What if you have no car, bus, or train to go to a supermarket ? What if your food stamps were cut. ? Snowed in? How will you feed your family? In the hills here you can ask the elders what the Great Depression was like, they had no jobs but they raised their own food and shared it with others, or bartered. There were no bread lines here. I know of No contamination recalls or illness from the country in my 25 years of the Farmers Markets here. Daily, corporate food is recalled after the damage is done. Who is proud of this? Farmers and backyard chicken, deer and milk operations put “Egg Money “ in working poor pockets. You think nothing of raising state and Country taxes, how many times can you sell the same tree? Selling food is more profitable to many then cutting down the forest with $1,00,000 of equipment. You can eat food imported from Mexico. We won’t. Stop you. Don’t stop us from getting superior products from Artisanal Growers. You are denying yourself.

Thank you, Nick Freitas, for submitting Bill HJ452. This bill is just common sense. I live in an agricultural community and have limited access to the kind of food I value. Certainly, this bill should be passed merely because it is logical to allow people looking for quality food to be able seek and find farmers that are willing to provide quality meat and other products.

Dear Delegates, Please co-sign onto HJ452, a constitutional amendment that declares the right to food choice. This is very important to all Virginians. There has been much said about adulterated foods, the breakdown of supply chains, and the lack of transparency in industrial manufacturing plants. I would like the option to purchase food from a source I know and trust. It is important to me because I want food integrity. It is important to the local economy as I would like my dollars to circulate within my community. Thank you, Danielle Rohlena

HJ 452, the constitutional Amendment, is important to me because I need to find and obtain special foods to meet my specific dietary needs. The Amendment would ensure that I will have the ability to obtain these special foods without Governmental interference. Also, part of my diet recommends that I should have locally grown food. This part of my "food search" helps the local economy and keeps small and local farmers in business while providing me with health-supportive, nutritious food, as long as I can access it freely! This amendment will not affect all the work done by Virginia to ensure food safety. It prevents problems where consenting adults, aware of the risks, choose to act.

Regarding HJ452: I believe adding a layer of constitutional protection of the right to food choice is necessary. An amendment guarantees the right to the people to acquire the foods of their choice by the power of the Virginia Constitution. This includes the right of due process should that right be infringed. Without an amended right, farmers will continue to bear the brunt of government control and burdensome regulations, and consumers will be without food choice.

Please 🙏 help Virginians to nourish their bodies using God given foods. For thousands of years people used raw milk and cheeses to nourish themselves and their families. Americans have so many chronic illnesses than our great grandmothers did not, and much of it is due to the foods we are subjected to by industry that are gmo, or poisoned with pesticides and herbicides or livestock that is kept in industrialized farms, standing in their own feces. Please allow Virginians the power to choose nourishing foods grown by small farmers, without being forced to drink dairy that is little more than pus and bleached blood with all of the enzymes killed by overheating. My children are only “ lactose intolerant” when the “lactose” is processed. Raw milk is what they thrive on. Thank-you for being like our forefathers, and granting us food freedom!

What if you have no car, bus, or train to go to a supermarket ? What if your food stamps were cut. ? Snowed in? How will you feed your family? In the hills here you can ask the elders what the Great Depression was like, they had no jobs but they raised their own food and shared it with others, or bartered. There were no bread lines here. I know of No contamination recalls or illness from the country in my 25 years of the Farmers Markets here. Daily, corporate food is recalled after the damage is done. Who is proud of this? Farmers and backyard chicken, deer and milk operations put “Egg Money “ in working poor pockets. You think nothing of raising state and Country taxes, how many times can you sell the same tree? Selling food is more profitable to many then cutting down the forest with $1,00,000 of equipment. You can eat food imported from Mexico. We won’t. Stop you. Don’t stop us from getting superior products from Artisanal Growers. You are denying yourself.

The ability to consume the food we want -- to have sovereignty over our own bodies and what fuels them -- is one of the most fundamental rights that exists. A bill like this shouldn't even be NECESSARY -- yet here we are. When you restrict what farmers are allowed to sell to us as consumers, you think you're "protecting" consumers, but really we consumers are the ones we're restricting. I don't need you to protect me from myself. We consumers need you to protect us from MISREPRESENTATION so we know we're buying what we think we're buying...but we don't need you to tell us we can't buy it. And it's telling that thousands of chemical cocktails created in labs to create food-like products are on the market, and yet we constantly find ourselves fighting against laws banning us from buying real, wholesome ordinary FOODS that people have been eating for millennia. That makes it difficult to believe all such laws aren't really just bids for money and control, with "concern" for the consumer as a convenient cover story to make it sound virtuous. This bill is such basic common sense that Virginia's founders would doubtless have already included it -- had they even been able to conceive of the possibility that we would be so stupid as to need it. If I don't even have the right to FEED myself as I see fit, the concept of liberty is a joke.

