Stop Cutting the Cheese, NY Tells Farmers' Markets

[Purveyor]

New York State's Department of Agriculture and Markets has begun enforcing a regulation that effectively prohibits cheese vendors at farmers' markets like New York City's popular Greenmarket from custom-slicing their products for customers, reports Manhattan news site DNAinfo.com.

Under rules now being enforced by the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets, farmers are no longer allowed to slice and wrap their cheese wheels at markets in New York unless they have a license to process food. They can only get that license if they have, for instance, a three-basin sink and hot water heater.

<...>
Cheese vendors say that the state will kill off their success at local greenmarkets by subjecting them to similar rules as delis or grocery stores — since it's impossible to get access to the same running water in their temporary stands as delis do at a store.

But even if market cheesemongers can't slice to order, at least customers there can still sample a cheese before they decide how much they want to buy. Oh, well, not really that either.

MORE...

http://reason.com/blog/2011/06/27/stop-cutting-the-cheese-ny-tel

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. This is certainly at the behest of the big supermarket chains

It's in nobody else's interest, and the proprietorship delis don't have sufficient political clout to effect such a change.

[marmar]

25. Exactly what I was thinking.

nt

[cali]

31. seems a bit unlikely. Most of the cheeses we're talking about

are artisan cheeses from very small producers that aren't sold in supermarkets.

[alcibiades_mystery]

34. But if you buy them at the farmers market

You don't buy the imported cheeses in the supermarket. I'd bet dollars to donoughts that the Wegman's folks are all over this; the Wegman's model of the jazzed up cheese and deli section is the newish profit model for the big supermarkets.

[brooklynite]

2. Once it's sliced, it's also taxable...

...under the provisions of the "Bagel Tax"

[SDuderstadt]

3. Why do you keep posting things from...

RW sources here?

[Purveyor]

15. It's a fucking article on 'cheese' for christ's sake. I liked the headline and have no idea

as to Reason.com's political ideology nor, in this instance, do I care.

Now, go back to playing forum 'nanny' and find something 'serious' this time...

:smoke:

[SDuderstadt]

16. It's an article about...

regulation. It positions regulation as silly.

Did you notice that?

P.S. See post # 10.

[KittyWampus]

18. State regulations that don't distinguish between large corporations and smaller local businesses are

often onerous and flat out stupid.

My family has a 50+ year old business who has to meet the same fire and health regulations as large, multinational corporations.

I have first hand knowledge of how fucking stupid it is to hold smaller businesses to the same standards.

[SDuderstadt]

19. It's a Koch Brothers-sponsored...

libertarian blog.

[KittyWampus]

21. Here's the story in the NYDaily News. Law's been on books since 70's but just recently enforced

The Greenmarket organizers originally encouraged cheese vendors to cut cheese to order. Customers prefer it. If they're caught now, they'll get fines $600.


http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/06/27/2011-06-27_city_greenmarket_vendors_banned_from_cutting_the_cheese_outside.html

[SDuderstadt]

22. Which is....

left? Liberal? Progressive?

[KittyWampus]

23. Just another source for same info.

[SDuderstadt]

24. So, why do you think Reason/NY Daily News was running it?

Could it be just another salvo in the Koch Brothers anti-regulation push?

[KittyWampus]

28. No, I think this is a local story about over zealous state regulators fucking with small business

possibly at the behest of large corporations who don't want the little guy getting any business.

[SDuderstadt]

32. I don't agree...

sorry.

[Purveyor]

27. Many sources for the same info but shhhh....I bet they are controlled by koch's too! See search...

results via Google News.

http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&cf=all&cf=all&ncl=d0D6BHWB0ADMx5MTbIQj48orxB9hM

[SDuderstadt]

33. Except the one YOU cited IS...

from the Koch brothers.

[Purveyor]

35. OMFG...Get over it already! {{{laughing}}} eom

[SDuderstadt]

36. 2nd time you have...

done it.

[krabigirl]

42. So therefore, nothing in there is of value to read. Lol.

[marmar]

26. Sometimes a silly law created at the behest of corporations is.....

...... just a silly law created at the behest of corporations, regardless of the source of reportage.

