"Are Artisanal Foodie Brands Ruining A California National Park?" [1]
"Herds of cows provide meat and dairy for influential purveyors, but environmentalists say they despoil the landscape"
"An hour north of San Francisco lie two-dozen dairy and meat farms that have produced some of the most beloved artisanal brands in northern California – along with a farm-fresh, locally sourced foodie ethos that has become globally influential.
All the dairies in Point Reyes are organic, and the beef is grass-fed. They are models of sustainable farming, providing the raw ingredients for cheesemaker Cowgirl Creamery, the Straus Family Creamery, and Marin Sun Farms meats, to name a few.
Yet some national environmentalists are taking a stand against these ranchers, who have farmed for generations on grasslands that are now part of Point Reyes National Seashore, claiming they are despoiling a landscape visited by 2.5 million people every year and should be ejected. Cows, the environmentalists argue, do not belong in a national park."