As a mom who has spent 25 years driving long distances (2:50 minutes a few months ago) to secure CLEAN food from trustworthy producers in my LOCAL area , I urge you -once for all-to protect the rights of the citizens of Virginia to access the food of their choice. The current regulations under the guise of safety keep food production in the hands of the few and put undue burden on small farmers and as a consequence burdens consumers making it extremely hard to find clean food. The cost and distance puts this food out of reach of the average citizen who then has no choice but to choose food from a grocery store grown under conventional means. This food grown on a large scale under all the government safety regulations is for the most part not clean or nourishing. The methods used do not support the health of the soil, the health of the animals or plants so it does not nourish humans. The decline in health over the last decades proves our food system needs an overhaul and this will come from competition not from the industry itself. This is a simple clear constitutional right to access food of our choice and unshackle the farmers who want to produce nourishing food on a small scale that will surpass any government regulation. It will make farming more appealing as a career choice which is critical considering the average age of farmers is 58. I can think of no down side to this amendment. People have safely chosen food for themselves for thousands of years without government intervention. It is beyond time to reverse this government overreach and allow the people to once again enjoy the freedom of unhindered access to the food of their choice, establishing food security in their community AND improving their family's health.

Food recalls are demonstrating that our industrial-style food production system cannot adequately insure safety. Frequently consumers are advised to throw away such items resulting in a financial loss. When we can buy our food from a neighbor at a farmers’ market, farm stand or at their back door, we not only get fresher items but have direct recourse should there be a problem. Additionally, we have knowledge about exactly how the food was produced by visiting the farm, asking questions of the farmer, and observing the display. I feel much more secure purchasing my family’s “victuals” this way than in a grocery. At present, purchasing this way is somewhat more expensive than at large grocers. However, the easier it is for farmers to grow and process food, the more people will want to do so ultimately increasing supply and bringing down cost. This amendment is a win for individuals on north ends of our food production and cuts out the cumbersome “middle men” who really are the only beneficiaries of our current industrial system.

Just as homeschoolers in VA are fighting for the freedom to choose what is right and best for our own children's education, we desire to have the freedom to choose what is best when it comes to food as well. The small, local farmer is being pushed out by big ag, and far too much government oversight and regulation. The hoops in which local farms must jump through just to offer quality, even organic, grass-fed, soy-free products, makes it near impossible for them to be profitable or provide adequately for their own. As a consumer, it is our right to be able to choose where we choose to purchase goods and services. Food should be a free market as well. I am FOR this bill. Please vote accordingly.

Imagine a place that declares itself the bastion of freedom, where basic decisions like the food you eat has been chosen for you. Picture the orderly layout of the chain store feeding troughs, the exciting labels of all these shelved permissions all competing for your attention. "Cage free", Organic", "Fresh", "Kid Approved", all begging for your dollar by the desire of corporate board rooms serving numbers and figures. Variety in the form of fructose corn syrup and/or soy, for every meal, every day. Imagine it being illegal for consenting adults to grow and raise food and exchange it among themselves in simple transaction. Where "agents" invade, harass, and terrorize its citizenry in the name of corporate enforcement. Imagine when those troughs run bare in pandemics, and crisis, the system unable to feed as promised. Imagine the agents coming out and throwing out your food because they didnt give you permission to buy it. The food security of community not there because the community has been restricted by the regulation of corporate food security. Imagine if we called that place Virginia... Sadly we don't have to imagine. Thats the road we have taken in Virginia these last 70 years. We have sacrificed the food security of community for the food security of global trade, and Im not so sure that one had to be at the cost of the other. As an American, and a Virginian, I shouldn't need permission to feed myself, let alone in a time of crisis. It was a total shame that Virginia's "agents" raided people in Farmville (Golden Valley Farms) and threw out their food for engaging in feeding themselves and others when store shelves were running bare during the pandemic. Surely the denial of our basic dignity and freedom cant be the cost to have a walmart in town? I support HJ452 because it cant be the cost. Lets be done with mitigating the unintended consequences of corporate regulation on individual freedom and dignity. We can have both, and if you give the people a choice by passing HJ452 off to the ballot, you will see that we will always prefer the dignity of freedom.

Wealthy people have access to fresh food. All Virginians should have the right to higher nutrition. The best food is pick the same day the meal is served. The very wealthy in Virginia have high nutrition fresh picked daily. The industry revolution in the USA was the beginning of epidemics of diseases. 1906 children in state orphanages in the South camed down with the 4 Ds, Pellagra. Dr.Goldberger figured out the cause. Children on farms did not get the disease. Every single 4 year old(all the children) in the orphanage suffered the 4 Ds. 1906 -1940. The government sending food to communities was the great mistake. Still toay, idustrialized food and government control is hurting the people of Virginia. 1900 to 2025 is too long of denying the majority of Virginians access to food excellence. Virginians are taking the initiative to support homesteading, farmers markets and buying local. Please support the best for all children. Please vote yes to improve and secure better health for all Virginians

I support HJ 452. We need this. It supports the local economy.

