Raw Milk Seller Accused Of Fraud At Farmers Market

The South Pasadena Patch is following the story of Health Family Farms’ owner, Sharon Palmer, who was arrested on conspiracy charges stemming from the illegal sale of raw milk and other products. According to the story, the DA alleges Healthy Family Farms bought thousands of dollars worth of meat, poultry and eggs from other vendors and resold it at area farmers markets.

Update: Farmers Market Vendor Sharon Palmer’s Arraignment Postponed (August 9, 2011)

Palmer, who sells eggs and poultry every Thursday at the South Pas Farmers Market, was charged Wednesday with criminal conspiracy stemming from the alleged illegal production and sale of unpasteurized goat milk, goat cheese and other products.

Invoices and records seized in a search of Palmer’s Healthy Family Farms location in Santa Paula revealed that “she was buying thousands of dollars worth of meat, poultry and eggs from other vendors and reselling it at farmer’s markets and at Rawesome, despite claims and advertising that it was raised on her farm and not fed commercial feed,” according to court documents.

Two others were charged in the criminal conspiracy case: Eugenie Bloch, 58, and James Stewart, 64. Both pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Thursday.

Evidence suggests that co-defendant Stewart—through his business, Rawesome—illegally imported unpasteurized cow dairy products from Pennsylvania and Palmer assisted him in selling those products to area consumers at local farmers markets, said the court documents.

Bail was set at $60,000 for Palmer and $30,000 for Stewart with special conditions; Bloch has been released on her own recognizance.

Read the whole story: http://southpasadena.patch.com/articles/update-farmers-market-vendor-sharon-palmers-arraignment-postponed

More articles from the Patch:

Update: Health Family Farms’ Owner Pleads Not Guilty (August 10, 2011)

Farmers Market vendor Sharon Palmer pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Wednesday.

Read the whole story: http://southpasadena.patch.com/articles/update-healthy-family-farms-owner-pleads-not-guilty

Healthy Family Farms Charged with Illegal Production of Unpasteurized Milk (August 3, 2011)

The South Pas Farmers Market vendor Healthy Family Farms and owner Sharon Palmer were charged on nine counts Wednesday.

Read the whole story: http://southpasadena.patch.com/articles/healthy-family-farms-charged-with-illegal-production-of-unpasteurized-milk