DURHAM — Grey County’s long-time raw milk activist Michael Schmidt might not have to serve his 60-day sentence.
He was sentenced last October for obstructing a police officer during a 2015 raid of his farm.
But with his appeal recently granted, Schmidt only served two weekends (Friday at 6 p.m. to Monday at 6 a.m.), the equivalent of eight days, at the Central North Correctional Centre at Penetanguishene in November. His appeal was granted and bail was set at $2,500, paid by his wife, Elisa Vander Hout, according to the Walkerton Herald-Times.
Ontario’s raw milk crusader has been fighting laws prohibiting the sale of unpasteurized milk after selling his milk quota 26 years ago. He has been involved in selling unpasteurized milk until the operation on his farm was shut down in October.
He’s appealing that conviction as well (See page 32). Supporters are fundraising to cover his legal costs.
According to Public Health Ontario, in 2011 as many as 217,000 non-dairy farmer Ontarians consumed raw milk.