I am writing to express my strong support for HJ452, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia to establish a constitutional right to food choice. This resolution is a critical step in safeguarding the fundamental right of Virginians to access and choose the food they deem best for their families, free from unnecessary restrictions and interference. The right to food choice empowers individuals, small-scale farmers, and local food producers by protecting access to locally produced, sustainable, and diverse food options. It ensures that Virginians retain the freedom to decide where their food comes from, whether through farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, or their own backyard gardens. This amendment would also enhance food security and resilience by encouraging local food systems and reducing dependency on centralized food supply chains. In a time when the integrity of our food systems is increasingly scrutinized, it is vital to enshrine protections for individuals to make informed decisions about their food. This amendment would provide a necessary balance between food safety regulations and personal choice, ensuring that families and communities can thrive while respecting their autonomy. I urge the General Assembly to adopt HJ452 and demonstrate Virginia’s commitment to agricultural freedom, food sovereignty, and the well-being of its citizens. Thank you for considering this important measure.

HJ452 and the right to choose what I eat and where it comes from should be fully supported and protected.

House Joint Resolution 452, the right to food choice, is arguably one of the most important pieces of legislation you will consider during the 2025 General Assembly/Session. Passage of a Food Freedom amendment the the Commonwealth of Virginia's Constitution will return our state to a more resilient posture with respect to self-sufficiency and food security, improve food safety with better traceability for locally produced foods, and strengthen freedom of food choice. For consumers, the amendment restores the "right" of the citizens of Virginia to make their own choices about where they purchase food. In doing so, the result will be a resurgence in small producers that grow the healthiest food available while using practices that are both humane and restore health to the Commonwealth's soil. For producers, the amendment restores the "right" to raise and provide direct to consumer sales unlike the large industrial agricultural and food systems. It begins the process of breaking down the walls of onerous regulations that hinder the production of nutrient dense food and the means by which they get it to the consumer. Today, small producers have to navigate the same long and arduous path of regulations to compete in the food production space. This overregulation is causing our best and brightest producers to seek cover, move their products in violation of regulations or leave farming altogether. Lastly, Virginians are not alone in their fight for the right to food choice. In 2024, Virginia and other states considered and passed legislation reducing regulation and giving rights back to their citizens. AZ HB2042, IN HBill1106, IA HB2257, ME Right to Food Law Amendment, OK HB2975, VT HB603, VA HB759 and WV HB4911. The following were other pieces of legislation considered in 2024: AK HB251, CT SB296, LA HB467, MD “Cage Free” Bills, MS SB2507, MO HB1711, MO SB1318, NE Bills LB321, LB662, and LB117, NM HB162, NH HB1565, OK SBill1963, UT HB31 and HB281, WV HB5140 and WY SF103. (Note: This list is not all inclusive) At the Federal level, Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky is introducing a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution; “The right of the people to grow food and to purchase food from the source of their choice shall not be infringed and Congress shall make no law regulating the production and distribution of food products which do not cross state lines.” Passage of Massie’s proposed amendment could lead to significant decentralization of food production and distribution as well as deregulation of intrastate food commerce. And beyond the right to grow food and purchase food from the source of choice, the proposed amendment would overturn some of the worst decisions in U.S. Supreme Court history, including Wickard v. Filburn (1942) and substantially reducing Congress’ power to regulate food under the commerce clause. In conclusion, you as representatives of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia have a responsibility to pass House Joint Resolution 452. Passage of a Food Freedom amendment to our Constitution will return our state to a more resilient posture with respect to self-sufficiency and food security, improve food safety with better traceability for locally produced foods, and strengthen freedom of food choice. And equally important, passage of HJ452 represents a broader restoration of rights to all Americans. Thank you for considering my comments.

I fully support HJ452 and my right to source and buy my food from the seller of my choice without government over reach and their wicked agendas and intentions. There has been much said about contaminated foods, the breakdown of supply chains, and the lack of integrity and transparency in industrial manufacturing plants. Food integrity is important to me and my family. The protection of our right to purchase food from a source we know and trust is critically important. Supporting my local community and having my dollars circulate within my community should be my right to choose.

