readily available. He remembers being
County.” They later requested, “. . . we ask that really surprised to learn it was illegal in Hum- Capital of the
you place this issue on the board’s agenda the boldt when he first visited a friend in Humboldt World, forces
last week in January, 2018, or as soon after that more than forty years ago. He then revealed it their citizens
time frame as possible.” was “no big deal” back then because his friend’s
Given there are only about one hundred neighbor owned a cow and the son would deliver to consider
forty thousand people residing in the entire warm milk straight from the cow every morn- buying “black
county, the North Coast Co-op represents a ing. At this point in the interview, Juan paused market”
significant percentage of the total population. to joke, “Shhh. . . don’t tell anyone!” which of
The board took this action after discussing it course is another common joke in Humboldt due raw milk!
at several board meetings and sending out a to the various circulating stories of Humboldt
survey to their members in their May, 2016 County’s crackdown on “black market” raw
newsletter. The results of their member survey milk. But since this was forty years ago, Juan
were strongly in favor of wanting certified raw joked it was safe enough to let the secret out.
milk in Humboldt and right on par with frequent He added, “That’s just the way everyone had to
comments made by customers in both of their do it back then.”
stores. At least one person from the North Coast Yes, you read that right, Humboldt County,
Co-op will make public comment at the January one of the top contenders for the Cannabis Capi-
23, 2018 meeting. tal of the World, forces its citizens to consider
Humboldt is famous for its farmers mar- buying “black market” raw milk!
kets, with many out-of-town visitors saying Long story short, Juan ended up staying in
they’re the best farmers markets they’ve ever Humboldt and worked at the local Food Co-op
been to. According to staff and a member of in the early days. He then landed at Chautauqua
the Northcoast Growers Association, vendors at Natural Foods in Garberville where Peg An-
the local Humboldt farmers markets get asked derson, another beloved local legend, took him
“all the time” whether they have raw milk to under her wing and taught him everything she
sell or if they know someone else who sells it. knew about local and organic produce. Even-
Often, these customers are from out of town, or tually, Juan became the Perishables Manager
they are people who have moved into the area at ENF where he’s been for many years. Juan
recently, and are surprised to learn they can’t describes ENF’s philosophy in the following
legally buy raw milk in such a beautiful rural way, “Here at Eureka Natural Foods, we be-
county with so much dedication to local food lieve people should be able to make informed
and farmers markets. choices about the foods they eat and feed to
Rick Littlefield, the owner of Eureka Natu- their families. Any food can be dangerous if
ral Foods (ENF), another Humboldt favorite improperly handled. Also, some of the most
since 1944, appointed Juan Gagne as the “point dangerous foods, such as NutraSweet (aspar-
person” for the raw milk issue at ENF. Rick will tame) and high fructose corn syrup, are those
be making a public comment in strong support that are most widely available! A lot of these
of lifting the local raw milk ban on behalf of all are not actually foods at all but rather imitation
of his customers at both their Eureka store and food-like substances!”

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