The owners of the Double H Farm in Nelson County, Richard Bean, 62, and Jean Rinaldi, 60, were arrested last Friday, September 21 for violating FDA regulations regarding the processing and labeling of their pork products. In addition, Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services agents seized Double H pork products from area restaurants last week, including an entire roasting pig from the South African restaurant Shebeen, which was “denatured” (made inedible) on the spot using a bleach solution, according to Rinaldi. Bean and Rinaldi are scheduled to appear in Charlottesville District Court tomorrow at 9am to learn when their case will be heard.

The news came as a shock to many local restaurant owners, City Market goers, and supporters of the local food movement– often called the “slow food” movement– who have eaten or used Double H products and believe that communities are better served by local farmers like Bean and Rinaldi, who have been selling their products locally since 2001.

“These charges, to my knowledge, do not arise from any complaints on the part of people who have purchased and eaten Double H products,” writes Erika Howsare, a special section editor for C-Ville Weekly, in an email to fellow members of the EAT LOCAL forum. “They represent a decision on the part of the state of Virginia to target two people who happen to be outspoken advocates of small farmers’ rights.” (more)

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