House Joint Resolution 452, the right to food choice, is arguably one of the most important pieces of legislation you will consider during the 2025 General Assembly/Session. Passage of a Food Freedom amendment the the Commonwealth of Virginia's Constitution will return our state to a more resilient posture with respect to self-sufficiency and food security, improve food safety with better traceability for locally produced foods, and strengthen freedom of food choice. For consumers, the amendment restores the "right" of the citizens of Virginia to make their own choices about where they purchase food. In doing so, the result will be a resurgence in small producers that grow the healthiest food available while using practices that are both humane and restore health to the Commonwealth's soil. For producers, the amendment restores the "right" to raise and provide direct to consumer sales unlike the large industrial agricultural and food systems. It begins the process of breaking down the walls of onerous regulations that hinder the production of nutrient dense food and the means by which they get it to the consumer. Today, small producers have to navigate the same long and arduous path of regulations to compete in the food production space. This overregulation is causing our best and brightest producers to seek cover, move their products in violation of regulations or leave farming altogether. Lastly, Virginians are not alone in their fight for the right to food choice. In 2024, Virginia and other states considered and passed legislation reducing regulation and giving rights back to their citizens. AZ HB2042, IN HBill1106, IA HB2257, ME Right to Food Law Amendment, OK HB2975, VT HB603, VA HB759 and WV HB4911. The following were other pieces of legislation considered in 2024: AK HB251, CT SB296, LA HB467, MD “Cage Free” Bills, MS SB2507, MO HB1711, MO SB1318, NE Bills LB321, LB662, and LB117, NM HB162, NH HB1565, OK SBill1963, UT HB31 and HB281, WV HB5140 and WY SF103. (Note: This list is not all inclusive) At the Federal level, Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky is introducing a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution; “The right of the people to grow food and to purchase food from the source of their choice shall not be infringed and Congress shall make no law regulating the production and distribution of food products which do not cross state lines.” Passage of Massie’s proposed amendment could lead to significant decentralization of food production and distribution as well as deregulation of intrastate food commerce. And beyond the right to grow food and purchase food from the source of choice, the proposed amendment would overturn some of the worst decisions in U.S. Supreme Court history, including Wickard v. Filburn (1942) and substantially reducing Congress’ power to regulate food under the commerce clause. In conclusion, you as representatives of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia have a responsibility to pass House Joint Resolution 452. Passage of a Food Freedom amendment to our Constitution will return our state to a more resilient posture with respect to self-sufficiency and food security, improve food safety with better traceability for locally produced foods, and strengthen freedom of food choice. And equally important, passage of HJ452 represents a broader restoration of rights to all Americans. Thank you for considering my comments.

With corporate food sources becoming more contaminated and less nutritious, I value the local farms that provide healthy, honest food. Every week there is a new recall on some mass produced food item due to bacterial contamination. I caught listeria from a cucumber and my nephew caught salmonella from an onion. I support HJ452, local farms and freedom of choice.

Reasons to support HJ452 *Ability and freedom to purchase ' High quality, "clean from contaminants" food from the source as you can have a personal and trusted knowledge of how it is produced. * Ability to source foods known to be allergen free and health restorative for those desiring and nee The farmer is assumed to have the right to grow food, but is often restricted by regulation if they want to do on farm processing to add value, or get it into an easier to market form, before to sell to the consumer. *The consumer gets restricted in their choice of foods they can buy. This amendment would empower the consumer to have the freedom to request and acquire foods of the type and choice they desire. Let the consumer have the choice in who they choose to grow, process or produce their food in a free market. Be it for, dietary, gourmand, health, religious, cultural, philosophical, local community, accoutability, integrity or any other, or all these reasons , its giving the consumer the right to purchase foods that align with their choice. *This amendment would support improved farmer income when there is no middleman to absorb all the profit from higher priced food. Improved local economies including better value for consumer food purchases and keeping funds revolving in the local community. It would encourage small urban growers and producers to support and strengthen their hyperlocal community which might be a food desert. *It would support improved health outcomes by supporting smaller scale, more intelligent closely monitored farming, for nutrient quality, and producing food for health. * Increased food security, with direct sales to consumer you don't have large processors unable to operate due to labor interruptions as during a pandemic or severe weather, or just shutting down ( economic reasons) and letting the farmers sit with no place to sell their production. Small scale growers are less likely to be impacted by government mandated culling due to infectious disease, as in huge CAFOs. *The incidence of food born illness is much less to the point of being insignificant in small farms where sales are direct to consumer; because if there is an issue the consumer can immediately know the source of the problem and it is very limited. Not a contamination, potentially distributed nationwide to a million people, which even constant inspection does not prevent. * Give us the right to body autonomy, with freedom to ingest what we desire or need, utilizing our own informed decisions. Please take these points into account and restore our freedom to acquire the foods of our choice. In the past there was no question that we could grow, process, and consume whatever we chose. It was not written into the law as it was an assumed right. Somewhere along the way it was lost and now must be restored by government edict.

Considering there are different opinions on what is healthy and good for people in terms of food, each citizen should be able to determine for ourselves what we put into our bodies. We should not have to rely on governmental bodies who may have vested interests in promoting one source of food over another. We are also responsible for our own health and well being. Please support food freedom and food choice with this bill.

I believe it is the right of every individual to freely make decisions concerning food choices. For that reason, I fully support HJ452.

Food Freedom for all is an Inalienable Human Right!!

Our family is requesting you to please support the HJ452. Virginian's and all people should have the right to choose our food sources, the rights to support our local farmers and choose healthy nontoxic food sources. The food choices in the stores are loaded with GMO's, toxins, chemicals and pesticides. Fruits and vegetables are being bioengineered and covered with the appeal wax substance. It should be the choice of the people where we get our food sources, not the governments. Our local farmers and farmers in general have been the heart of this nation for decades. We need to keep it that way. They thrive on their land, supporting their families and provide the best sources of food for us to eat. Our local farmers provide healing foods for our bodies, promoting ethnically unique clean food that is locally sourced. Food that has not travel thousands of miles over several days losing important nutrients. These are fresh foods. These foods help provide those with allergy sensitivities to be able to choose foods that will help heal the bodies. This is the land of the free. We need to be allowed to keep our freedom in choosing our food from the local farmers we choose to buy from in our areas. Our farmers provide us the best quality food sources. If any issues were to arise, we the consumer know who to go to and how to work with the farmer to resolve the issue. The farmers are our neighbors, friends and family - a very important part of our community. This should not even be a matter that needs to be discussed or voted on. Let us choose our food! I reiterate Please support HJ452!