This reeks of the supermarket industry pressuring lawmakers, to whom they donate lots of money, to railroad any competition.

[KittyWampus]

29. Well, I want corporate supermarket chains to wash their utensils properly when cutting cheese-

but when it comes to small family farms selling at local farmers markets- there should be allowances or an alternative method. How about a bucket of bleach and a basin for wiping in between cuts?

[JVS]

37. It's a fucking article by libertarians who don't like sanitary food regulations

[SDuderstadt]

38. Exactly....

I don't know why this kind of stuff keeps getting posted.

[krabigirl]

40. Reason is not a right wing site.

[NeedleCast]

4. Could they still slice at their facilities and bring to market?

Seems to be the most common thing done at the green/farmers markets in DC/Baltimore.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Done in supermarkets, too...

but, I suspect the cheesemongers (and bacon and sausage sellers amongst others...) would object to having their production "facilities" inspected, too.

It is, in a way, nice to have those big wheels out there being carved up, even with the flies landing on them, but why do we call for tighter inspections on agribusiness while letting the little guy slide as if he can do no wrong or carry no disease?

[KittyWampus]

30. Because the "little guy" doesn't get the huge price discounts or subsidies large corporations do.

And small local businesses are much more likely to be aware of their reputations and the need to maintain it.

As a small business owner, I resent being forced to comply with the same standards as large multinational corporations who have very deep pockets and can afford each new wave of regulations.

[TreasonousBastard]

39. I understand that some of the regulations become silly, and...

agribusiness has some problems specific to its largeness, but are you suggesting that health regulations be waived just because "little guys" can't afford it?

FWIW, I spent years as a vendor to restaurants in NJ, with customers ranging from KFC, IHOP and Friendlys to local
diners, and the worst kitchens were "little guys." Those big, bad guys had corporate standards, and woe be unto you if your place was a pigsty or you bought undergrade food. The only oversight the little guys had was the health dept., and considering the things I saw, that wasn't working at all. One restaurant finally got closed down when a local politician got sick there and another called me when the kitchen printer was jammed-- the problem was that it was clogged with roaches. I was in kitchens where the stench made me gag.

Yes, many little guys are jealous of their reputations, and that's great if you're one of them, but far from all of them care.

[JDPriestly]

6. I remember cheese vendors in France. A few were on the streets.

I'm wondering whether maybe the cheese vendors could form a cooperative and then the Farmer's Markets could have a central area for the cheese vendors that provided access a three-basin sink and a hot-water heater. There should be some way to design a portable sink, clean water source and water heater. A solar water/batter-run heater might work.

There used to be a fresh popcorn stand at our Farmer's Market. Obviously, the popcorn stand had to have a generator to heat the popcorn popper machinery.

I used to table near that popcorn stand. The generator could be loud at times, so I know that it is possible to set up those things in a Farmer's Market.

Good luck to the cheese vendors. Do I love cheese?

One of my happiest memories is living above a cheese shop in Paris.

Talk about Paradise.

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. "blessed are the cheesemakers!"

Cheers!

[joeybee12]

8. Why am I the only one who got the reference in the headline?

Is that phrase passe?

[CBGLuthier]

11. I got the reference but I take matters of cheese seriously

[Ignis]

12. Jeez, don't make a lot of wind about it.

It's just a bunch of hot air, anyway.

[A Simple Game]

14. If it's just a bunch of hot air, quit making a stink about it! n/t

[WatsonT]

9. Well at least we're all finally safe from this menace

[Dappleganger]

10. Since when are Koch-sponsored libertarian blogs used on DU?

[KittyWampus]

20. Here's the Daily News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/06/27/2011-06-27_city_greenmarket_vendors_banned_from_cutting_the_cheese_outside.html

[BeyondGeography]

13. Totally absurd

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. That is one way to kill the market

I got only ONE cheese monger... and her cheese portions are small and pre wrapped, but still

[krabigirl]

41. Pretty damn sad. I suppose one will need a permit to leave his or her home one day.