A spokesman for a farm share raw milk operation near Durham is preparing for a showdown today as the truck with the weekly delivery hits the road to Richmond Hill.
Raw Milk crusader Michael Schmidt and the 120 owners of Glencolton Farms were the subject of two recent Public Health raids.
The truck was raided by York Region Public Health last Tuesday, which was followed by a raid at the farm on Friday.
The truck arrives today at 4pm. at 901 Rutherford Road in Richmond Hill.
Canada allows farmers to consume their own products, but otherwise bans sales of unpasteurized milk due to health concerns
“The recent raids on our truck in Richmond Hill and on the farm itself are nothing more than harassment,” says farm owner Sonia Vinnik. “As owners of the farm, we would welcome the opportunity to have a constructive discussion with the government about how to ensure that the standards we practice and maintain on our farm can be duplicated elsewhere. However, attacking us, with search warrants hoisted proudly aloft, is nothing but bullying and we will not be bullied.”
Michael Schmidt added, “In America a report came out that said this last raid on Friday was the first time that members of a farm were able to defeat a government agency. There are messages of support coming in from people around the world, from Africa, Asia, Europe…. All eyes are on Ontario right now to see how the government reacts, because people recognize that government has no right to get between a mother and the food she decides to provide for her child.”