Food freedom.

Please support HJ452, the food freedom bill. We all should be able to choose the supplier and source of our food to ensure our health and safety. This is plain common sense. Please help our local farmers and all who are interested in good, healthy food to be able to make sure we have unfettered access to good food.

Please support HJ 452 I believe that, “That the right of the people to acquire the food of their choice from the source of their choice, with mutual consent, shall not be infringed.” is extremely important. The big corporations in the food/agriculture industries have an oversized influence on the government to make laws preventing this in order to keep their market share high at the expense of the health of citizens who want the freedom to buy food from farmers who want to raise it for them.

Please support food freedom. My body, my choice. Let me eat what I want, let me grow what I want. Let me be healthy. Thank you. Diane Weber Albemarle County

Support HJ452! The principle that Virginians should be free to purchase food products from willing sellers deserves protection. If I want to purchase meat, eggs, dairy, pot pies, etc from someone I trust, the government has no right to infringe on my right to choose what to eat and who to buy it from. The fact that we need a constitutional amendment to secure this basic right is a disturbing testament to government overreach.

This common sense amendment is desperately needed to ensure access to good, clean, local, allergy sensitive and ethnically unique foods within our community. Please consider this amendment and push it forward! Thank you!

HJ452 is such an important constitutional amendment -- it gives all Virginians the right to access they food they want, in a moment where our food supply chain is fragile and our food is full of chemicals and toxins. This amendment also returns dollars to our local economies and supports Virginia's rich history of farming. Please support HJ452

Our family supports HJ452 and is asking you to pass this amendment to allow food to be OUR choice, not fettered by the government. Let us continue to seek out healthy food from farmers doing it right and let us know our farmer and food and choose to be their customer. We are asking for Food Freedom in VA. Please support HJ452 on behalf of all the Virginians seeking better food and a better life!

I should have the right to choose my farmer/food producer and enjoy the food of my choice. I believe that we all should have the right to acquire that food unencumbered by regulations in a direct farm to consumer consenting relationship. If you agree with the raising, butchering, and preparing of food you should be unfettered from bureaucratic control denying your food choice and your access to it.

The fact that we need a constitutional amendment just to secure our basic right to choose what we eat and where we source our food is a disturbing testament to government overreach. As an example, consider the ongoing restrictions on raw milk. Despite many Virginians specifically seeking this product for its nutritional benefits, and despite generations of Americans consuming it safely, bureaucrats continue to severely limit consumer access based on unfounded concerns. It's mind-boggling that in a state founded on principles of individual liberty, I can legally buy cigarettes and alcohol, but I can't buy fresh milk from my neighbor's cow. This amendment would restore power to citizens to make informed decisions about their own nutrition and health. The simple principle that Virginians should be free to purchase food products from willing sellers deserves constitutional protection. I urge you to support HJ452 and let Virginians, not bureaucrats, decide what belongs on their tables.

Please support HJ452. If I want to buy food that is raised, grown, butchered, produced, cooked etc. directly from the person who did all that work, and they want to sell it to me, why should anyone else, or any government, in what is supposed to be a "free" country, have any right to interfere? If there is a problem with any of that food, I know exactly who is responsible and what to do about it. I do buy a lot of my food directly from farmers - it is fresher, more delicious, certainly more nutritious , and safer than anything I have ever bought from a store. I've been doing this for years, and so far there's never been a "recall". We shouldn't need a law to ensure this; but such are the times. Please support HJ452.

It is extremely important that we have access to nutritional locally sorced foods. This a matter not only for our health, bit of vital importance to support local agriculture, and businesses. Furthermore the government has no business interjecting itself into a consensual transaction between individuals.

To my Honorable Representatives & fellow Citizens of Virginia; I am writing in support of the proposed Food Freedom Amendment, HJ 452 & humbly request that you vote in favor of this simple yet crucial legislation. Our government has sadly allowed unhealthy food & food production methods by massive, often subsidized, corporate farms to sneak under the radar while our friendly, local & fully-accountable farmer is unjustly hindered by access-limiting &/or costly regulations. I've done the homework necessary to discover what harmful chemicals are allowed in our foods & what inhumane practices are utilized in Concentrated Animal Farming. Furthermore, it's widely-accepted in the medical community that many of our most common illnesses are diet-related. Bigger farms & bigger government have not created a healthier food marketplace. I want healthy food from a neighbor I trust as well as the convenience foods from the grocery store . HJ 452 will open that door for all Virginians, once again. HJ 452 is worth supporting because it returns choice to the Virginian Citizen. Let us choose what foods we wish to eat & purchase them from the producer we choose. Thank you for your time & attention to this important matter which affects us all, every day. Respectfully, Michael G. Sikes

Hello I'm in support of HJ452 the right to healthy food choice supply

The right of the people to acquire the food of their choice from the source of their choice, with mutual consent, shall not be infringed.

