Council for Healthy Food Systems

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Cameron, TX
Council for Healthy Food Systems

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Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Council for Healthy Food Systems, Nonprofit Organization, Cameron, TX.

CHFS develops programs that inform and educate farmers, consumers, elected officials, and media on the systemic changes needed to establish local and regional food systems that are healthy, safe, economically sound, and environmentally sustainable.

10/31/2026

🎃🐐 LET'S SEE THOSE COSTUMED CRITTERS! 🐓👻

It's time to show off your animals in their Halloween best!

Whether they're spooky, silly, adorable, or downright hilarious, we want to see them! 🐴🐶🐐🐓

📸 Drop a photo of your costumed animal in the comments below to enter our Farmyard Frights Halloween Costume Contest!

🏆 There's a prize up for grabs, so don't miss your chance to join the fun!

By entering, you give us permission to share your submitted photo in connection with the contest. This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.

See our original contest announcement for complete rules and eligibility requirements.

10/30/2026

🎃🐐 Get Those Costumes Ready! 📸

Calling all furry, feathered, and four-legged friends!

Our Farmyard Frights Animal Costume Contest kicks off TOMORROW!

So grab those costumes, get your animals ready for their close-ups, and start snapping some photos! 🐓🐴🐶🐐

Whether they're spooky, silly, or just plain adorable, we can't wait to see your costumed critters!

📸 Come back tomorrow to share your photos on the designated post and enter the contest! Contest closes November 2nd at 5:00 PM.

Contest for Texas residents only: See yesterday's post for full contest rules.

Let the Halloween fun begin! 👻🧡

10/29/2026

🎃 🐄No tricks, just treats for your farm friends! 🐷👻

We’re hosting a Farmyard Frights Virtual Animal Halloween Costume Contest, and CHFS wants to see your farm friends get festive! 🐔🐐🐴 Whether you’ve got a spooky sheep, a pumpkin-loving pig, or a chicken ready to trick-or-treat, we want to see them all! 🧡

📸 HOW TO ENTER:
Post a photo of your costumed farm animal in the post on Saturday. Tag your friends and invite them to join the fun.

🏆 THE PRIZE:
One lucky winner will receive a $50 gift card to Tractor Supply!

🏆 YOU PICK THE WINNER!

Once all the entries are in, our team will select three finalists.

Then it's up to YOU! We'll share the finalists and invite our followers to vote for their favorite costume.

The photo with the most votes will take home the prize!

🎃 May the best-dressed critter win!

⏰ DEADLINE: November 2nd at 5:00 PM.

Let's see those adorable, hilarious, and spooky costumes!

👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻👻

🐾 Farmyard Frights – Official Contest Rules

Eligibility: No purchase necessary. Open to Texas residents age 13 and older. Participants under 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian to enter. A parent or guardian must accept any prize on behalf of a minor.

One entry per person. Entries must be received by November 2nd at 5:00 PM.

Our team will select three finalists based on creativity, originality, and Halloween spirit. The finalists will be featured on our Facebook and Instagram pages for community voting.

The finalist receiving the most valid votes across both platforms will win a $50 gift certificate to Tractor Supply. In the event of a tie, our team will select the winner.

By entering, participants confirm that they own or have permission to submit their photo and grant CHFS permission to share it in connection with the contest.

By entering, participants fully release Facebook, Instagram, and Meta from liability related to this promotion and acknowledge that it is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or Instagram.

This contest is organized by the Council for Healthy Food Systems.

10/28/2026

🥩 Are you selling meat from your farm or ranch? If you're using a USDA- or Texas DSHS-inspected processor, do you know whose name is on the label? Here’s what you need to know about meat licensing in Texas:
📌To sell meat commercially in Texas, it must come from a facility inspected by either the USDA or Texas DSHS. Planning to ship or sell across state lines? You’ll need a USDA inspection. All packaged products must bear the official mark of inspection before hitting the market.
📌The name that appears on the label requires different licensing paths. Whose name is on the package?
🏷️ If your processor prints your farm or business name on the package, you are considered a “private labeler” and need the corresponding DSHS license.
📦 If you aren't putting your own brand on the package, and only the processor's information appears on the package, you operate under standard meat distributor/wholesaler rules.

🌱Understanding these distinctions is an important step before selling your meat products! Not sure which requirements apply to your operation? That's where we come in! The Texas Farm & Food Help Desk is a free resource helping Texas farmers, ranchers, and food producers navigate regulations and find the information they need.
📞 Call, 💬 message, or 📝 submit your question!
🔗 https://healthyfoodsystems.org/helpdesk/

10/27/2026

🎄 Getting ready for holiday markets?

The holiday season is just around the corner, and for many local farmers and food producers, that means preparing for holiday markets, seasonal products, and new customers!

Whether you're selling homemade baked goods, jams, pickles, or other locally produced foods, there are a few things you'll want to consider before setting up shop.

