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Farmers Union delegates support a renewed push for MCOOL

Wisconsin Farmers Union delegates would like mandatory country of origin (MCOOL) labeling reinstated.

During their virtual conference last weekend, delegates including poultry producer Chris Holman said it is unbelievable that American producers can’t label their products as “Made in America” under current rules. “This is fundamental to production in America and at its core what you have are multinational conglomerates and others who are taking the ‘made in the U.S.’ name and monetizing it on their behalf and at our expense.”

Michael Slatery says the National Farmers Union won four federal lawsuits that supported country of origin labeling, but Canada, Mexico, and the EU took the U.S. to World Court where they won.  He says that was followed by tariffs which prompted Congress to back away from COOL.  Slatery says he wants the state to push National Farmers Union to keep fighting for truth in labeling. “This is depriving us of our rights for the produce that we are raising or growing on our farms, and the consumer also wants to know where their food is coming from.”

No Wisconsin delegates spoke against the resolution supporting mandatory country-of-origin labeling.  Delegates mailed in their policy votes, so the outcome of the debate won’t be known until February 9^th.