Please protect the right of people to decide for themselves how to nourish their bodies - and to support farmers working hard to create quality, unadulterated food that helps maintain health over profit!

While James Madison’s vision in the Bill of Rights ultimately culminated in a compromise for unification, his ardent support that “No state shall violate the equal rights of conscience, or the freedom of the press, or the trial by jury in criminal cases” is undeniable in our Nation’s living core even today. Madison equates the right of conscience to be alongside the undeniable bulwarks of democracy: free speech and a jury of peers. Madison envisioned a bill of rights that would have prevented both the federal government and the states from violating human liberties. I believe, in this respect, Madison anticipated the Fourteenth Amendment, among many others, and the process of incorporation whereby key Bill of Rights protections were made binding on the states. But today, we the people of Virginia do not have the basic right to eat what our neighbors grow in fields replete with the abundance of our communities and diverse localities. We are vilified if we eat according to our conscience. We are punished for nourishing our bodies with meat (wild or domestic) processed in fully humane and sacred ways, ways that our conscience demands. I do not ask for a swift upending of all hindrances in all ways. I sincerely plead for the human liberty that our government, so proposed on the intrinsic ideas of liberty, have thus made foreign in the home and private hearth. Can a that Nation so constructed live? Can a people? The simple deregulation of the family table is of great importance to conscience, speech and law. Conscience in the obvious sense; speech in the sense of the power of nourishment for cognition and the development of citizenry ready to defend with quill and sword our great Nation, and law in the ultimate sense of right, insofar as we are able to understand the Right. It makes little sense that it is legal for my family to eat the poisonous weeds growing along Virginia’s many river vales, but consuming finely processed meat that bares no USDA stamp is highly illegal. Our government accepts our right to feed ourselves poison, but regulates us to the britches of our pants when we try to consume what humans have always consumed: local and deregulated food. This is not the villianization of USDA protocol or government health standards. Rather, it is support for the human right to eat what the conscience demands. Lincoln, in his wisdom, talked of apples and frames and I think we must be reminded once again. “The assertion of that principle, at that time, was the word, “fitly spoken” which has proved an “apple of gold” to us. The Union, and the Constitution, are the picture of silver, subsequently framed around it. The picture was made, not to conceal, or destroy the apple; but to adorn, and preserve it. The picture was made for the apple–not the apple for the picture.” - Lincoln, Unpublished Fragment. Thank you for listening to your people. It is time for Liberty to be more than a vision. It is time to decide the words fitly spoken. It is time, finally, to decide if the picture was made to destroy or preserve our apple of gold.

Please pass this bill/constitutional amendment providing food freedom! Please treat us as the adults we are. I am both a farmer and a consumer who'd like easy access to the healthy alternative that real farm food offers over grocery store food that's filled with things I don't want. Let me choose my own foods!

I wholeheartedly support HJ 452, the amendment to preserve the right to purchase food directly from a farmer without regulation. I want to be able to legally purchase food from my local farmers. A labyrinth of laws have built up around foods that I want to purchase, and foods my local farmers want to sell. They are my neighbors. Because they are my neighbors and I can visit their farm, I can make my own judgement about whether or not I want to buy from them. If I buy from them and there is a problem, I know where to find them to work out a solution. This is not a place where we need the government to protect us. When it comes to industrial food manufacturing the laws serve as a protective safety net. But, what about direct farm to consumer foods? I should certainly have the right to acquire local foods.

I can’t even believe that we are in need of LEGISLATION to decide whether consumers (VOTING CITIZENS!) are allowed to make their own decisions as to how and where their food is procured. As a farmer and the mother of 8 grown children, grandmother of 13 and owner/operator of a thriving farmers market supplying quality, safe food products from 30+ producers to hundreds of customers each week, I take this very basic right very seriously. My vote ( as well as those of everyone in my sphere of influence that I can inform and educate) will be used to fire those in the legislature that vote against this bill and re-hire those who do.

I support HJ452. Food freedom puts the choice making responsibility on the individuals.

When I was young, there were no restrictions on buying food from a farm. It's the only REAL food there is. It's a huge government overreach to think that this might be outlawed one day. Having legal protection is a great way to assure that this right shall never be infringed.

Dear Delegate, Please co-sign onto HJ452, a constitutional amendment that declares the right to food choice. This is very important for the health of all Virginians to access fresh food and the support of farmers, who without them there’d be no food. The industrial food complex has adulterated many foods, there’s a breakdown of supply chains, and the lack of transparency in industrial manufacturing plants. I would like the option to purchase food from a source I know and trust - my local farmer. It is important to me because I know the importance fresh food plays in health. It is also important to the local economy as I would like my dollars to circulate within my community. Please support HJ452. Thank you, Elizabeth Owens

As a farmer, I should be able to sell my products that customers want without government interference. I urge you to support HJ452 which will give the consumer the choice of what they want to buy.

