Even by Massachusetts political standards, which are quite low, the late-Friday maneuver by Massachusetts' agriculture commissioner was a curious one.

The movement to fight off the federal and state campaigns against raw milk over the past three years has been viewed by the mainstream media as pretty much a fringe thing -- until now.

Wisconsin dairy owners ever more boldly challenging the agriculture regulators in America's traditional dairy state, who have been trying for more than a year to put a lid on the raw dairy market.

I can understand the desire of farmers and consumers to make up their own minds about drinking raw milk. But both groups need to be fully informed, and the risks need to be fully understood.

What happens when foodies themselves begin stabbing each other in the back in political and regulatory maneuverings around the local-food movement?