SB234 was reheard in Senate Judiciary

On Friday, March 1, SB234 was reheard in Senate Judiciary. On Wednesday, we had been told that it would not be heard as the committee hearings would end at 6 pm. So, we left. Later, after the Chair, Sen. Richard Martinez, and other Democrats had left, Sen. Joseph Cervantes had the bill heard and it passed. We complained, especially since this bill directly impacts Sen. Cervantes. His brother is the President of the NM Chile Association.

On Friday, the bill passed as three Democratic senators were not in the room to vote. It now goes to the Senate Floor. The vote was Democrats (2 - Wirth, McSorley) against the Republicans (4 - Torraco, Payne, Griggs, Ryan)and Sen. Cervantes (D).

An amendment presented on Friday was for restaurants (SB234):

1. On page 3, strike line 2 through 5 in their entirety and
insert in lieu thereof

"C. The prohibitions in this section do not apply to a restaurant that
describes a menu item using a geographic name provided for in Paragraph (2)of Subsection A of this section; provided that the origin of any chile in the menu is not misrepresented."

Meanwhile, the House version will now go to Senate Conservation.

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At the hearing Gene Baca of Bueno Foods presented. He had a bag of red chile pods that said "New Mexico Chile" and it was labeled "Hecho en Mexico." They considered this a violation because the company used the term "New Mexico Chile."

We then pointed out that under FDA guidelines it was correct. "NM" is
the cultivar and it did not say it was from NM, it clearly states "Hecho en Mexico." He shook his head in agreement.

We the pointed out that the argument companies had used against
the GMO labeling bill was that they would have to create a new
label for NM. And now, the NM Chile Association is asking for exactly the same thing.

Special thanks for Sen. Wirth (505-986-4861) and Sen. McSorley (505-986-4389) Please call their offices and thank them for their support. Also, thanks to the woman who spoke at the end, Food and Water Watch and NM Conservation Voters for their ongoing support. And to everyone who has attended hearings, waited and waited, and everyone who continues to call.

Updates HB238 will be heard next week in Senate Conservation

House Bill 238 has passed the house floor it will be heard next week in Senate Conservation. Please start calling the senators(info below) check back Sunday for updates.

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• Register with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA).
• Have a verification form follow every sale you make.
• Gives the NMDA authority to enter your  “store, market or other business or place”      to inspect and audit records related to chile.

Updates - SB234 Passed

Last night(Wednesday 27, Feb 2013) we were told  that Senate Bill 234 would not be heard and after we left with Senator Cervantes as vice-chair the bill was heard and passed.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

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Protect our Chile Farms from More Government Oversight!

Say NO to SB234!

SB 234 (Expanding Violations of the NM Chile Advertising Act – Sen. George Munoz)

will be heard in Senate Conservation tomorrow, February 12^th

                At 2:30 in Room 311 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.

Click on Introduced at this website for a copy of the bill:  http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/_session.aspx?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=%20234&year=13

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This is a bill for the New Mexico Chile Industry, written by the NM Chile Association, and NOT for New Mexico family farmers.

This law requires if you “advertise, describe, label or offer for sale chile peppers using the name of any geographic area or feature in New Mexico,”

You have to do the following:

1. oRegister with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA).
2. oHave a verification form follow every sale you make.
3. oIt also gives the NMDA authority to enter“store, market or other business or place” to inspect and audit records related to chile.

This is more big government over our farming activities,

especially our small farmers!

Line up and demand the legislators listen to us!  (Please be polite)

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Call, email, and pack the room. 

Senate Conservation - Rm 311 at 2:30, Tomorrow Feb 11^th

Say NO to HB238 - Next Hearing - Wednesday, February 20th

 Say NO to HB238 !   (Chile Advertising Act Violations - Rep. R. Martinez - D)  
HB238 will be heard in House Judiciary ----- Wednesday, February 20th.
At 1:30 in Room 309 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe*.

HB238  is unneeded, burdensome, and unfair regulation.

This is more regulation over farming activities, especially small farmers!

The bill is for the New Mexico Chile Industry, written by the NM Chile Association, and NOT for NM family farmers. It impacts everyone growing any kind of chile peppers (all capsicum annum).   It does the following:

• Prohibits you from calling your chile by its name, such as Isleta, Chimayo, Dixon, Rio Grande, etc. UNLESS you register with the NM Department of Agriculture.
• Allows for NM Dept of Agriculture authority to come to your property to inspect and audit records, if someone reports you to the “Chile Police”
• Allows for contamination. Products labeled as “New Mexico Chile,” can contain up to 5% of non-NM Chile.
• Your name and farm location is posted on a public website
• A verification form must follow every sale you make.

* Hearing is scheduled for 1:30 or 30 minutes after Floor Session ends. Exact time is always unknown. The Roundhouse is located at the Corner of Old Santa Fe Trail and Paseo de Peralta.

The date may change. Please check the following for changes:

• www.savenmseeds.org
• FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-New-Mexico-Seeds/187194457966445?v=wall)