Far too long has government bureaucracy and laws designed for corporate food processors oppressed the small family farms of Virginia and stopped informed citizens from choosing foods to support their health and well-being. Face-to-face food transactions between farmers and citizens will police themselves and do not need interference by the nanny state. Freeing our small farmers to grow their market share and serve willing customers will invigorate the rural economy and vastly improve food security for all Virginians.

As a farmer, I should be able to sell my products that customers want without government interference. I urge you to support HJ452 which will give the consumer the choice of what they want to buy.

Freedom of choice and conscience, why are my options of purchasing and consuming foods that are fresh and nutrient dense being withheld? My body my choice. Why must I buy half rotten food wrapped in plastics when I can support local farmers? Please support this bill.

Support HJ452! As a family navigating the challenges of Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Celiac Disease, having the freedom to choose where we purchase our food would be transformative. It’s not just about access—it’s about ensuring the food we bring to our table is safe and meets our unique needs. As a small-scale homesteader working to provide my community with fresh, trustworthy products, this resolution would create incredible opportunities for growth. It would empower families like mine and small producers like us to connect directly and make a meaningful impact.

I am in favor of HB1652, HB1863, HJ452, HJ457

Please pass HJ452 as an amendment to the VA Constitution. I cannot think of a better way for my state's congress to show their concern and appreciation for my health and wellbeing than to allow me to KNOW where my food comes from. I will give you just a few of my personal reasons to support this action: There has been much said about adulterated foods, the breakdown of supply chains, and the lack of transparency in industrial manufacturing plants. I would like the option to purchase food from a sourceI know and trust. It is important to me because I want food integrity. It is important to the local economy as I would like my dollars to circulate within my community. It should be important to our congressmen and women that our dollars circulate within our state communities. My dietary health concerns are more easily met by personally knowing, speaking with, and purchasing from the person directly involved with the growing and production of my food.

I would like the freedom to Choose my food from the farmers of my Choice

Please support HJ452, a constitutional amendment which will give Virginians the right to food choice. It is too bad we have to even ask for this in the Commonwealth but we do. Every Virginian, and every American for that matter ought to be able to decide where they obtain their food and what they will and will not eat. This is a great idea! Please pass constitutional amendment HJ452; the right to food choice for Virginians. Thank you, Susan Young

In order to make Virginia Healthy Again we must allow adults to buy the food of their choice. As adults we must have the freedom to do our own research and make decisions about buying directly from farmers/producers without government interference.

HJ452 Should pass. The citizens of VA are intelligent enough to consent in to what ever arrangement they wish to have dood freedom.

An agreement between consenting adults to purchase the food of their choice should not be any of the government’s concern. We must have food freedom in Virginia!

The people who want to buy directly from a farmer/producer should have the right to purchase the food of their choice. My family wants to purchase meat that has been humanely raised on pasture and processed right on the farm because we believe that is the healthiest meat for our family. We should be able to enter into a contract with that farmer without government interference. Please pass this as a step toward liberty for all Virginians!

As a Virginia farmer, I wholeheartedly urge you to support HJ452! We should have the freedom as adult citizens with individual liberty to buy and sell food products without government oversight. Our family started farming because we had special dietary needs that couldn't be met with products on the grocery shelf. We are healthier today, but are hindered due to so many government regulations. If HJ452 makes food choice freedom part of the Virginia Constitution, more farmers will have more produce available to feed more people, and the people can decide with their dollars to support quality, healthy food! Vote yes on HJ452!

HJ 452 should be supported and passed in order to keep government out of private citizens’ food sources and from unnecessarily burdening and obstructing the work of Virginia’s wonderful farmers . The residents of Virginia want to purchase food from farmers as they see fit and entirely without government involvement.

I believe that HJ 452 is necessary because I am an American, a Virginian, and a grown adult capable of the individual liberty that being an American is supposed to be. Please support HJ 452 and let the people decide for themselves how they will nourish their bodies.

America is a nation founded on freedom. Arguably one of the most fundamental freedoms is that of deciding how to feed oneself and one’s family. Why should the government even be considering becoming involved in that very personal choice? Does one grow food in a garden, buy local produce from a farmers market or directly from a farm, or go to a commercial grocery store? That choice should belong to the person doing the purchasing. Lawmakers should follow their God-given common sense and leave this choice to the individual. I would ask you to kindly consider becoming a Co-sponsor in support of HJ452. Thank you for your time.

HJ457 As a constituent of the wonderful state of VA, I request for this amendment to be added to the VA constitution to support this who own personal vehicles in the commonwealth. As an individual who was charged taxes at the time of the purchase of my vehicles, along with yearly fees of registration, inspection and tags; a removal of personal vehicle personal property taxes would support me as someone who is already under increased tax burdens. Please consider the residents and families who could be benefited by removing the personal property tax for personal vehicles when you vote on this measure. HJ452 As a constituent of VA and novice gardener, homesteader, and local/small business supporter, I request that you vote in favor to add this measure to the VA constitution. Food choice is a fundamental right because it implicates autonomy, the right to control over one’s family, the right of health, and a right of privacy. Food choice is important for a number of reasons including its impact on health, its importance to religion, its value in cultural identity, and its importance as self expression and a form of speech.

