FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 13, 2000 CONTACT: Chris Friesleben, (515) 271-2833 DRAKE LAW PROFESSOR'S BOOK HELPS FARMERS MARKET THEIR OWN PRODUCTS For many farmers and other small food producers who spend the winter months preparing for the next planting and growing season, getting their products directly to the consumer has become part of that planning process. In fact, the explosion in the number of farmers' markets and food cooperatives in the last several years indicates that both producers and consumers are looking for ways to shorten the chain that brings food to the marketplace. To help these entrepreneurs understand the legal aspects of such ventures, Neil Hamilton, a Drake University law professor and expert on agricultural issues, has published The Legal Guide For Direct Farm Marketing. The book offers straightforward advice and answers to the most common questions associated with marketing products. The concept of direct farm marketing is not new. The oldest method is the farm stand or roadside market where farmers - and often their children - sell fresh produce to passersby. Other enterprises include farmers' markets, pick-your-own operations, community supported agriculture (CSA), and direct sales to restaurants and stores. "By removing several layers of intermediaries such as wholesalers and processors, the parties can enjoy food that is usually fresher and better tasting," said Hamilton, himself a farmer. He and his wife, Khanh, garden on their 10-acre Sunstead Farm and raise fresh vegetables to sell to local restaurants. In breaking down the complexities of legal issues - advertising, contracts, organic certification, insurance and liability, getting paid for food stamps, to name just a few - Hamilton eliminates the intimidation factor of government regulations. The book's narrative is laced with specific examples of court cases, state laws, local regulations and marketing tips. Throughout the book, readers are referred to contacts and resources across the nation, such as state and federal inspectors, organizations, cooperative extension offices, farmers' market directors and small business programs. "Remember, the people who work for the government work for you," Hamilton tells marketers in the book's introduction. "It is their job to help you understand how the laws and regulations they administer might affect your operation." The book was funded by a grant from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and written as part of SARE's Professional Development Program. It is geared to farmers, ranchers, agricultural advisers and attorneys, but anyone interested in direct marketing can benefit from it. Hamilton has taught agricultural law for 18 years and is director of Drake Law School's Agricultural Resource Center. He has conducted seminars throughout the United States and in 18 other countries. He serves on the boards of the National Gardening Association, the Seed Savers Exchange and the Food Bank of Iowa. For the past three years, he has been a grant reviewer for USDA's Community Food program, and in 1998 he advised the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service on farmers' markets. The 235-page Legal Guide costs $20. To order, contact Drake University Agricultural Law Center, 2507 University Ave., Des Moines, Iowa, 50311; 515-271-2065. Volume discounts are available on orders of 20 or more.