SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association says a country-of-origin labeling law would help increase the demand for beef raised in the United States.
State senators will consider a bill tomorrow that would require retailers to display country-of-origin labels of beef sold in South Dakota.
Association Executive Director Sylvia Christen says customers want to know what kind of food their feeding to their family.
Christen says the bill is straightforward and simple. It says if a grocery store is able to determine where the beef, that they have on their shelf, is coming from they have to put a placard on the shelf to let the customer know where it's from. If grocers don't know where the beef is from they have to put up a sign stating country-of-origin unknown.
She says grocers have a lot of information about where the beef they're selling is from and the Association wants the customer to know as well.
But District 29 State Senator Gary Cammack is concerned about the impacts on small town grocers. Cammack says the big grocery stores that handle big volumes won't be greatly impacted by an additional COOL mandate.
Cammack says small town grocers with smaller volume face additional burdens with every mandate.
Christen says most store owners and managers she's talked to are in favor of the bill. She says some grocers already post country-of-origin labels voluntarily.
The South Dakota Retailers Association opposes the bill. Executive Director Shawn Lyons says the bill is an unnecessary government mandate that would put a burden on grocers.