Mark Nolt, a raw milk farmer in New Line, Pennsylvania was accused by the Pennsylvania Health Department last May of having sold tainted milk, alleged to have caused illness in three families and one child. The Department has yet to produce a single piece of evidence backing their claim. They have been trying, unsuccessfully, to shut Mark down and last Saturday committed a multi-jurisdictional raid on his property, taking milk, milk products, and equipment worth $25,000 and taking Mark’s customer lists as well. This Saturday, August 25, at 11:00, Mark’s many customers and supporters are holding a “Produce-the-Evidence” protest rally at Mark’s Farm. Please attend if you possibly can.
Mark will not comply with Pennsylvania’s unjust demands or respond to unproven accusations. Please keep him in your prayers.
WHERE: Mark Nolt’s farm, New Line, Pennsylvania
TIME: 11:00 a.m.
WHEN: Saturday, August 25
ADDRESS: 401 Centerville Road, Newville, Pennsylvania 17421
DIRECTIONS: From I-81, take exit 37. Go north on 233 for 2.5 miles. Turn right at the “Tractors for Sale” sign (if you reach the large elementary school on 233 you’ve gone too far). Go down the lane past the first set of buildings (equipment) to the farm.
MARK’S PHONE NUMBER: (717) 776-3417
WHAT TO BRING: signs and posters relevant to the theme, your favorite raw milk product or dish to share, utensils and plate for yourself, lawn chairs if you like, and friends. Remember that each will need to pack out any trash they create.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Before Saturday: Please spread the word about this event and bring as many friends as you can.
On Saturday:
Share a testimonial
Distribute literature
Direct parking
Please RSVP by email or phone (717-536-3618) as soon as possible with how you can help.
History of Mark Nolt’s Case
After holding a raw milk permit for a number of years, in August of 2006 Mark
terminated this contract and gave notice to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In October of 2006, a new Food Safety Director for the commonwealth came to office (after working for twenty years for Hershey Foods and five years at Dean Foods).
In December, this director made a personal visit to Mark’s farm. In May 2007, Mark was taken to court for selling raw milk without a permit, which he had understood to be voluntary and irrelevant because his business is founded upon private contracts with customers. He filed for an appeal, but before action was taken, three separate undercover agents from the Department of Health purchased milk on three separate occasions from Mark. (We wonder whether they drank it.) He was fined $1000 for each sale.
In June an injunction was brought against him to cease his sales of raw milk because the Pennsylvania Department of Health claimed that three households experienced illness as a result of consuming his milk. The Department has never substantiated this claim. Though he tried to remove his case to a different jurisdiction, his removal request was ignored and on August 10, agents raided his farm and confiscated $25,000 of equipment and milk products. Authorities have told him that he must sign a permit or be arrested. The Carlisle Sentinel misrepresented this raid and confiscation as a “visit” and “investigation.” The loss of $25,000 in product and equipment and a possible prison term would be devastating to Mark, Maryann and their ten children. Should this be the result of a farmer’s attempt to make an honest living selling wholesome food?
Please read the following article for his explanation of why selling wholesome local
farm goods directly to consumers is a right that should be independent of state
oversight and interference.
http://www.thecompletepatient.com/journal/2007/8/11/civil-disobedience-in-pennsylvania-tyrants-will-rule-if-no-o.html
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