I am in favor of HJ452 and strongly encourage our elected leaders to sponsor this amendment. Consumers should be allow the freedom of obtaining the food of their choice, and the farmer the freedom to provide that food of choice.

The food people choose to feed themselves and their families is a deeply personal and sometimes spiritual decision that should NOT be infringed upon. I am in support of HJ452.

I am a nurse practitioner in Alexandria. I strongly support the principle that individuals have the inherent right to choose the foods they consume and to acquire them from the sources they trust. This bill recognizes the fundamental freedom of personal agency in matters of health, nutrition, and sustenance. Empowering people to make their own informed decisions about where and how they source their food strengthens local food systems, supports small-scale farmers and producers, and encourages transparency and accountability in our food supply. It also respects cultural, dietary, and philosophical values, which vary widely across communities. Restricting access to food choices infringes on individual rights and often benefits only large corporations at the expense of small, sustainable producers and consumers who prioritize health and localism. This bill protects those rights and aligns with a broader movement toward self-reliance and food sovereignty. I urge legislators to stand for personal freedom, health autonomy, and local food economies by supporting this critical measure.

The ability to purchase food from local farms is vital in this time of industrial food chocked full of industrial byproducts and chemicals that are not legal in most of the developed world. This shyness a right that is enshrined in our state constitution. I urge you to support this amendment.

In the spirit of the great Patrick Henry, I strongly support HJ452 to add an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia that would guarantee as a fundamental right of every citizen of Virginia, the freedoms to chose where and from whom they source the types of foods they choose to consume. This freedom extends to the small scale producers and farmers being given the freedom to sell their goods, unhindered and directly to consumers, according to customer’s demands for certain practices to be used or not used in the raising of their food or in the production of a product.

The right to chose what goes into your body is inherent and Divine.

Please support food choice in Virginia by adding HJ452- "That the right of the people, to acquire the foods of their choice, from the source of their choice, with agreement, shall not be infringed" to the Virginia Constitution. Today as it stands the only legally effected stakeholder in the farm to consumer relationship is the farmer. HJ452 secures the right of the people of personal choice in the acquirement of food. and allows them a legal voice in that right. Why should a person be denied the ability to choose and acquire the food they desire for health reasons or any other?

Please support HJ 452. In an age when consumer rights are being eroded, the public needs our legislators to stand up for the people and enumerate something that shouldn't even have to be said, but if we do not, our food choices will continue to be whittled away. This bill will do more to keep our food dollars here in the state than any other legislation currently on the books or being proposed. I thank you in advance for your consideration and support!

I urge you to support HJ 452 to amend the Virginia Constitution to provide: "That the right of the people to acquire the food of their choice from the source of their choice, with mutual consent, shall not be infringed." Nothing is more fundamental to human existence than food and the Commonwealth of Virginia should insure that Virginians' rights are protected in this important area.

To the Virginia General Assembly: Please pass this bill and amend the VA Constitution accordingly. For curious readers who come across my comment -- here is the proposed amendment: "Section 15-B. Food choice. That the right of the people to acquire the food of their choice from the source of their choice, with mutual consent, shall not be infringed." ; There is nothing controversial about this proposed amendment. It empowers citizens to acquire food of their choosing and make sound nutritional decisions as they see fit.

What if you have no car, bus, or train to go to a supermarket ? What if your food stamps were cut. ? Snowed in? How will you feed your family? In the hills here you can ask the elders what the Great Depression was like, they had no jobs but they raised their own food and shared it with others, or bartered. There were no bread lines here. I know of No contamination recalls or illness from the country in my 25 years of the Farmers Markets here. Daily, corporate food is recalled after the damage is done. Who is proud of this? Farmers and backyard chicken, deer and milk operations put “Egg Money “ in working poor pockets. You think nothing of raising state and Country taxes, how many times can you sell the same tree? Selling food is more profitable to many then cutting down the forest with $1,00,000 of equipment. You can eat food imported from Mexico. We won’t. Stop you. Don’t stop us from getting superior products from Artisanal Growers. You are denying yourself.

What if you have no car, bus, or train to go to a supermarket ? What if your food stamps were cut. ? Snowed in? How will you feed your family? In the hills here you can ask the elders what the Great Depression was like, they had no jobs but they raised their own food and shared it with others, or bartered. There were no bread lines here. I know of No contamination recalls or illness from the country in my 25 years of the Farmers Markets here. Daily, corporate food is recalled after the damage is done. Who is proud of this? Farmers and backyard chicken, deer and milk operations put “Egg Money “ in working poor pockets. You think nothing of raising state and Country taxes, how many times can you sell the same tree? Selling food is more profitable to many then cutting down the forest with $1,00,000 of equipment. You can eat food imported from Mexico. We won’t. Stop you. Don’t stop us from getting superior products from Artisanal Growers. You are denying yourself.