Welcome to SLO GE Free
2008 SLO Gardeners' Seed Exchange
October 24 7-9pm in the SLO City/County Library. Local farms will be donating dated seeds to give away.
Participating growers:
Windrose Farms, Growing Grounds Santa Maria, Growing Grounds SLO, Nature's Touch Nursery, Cal Poly SARC, Huasna Valley Farm.
SARC will raffle off one CSA box of fresh organic veggies.
Download, print and post the flyer!
2008 Corn Survey Online
The 2008 Corn Survey is now available online. The 2007 survey is also available.
BUYER BEWARE 2008: Multiple GMO Corn Growers in SLO County
Genetically engineered Bt corn was developed by the Monsanto Corp. It was created by inserting into the DNA of the corn a gene from a bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis which produces a toxin that kills the corn earworm. Bt corn is registered with the EPA as a pesticide, but approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption and no labeling is required.
When you go to buy corn, ask what kind it is. Genetically engineered seed and crops are not allowed under the organic standard. No Certified Organic corn can be genetically engineered. When buying from other than a certified organic grower, ask whether the corn has been genetically engineered.
The Avila Valley Barn, owned by Dr. John DiVencenzo, did not respond to the survey. He has stated publicly that he grows genetically engineered Bt sweet corn. In 2007 the Avila Valley Barn started labeling the Monsanto Bt corn that it grows and sells as "Our own G.E. corn."
Cal Poly is growing Bt corn this year and plans to sell it at the San Luis Obispo Farmers Market. Cal Poly is currently selling conventional corn at the Farmers Market. Consumers should question any corn coming from Cal Poly. Is it genetically engineered? If it is not genetically engineered, can Cal Poly guarantee that it has not been contaminated by G.E. corn grown at Cal Poly?
Hayashi & Sons of Arroyo Grande did not respond to the survey or a phone call. On Thursday, August 7, I learned from Robert Hayashi that he is continuing to sell genetically engineered Bt sweet corn and not labeling it. As far as I know, this puts Hayashi in the lonely position of being the only person to grow Bt corn in San Luis Obispo County and sell it at his farm stand and at farmers markets without labeling it.
If you think Mr. Hayashi should label his Bt corn, you can tell him so at a farmers market or at his farm stand, or call his office at (805) 489-2595.
For further information call Jesse Arnold at 927-3096
Avila Valley Barn and GMOs
Since at least 2004, the Avila Valley Barn has been growing and selling GMO corn without labeling the produce. This corn has a pesticide, Bt, engineered into every cell of the plant. In 2006, the owner of the Avila Valley Barn informed SLO GE Free that he would voluntarily label his GMO produce. He refused to do so. It's time for citizens to take action. People have a right to know what they are eating - especially those with small children who are most likely to be affected by any adverse affects from the GMO corn.
Please contact the barn and tell them not to grow or sell GMO corn or, if they do, to label it so people know what they are eating. You can either call or email the barn. If you call, you can just leave a message as someone will likely not answer the phone.
805.595.2810 or customer_support@avilavalleybarn.com
Be sure to tell your friends why they should not shop at the barn - especially if they have young children.
49,300: Reponse to Farm Bureau Viewpoint
Why is 49,300 important? It's the number of experimental field tests of GMO crops that the Farm Bureau wants you to ignore.
Read our response to the Farm Bureau Viewpoint for more information.
Woodbury County, Iowa
Visit Woodbury County's website to view their Organic Conversion Policy and Local Purchase Policy programs.
USDA Audit
With more than 49,300 open-air experimental GE crop test notifications since 1987, the USDA’s rubber-stamp regulations and lax enforcement have allowed the United States to literally become a dumping ground for GE experiments.
A 2005 USDA audit found that its own monitoring for GE crop experiments "lacks basic information about the field test sites it approves ... including where and how the crops are being grown, and what becomes of them at the end of the field test."
Read the APHIS Audit executive summary
Citizen Report Submitted on the Health Effects of GMO crops
(San Luis Obispo, Calif.) On August 1st, a group of SLO County citizens submitted a report on the health concerns of GMOs to the SLO County Health Commission. The report provides an overview on the regulatory, food safety, and field test requirements for GMOs along with recommendations to the SLO County Health Commission.
Two steps to stop the spread of GMO's
Tired of the political battles surrounding GMO's that seem to go nowhere? Take control of the situation everytime you eat!
Contact SLO GE Free
If you would like more information, please email us at: info@slogefree.org.
SLO GE Free Introduces Labeling Resolution
SLO GE Free has introduced a resolution supporting labeling of GE foods to the SLO County Board of Supervisors. The goal of the resolution is to ask our federal representatives to support Dennis Kucinich's Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act.
If you are interested in speaking at meetings in support of this resolution or wish to work on getting your local city or town council to pass a similar resolution, please contact the drafter of the resolution, Mark Phillips, at mark@slogefree.org.
Signs at Farmer's Market
SLO GE Free has received permission for the North Coast Farmer's market vendors to put up voluntary signs. If you would like to approach your local market assocation with this idea, drop us an email and we will send you the materials.
You can also click the image to the right and print out your own sign.
Volunteer
Visit the Volunteer page, email mark@slogefree.org.
Austrian Government Study Confirms Genetically Modified (GM) Crops Threaten Human Fertility and Health Safety