🥧 Are there permits or regulations you need to follow?

🏷️ What information needs to be on your product labels?

🛍️ Are there different requirements depending on what you're selling?

If you're unsure about any of these questions, we're here to help!

The Texas Farm & Food Help Desk is a free resource that helps Texas farmers and food producers navigate regulations and connect with the information and resources they need.

Don't let unanswered questions hold you back this holiday season!

📞 Call, 💬 message, or 📝 submit a question.

🔗 https://healthyfoodsystems.org/helpdesk/

10/26/2026

🎃 Who knew pumpkins had their own national holiday?!

Well, they do! And today, October 26, is National Pumpkin Day! 🍂

From pumpkin patches and roadside stands to fall festivals and farmers markets, pumpkins are a big part of what makes this season so special.

Today, we're giving a little extra appreciation to the hardworking Texas farmers who grow these fall favorites!

🧡 Let's show our local growers some love! Have you visited a local pumpkin patch or farm stand this fall? Give them a shoutout in the comments!

10/23/2026

Are quail considered poultry in Texas?

Surprisingly, no. Even though quail are birds, Texas classifies them as domesticated game birds, which fall under the state’s definition of livestock. That means quail do not qualify for Texas’s low-volume poultry/rabbit processing exemption, even if they are raised on your farm.

Under Texas rules, poultry includes domesticated birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, and squabs, and therefore, quail are specifically excluded from that definition. So if you’re processing quail meat for sale, you’ll generally need to use an appropriate voluntary-inspection pathway rather than relying on the poultry exemption to sell to consumers.

Find answers to questions like this and more at: www.healthyfoodsystems.org/help

10/22/2026

📣 Congress needs to hear from independent farmers — directly.

Join FARFA’s Virtual Fly-In on Tuesday, November 10 at 9:30 AM CT and meet with congressional offices to advocate for policies that strengthen independent farms and local food systems.

🥚 Our primary focus: building congressional support for the bipartisan Egg Grower Grading Modernization (EGG) Act and expanding market opportunities for small egg producers.

We’ll also advocate for the LOCAL Foods Act, PRIME Act, and other FARFA priorities supporting local processing and fairer markets.

FARFA provides the training and resources. You bring your story.
💻 Participate from home.
🏛️ Meet directly with congressional offices.
🌱 Help shape federal farm policy.

Register : Register here -https://forms.gle/bgqFbimx7kWwytZJ6

10/22/2026

🌱 Just getting started in agriculture? You don't have to know everything before you begin!

Starting a farm can be exciting, but it can also come with a lot of questions. From funding opportunities and production assistance to conservation programs, business resources, regulations, and training, there's a lot to navigate.

The good news? You don't have to figure it all out on your own.

Every farmer starts somewhere, and the Texas Farm & Food Help Desk is here to help connect you with the information, resources, and support you need to get started.

🌱 Have questions? Reach out! Our Help Desk is free for Texas farmers and food producers.

🔗www.healthyfoodsystems.org/helpdesk/

🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

🌱 ¿Estas empezando en el mundo de la agricultura? ¡No tienes que saberlo todo antes de comenzar!

Empezar a cultivar o trabajar en el campo puede ser muy emocionante, pero también surgen muchas dudas. ¿Dónde conseguir apoyo económico? ¿Qué recursos hay para mejorar la producción? ¿Existen programas de conservación o capacitaciones? ¿Qué permisos necesitas?

¡Lo bueno es que no tienes que buscar todas las respuestas por tu cuenta!

Todos empezamos por algún lado, y el Centro de Ayuda para Agricultores y Productores de Alimentos de Texas está aquí para ayudarle a encontrar la información, los recursos y el apoyo que necesita para dar sus primeros pasos.

🌱 ¿Tienes preguntas? ¡Contáctanos! Nuestro servicio es completamente gratuito para agricultores y productores de alimentos en Texas.

🔗 Haz click aqui: www.healthyfoodsystems.org/helpdesk/

10/16/2026

Happy Friday everyone! 👋We have another question to answer for Fun Fact Friday.

❓I have backyard hens. Can I sell my eggs? 🥚🥚🥚

✅In Texas: Yes, if they are from your own flock and sold directly to the final customer.

Remember:
-Label cartons “Ungraded”
-Include producer information and safe-handling instructions
-Keep eggs at 45°F or below
-Depending on where you sell, you may be required to obtain a local or DSHS permit. Before selling, check with whichever agency issue health permits for your county/city.

Bottom line: Selling eggs directly from your own flock to the final customer is allowed subject to health permits. Realize that selling other people's eggs, or selling wholesale to retailers or restaurants, is a different regulatory path and requires additional permits.

Have more questions about the sale of eggs or maybe what is required to sell wholesale? Contact the Help Desk. Link in Bio.

Address

Cameron, TX

Telephone

+12546972661

Website

http://www.healthyfoodsystems.org/

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