Genetically modified corn

Well, let's keep our eyes open. Someone shared this just now and it puts things in a different light:

http://www.nongmoproject.org/2011/01/29/team-organic-will-never-surrender-to-monsanto-now-we-continue-the-fight-together/

Honeybee, let us know if you get a response from Whole Foods.....

Kyla, if one can believe what Megan says, what a relief! I will be interested in hearing whether Honeybee gets a response from Whole Foods and whether they echo Megan's points.

Thank goodness for individuals such as Megan.

If/when I receive a response from Whole Foods, I will share it with y'all.

Kyla, thanks for posting that link, I was glad I got to read that. Great info! I'll share it with others.

Shoe

Well, hold the phone, here is a rebuttal of sorts:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronnie-cummins/the-organic-elite-surrend_b_815346.html?ref=fb&src=sp

"The so-called Non-GMO Project, funded by Whole Foods and giant wholesaler United Natural Foods (UNFI) is basically a greenwashing effort (although the 100% organic companies involved in this project seem to be operating in good faith) to show that certified organic foods are basically free from GMOs (we already know this since GMOs are banned in organic production), while failing to focus on so-called "natural" foods, which constitute most of WFM and UNFI's sales and are routinely contaminated with GMOs."

Here's a link from Stoneyfield that explains what "co-existance" really means...

http://www.stonyfield.com/blog/2011/01/29/the-organic-community-must-come-out-swinging-at-the-right-opponents/

Honeybee, thanks for posting that. It sounds as though people in the same camp are for some reason trying to divide that camp and sow dissension and distrust. How appalling!

greenhouse_gal - I think people are just confused. Hopefully the picture will become clearer over the next few weeks/months.

I do hope so. I have grandkids and I'd like to think they'll have access to unadulterated and untampered-with foods as they grow up!

Here's a link where you can send an email to the President telling him what you think of GMOs.

http://ota.capwiz.com/ota/issues/alert/?alertid=24747501

I think this is still a good thing, all the attention from the public on this issue -- whether or not it turns out some or any of the big Organic vendors have "sold out."

We do know that anything certified organic is not GMO. We also know that products that are not certified 100% organic MAY contain GM ingredients. That has not changed. What this is doing is once again activating the public who are committed to any extent to an organic (sustainable, not-messed-with, non-toxic, non-GMO) diet and lifestyle, to express our preferences and our intentions to whomever it seems might have the power to affect decisions.

Yep, Monsanto is a seemingly nigh unstoppable juggernaut. But even so, but even so, voices raised for sanity do have an effect. People get educated during these types of events to more of the ins and outs and market machinations that, let's face it, go on all the time.

Being educated and aware is always always a good thing. Expressing preferences for sane and healthy land management and growing practices, and for sane and healthy products in our stores, is always! a good thing.

We don't have to eat corn and soy, and we can even learn to live without alfalfa if need be......... We still have good ways to produce good food on this earth.

And tides have been known to turn.

Kylaluaz - Soy, Corn and Alfalfa are fed to cows, hogs, chickens, turkeys, etc. GMOs are like second-hand smoke - they will get into our food supply one way or another.

Sugar beets are also GE'd - so the sugar you put on your cereal has GMOs.

"activating the public". That's a great way to put it Kyla, and your perspective is a good positive read. How true.

Honeybee, thanks for the link above.

Shoe

Not if the sugar's organic, Honeybee!

I don't put sugar on my cereal! ;) Honeybee, I know, the feeds for livestock is a big big issue. Even so....... I can choose not to eat meat, if I really want to get hogwild on this, pardon the pun..... and I can also choose to only eat meat that is grassfed grass finished locally grown.

admittedly that is more expensive by far! and also many people even if they can afford those options don't have much access...... Even so.

Please know I am not in any way meaning to make light of the seriousness of the issue! But at the same time if we end up just feeling powerless in the face of the "big dogs" we are whupped from the get go......... I suspect, if there is a purpose behind the confusion and misdirection of some of these messages flying around the internet, or shall I say, if there is a nefarious purpose, it is just that, to make people throw up their hands and say "I can't fight it it's too confusing." I'm just trying to say, not so! and that there is a way to keep our eyes on the basic points.....

Tides have been known to turn, so I am swimming in the direction I want to go in, as best I can.

:)

Well, on a semi-good note, Monsanto seeds were turned down (and burned) in this country. "Semi" good because those folks need the seed, "Good" that they didn't get locked into Monsanto GMO seed.

http://www.truth-out.org/the-new-earthquake-manifest-haiti-monsantos-destiny66930

Shoe (who wishes he could grow enough seed to send to those who need it)

Horseshoe - towards the bottom of the page you linked to, there is a correction noting that not all the seeds were burned.

It's located immediately above the banner: "Email this story to a friend"

Tell your congressional reps and send a message to the president. Obama still has an opportunity to veto the alfalfa bill. Quit wringing your hands and DO SOMETHING!

Did that, LouC. And like you I encourage others to do the same.

Honeybee, thanks. I went back and read the authors addition. (Now that's the sign of a good reporter, by the way!) Good goin'!

Shoe

Still recommend every single American should see the video Food, Inc. Monsanto "owns" the Department of Agriculture in the USA.

On another forum someone posted this just now:

"There are a lot of instructions on line for protecting plants from gene flow. My son said a long time ago that we would end up growing crops in greenhouses, and that is what it has come to. There are even instructions for helping hybrids return to their normal state – 8 generations of seed harvesting, or 8 years, is how long it takes. We can’t fear the future, and we can’t change the past. Thinking in the present is near impossible, but it is required for the moment we are in, which is endless and forever, and too big to fail. Failure is simply not an option.

If any readers are interested in the hybrid process, this is quite an educational and easy to read website with visuals. http://kdcomm.net/~tomato/gene/genes.html

A tomato hybrid can be returned to 99 percent pure heirloom in 8 years, and near 100 percent (though never perfect) in 14 years.

Low tunnel gardening is becoming a popular way to protect plants from gene flow, but there is no way to grow hay under a cover. Monsanto has to be stopped."

I thought that was useful, and worth sharing.

And this organization seems to be a good one to follow through with:

Dear Friend,

Last week President Obama and Secretary Vilsack approved Monsanto's GMO alfalfa, a move that fundamentally undermines the organic dairy and beef industries. As a main feed crop for organic livestock, the planting of Monsanto's GMO alfalfa will result in genetic contamination of organic and non-GMO alfalfa, thus making it hard for organic farmers to meet USDA organic standards that require organic feed for certification and also the loss of important overseas markets for conventional farmers that grow non-GMO alfalfa for foreign consumers who refuse to accept GMOs as safe for human consumption.

While our friends at Center for Food Safety are filing a court injunction to stop this from going forward, I think it's important that President Obama and Secretary Vilsack hear from the millions of Americans who are disappointed by this unwise decision. As, you already know, approving GMO alfalfa will potentially destroy the integrity of and access to organic food, as well as the livelihoods of organic farmers.

Please join me in telling President Obama that you are deeply disappointment decision and tell all of your friends who care about organics to join us. It is outrageous to risk the contamination of the organic dairy industry simply for Monsanto's corporate profits.

Please take a moment to let President Obama and Secretary Vilsack know that you care about organic integrity by following this link from Food Democracy Now! Then please pass this on.

http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/declaration_of_farmer_and_citizen_rights/?referring_akid=294.4533.s85_Rd&source=mailto

Every voice counts!

Thank you!

I signed and also added to my facebook page.

I have received a reply to my email to Whole Foods. It is copywrited, so I cannot reprint or forward it to you.

They did say choosing organic is a way consumers can avoid GMO foods, and that they are strong supporters of labeling foods that contain GMOs.

To sum it up - don't worry folks, they have NOT capitulated.

I, too, have written to the President asking that "genetically engineered" be on the label of all foods to which is applies, including fresh produce.

Where did you write, Honeybee? I'm always afraid that letters like that will just disappear into the ether...

GG - I went to Whole Foods web site and wrote them an email from here:

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/service.php

asking them if the content of this article is true.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_22449.cfm

Their answer in a nutshell was "No" and that the truth had been distorted.

Oh, sorry, I meant writing to the President. I think it's great that you wrote to Whole Foods, though, and it sounds as though what you were told tallies with what Megan said on the other site that Kyla found. I wonder why Whole Foods didn't want their reply shared, though.

Because they listen to lawyers more than they listen to their conscence.

It's true that with organic, you have a much higher probability of not getting GMOs. But there is still contamination of GMOs in organic corn and soy, from what I have read. There is no way to keep it out, although it can be tested. I don't know how widespread testing for GMOs in food is. I know it's done with seed by some companies. One reason why I like Fedco Seed is because they test for the presence of GMOs in their seeds.

We can avoid stuff that is contaminated with GMOs, buy organic, and learn to grow more of our own food from non-GMO seed.

GG here's the link where you can write to the President

http://ota.capwiz.com/ota/issues/alert/?alertid=24747501

You'll get an email acknowledgement from the OTA. I don't usually enter my name and address into online web sites, but I felt so strongly about this issue, I made an exception. Now I'll probably get all kinds of letters in the mail requesting donations!

GG - this was part of the footnote in the email Whole Foods sent me:

This email is the copyright of Whole Food Market IP, LP.

I'm not sure if I should even quote this part LOL

Edited: Quote box was/is not working!



This message was edited Feb 1, 2011 5:40 PM

GG - this was part of the footnote in the email Whole Foods sent me:

Well, shoot, if they want their reputation defended they should release the contents of that letter. IMO you can quote large sections of it under "fair use" as long as you say where it is from and all that.

Greenhouse gal, here is another link where you can write to the Prez:


http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/declaration_of_farmer_and_citizen_rights/?referring_akid=294.4533.s85_Rd&source=mailto

Yeah, I always forget which brackets to use; it seems to be different depending on the site. Thanks for the links, though. I don't like to put my name on websites either, and recently doing so triggered a whole spate of politically-oriented begging letters via email. It's a shame....

You can unsubscribe pretty easily from those lists, I've found. I know what you mean though. Still, for me, some issues are worth taking the risk of a little exposure or inconvenience later on......

I have become a target for just a couple of organizations that are fighting GMO. Has not been a problem so far. No snail mail or phone calls and only one or two extra emails. If we don't bury our paranoia and speak out for ourselves, we are giving them free range to destroy the future generations of our children.

Guess it is obvious I am very passionate about this.

Good points, LouC.

"This email is the copyright of Whole Food Market IP, LP.
I'm not sure if I should even quote this part LOL"

Honeybee, I agree with Kyla...you're not breaking a copyright law if you give the source when you share it. Copyrights are so others can't claim the work/words as their own.

I'm happy to see interested people in this/these issues.

Shoe

Oprah had Michael Pollan on her show yesterday. Not in favor of going vegan but at least when she points at something the masses take note.

www.takepart.com/foodinc

This message was edited Feb 2, 2011 4:36 PM