Farmers for Truth in Labeling

October 31, 2012

On Saturday, October 27, 2012, CUESA and Pesticide Action Network hosted a press event at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market to introduce a coalition of conventional and organic California farmers formed to challenge a series of misleading advertisements and throw their support behind labeling of genetically engineered foods.

Nigel Walker of Eatwell Farm, Bryce Loewen of Blossom Bluff Orchards, David Winsberg of Happy Quail Farms, