Brian Fink is an attorney who concentrates on the legal issues of food.  Part of his practice focuses on writing guidance on local, state, and federal laws affecting food and farm organizations.  For example, he co-authored and edited a legal guide on many issues facing small-scale Connecticut farmers, such as business formation, taxation, and food safety.  He also co-authored a legal guide on using community kitchens in Massachusetts, which dove into such issues as licensing and contracting.  In addition, through collaboration with nonprofit food and agricultural organizations, Brian has contributed public comments to the FDA on the Produce Safety Rule and Preventive Controls Rule.

 

Brian is thrilled to collaborate with the LFSC and the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association to develop educational materials on the Preventive Controls Rule for those farmers who make and sell value-added products.  Using a step-by-step approach, this guide covers the basic requirements of the rule, the different types of exemption, food facility registration, and much more.  Drawing from the Food Safety Modernization Act regulations, FDA guidance for industry, FDA enforcement actions, and other sources, this guide will be a go-to reference designed specifically for farms who produce value-added products.

 

Brian was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest.  He worked as a cook and kitchen manager for a large cooperative grocery store, where he learned about the importance and value of local-food supply chains.  He also worked on organic produce farms and built community gardens and urban farms.