Boycott These Organic Companies

Some large companies are selling you organic food while at the same time they are funding opposition to California's proposition 37 which is the GMO labeling initiative.  Do you want to support companies that would keep you from knowing if you are eating GMO's or not? Please join us in a massive boycott against these companies. They include Kellogg's (Kashi, Bear Naked, Morningstar Farms); General Mills (Muir Glen, Cascadian Farm, Larabar); Dean Foods (Horizon, Silk, White Wave); Smucker's (R.W. Knudsen, Santa Cruz Organic); Coca-Cola (Honest Tea, Odwalla); Safeway ("O" Organics); Kraft (Boca Burgers and Back to Nature); Con-Agra (Orville Redenbacher's Organic, Hunt's Organic, Lightlife); and PepsiCo (Naked Juice, Tostito's Organic, Tropicana Organic), Mars (Seeds of Change).

California's Prop 37 will require labels on genetically engineered foods, and will also ban the fraudulent (and highly profitable) industry practice of marketing GMO-tainted foods as "natural."  

The  Biotech and Big Food corporations have dumped $25 million dollars into defeating Prop 37. The "Yes on 37" campaign has raised only $3 million so far, in part because most of the wealthy organic elite (Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, Stonyfield, etc.) are still sitting on the sidelines. Tell these companies they need to chip in NOW!

Please see my prior blog explaining how if the Nov. 6th GMO right-to-know ballot initiative (Prop 37), currently supported by the overwhelming majority of voters, passes in California - the eighth largest economy in the world - it will have the same impact across the United States as a national law.

To see the details on how much money these companies have contributed as well as additional information on the companies go to the "Friends & Enemies of Your Right to Know"

GE Canola Update & Retraction of Some Data

I want to retract a paragraph from my last blog. I just spoke with SeQuential Biofuels CEO and co founder Ian Hill. He says they are not advocating the GE canola area be increased here in  the Willamette Valley and that they are contacting the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to let them know that they are not interested in seeing this happen. Please read more about this at this link to see how this information originated. SeQuential has supported the ODA's investigation into canola and camellia as crops to grow in the Willamette Valley for fuel BUT they do not support GE canola and will let the ODA know this right away. Their calls to the ODA will be very helpful. Make sure you call the ODA also. 

To make it easy for you to contact the governor and the Oregon Dept of Agriculture (ODA) about the genetically engineered (GE) canola, here is what you do: Call the governors office at (503) 378-4582. Tell them to let the governor know you are not happy about the temporary ruling that allows GE canola to be grown in a larger area of the Willamette Valley. Give them your zip code to identify where you are calling from. Then call The ODA at 503.986.4552, ask for Vance in the Food Safety Division. Tell him you are concerned about GE canola to be grown in a larger area of the Willamette Valley as it crosses readily with other members of the mustard family. It will end up damaging non GE mustard crops and destroy some of the highly lucrative specialty seed businesses in the Willamette Valley. PLEASE CALL AS WE CAN MAKE THEM STOP THIS IF THEY GET A LOT OF CALLS. SEND THIS DATA TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN OREGON AND ASK THEM TO CALL. IT ONLY TAKES MINUTES OF YOUR TIME!

Read this to learn more about the GE canola in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.

Genetically Engineered Canola Comes to Oregon August 15th

GMO Canola is coming to the Willamette valley on August 15 unless we stop it.

Canola is in the brassica family and readily crosses with turnips, broccoli raab, some kales, rutabaga, and possibly radish and broccoli. All of these seed crops and more have been grown by specialty seed farmers here in the valley for over 30 years. GMO canola would become a roadside weed, protected from the county's roadside maintenance by its "Roundup Ready" glyphosate herbicide resistance. It would contaminate professional seed growers and garden seed savers alike. 

Canola would contaminate Oregon's vegetable and flower seed production industry that is worth $32 million to $50 million annually.

In the past, specialty seed growers have maintained a pinning map that organizes and isolates seed farms to minimize contamination between crops and varieties. GMO canola growers would ignore these pinning rules. Trucks hauling seed for transport the processing plant would spill seed on highway margins.

OSU scientists agree that contamination of seed crops is inevitable. Once a GMO species is introduced to an area, its proliferation is rampant. So, between GMO canola and the specialty vegetable seed industry, there can be no coexistence.

Normally for these types of major agricultural changes, there is a 30-day public comment period. However, with pressure from the corporate lobby Sequential fuels, the Oregon Department of Agriculture is expediting the process. So, if you wish to be heard, contact ODA director Katy Coba to voice your opinion.

August 15 is the planting date for GMO canola.


Learn more about this story here.

Sequential fuels website: 

What can you do?

 Write to the Oregon Dept of Agriculture and Sequential Fuels!

1. Tell Sequential Fuels you do not want GE canola in Oregon and will discontinue buying their fuel if GE canola comes into our state. (They are the ones who lobbied to get it here.)

http://www.sqbiofuels.com/contact

Salem Office 503.585.1673

Sequential Retail/ Eugene Station
86714 McVay Hwy
Eugene, Oregon 97405
Phone: 541.736.5864

2. Please write to the director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture who made the decision to bring GE Canola into the state:  Katy Coba at kcoba@oda.state.or.us and tell her you do not want GE Canola in Oregon. You can also call her at 503-986-4552

Here is a sample letter that I sent to her. 

Hello Katy Coba,

I am commenting during your 30 day public comment period on the introduction of genetically engineered (GE) canola into Oregon. Please note this is a formal and legal comment.

I am a farmer and native Oregonian. Just like you, I come from Eastern Oregon. I am concerned about your decision to introduce genetically engineered canola into Oregon. In my opinion it is not being thought out carefully and your actions are too hasty.

Canola is in the brassica family and readily crosses with turnips, broccoli raab, some kales, rutabaga, and possibly radish and broccoli. All of these seed crops and more have been grown by specialty seed farmers here in the valley for over 30 years. GE canola would become a roadside weed. It would contaminate professional seed growers and garden seed savers alike. This mistake could become a financial problem for many farmers/gardeners who will blame you and your office ultimately.

In the past, specialty seed growers have maintained a pinning map that organizes and isolates seed farms to minimize contamination between crops and varieties. GMO canola growers would ignore these pinning rules. Trucks hauling seed for transport the processing plant would spill seed on highway margins.

OSU scientists agree that contamination of seed crops is inevitable. Once a GMO species is introduced to an area, its proliferation is rampant.

I and many other Oregonians will take it very personally if those of us who raise and sell seeds or simply grow our own seeds find them contaminated by GE Canola you allowed into Oregon.  I want to make it very clear that I do not want GE Canola grown in Oregon.  Please let me know what steps you plan to take to make sure GE Canola will not contaminate my or other farmers/gardeners crops/gardens.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sharol Tilgner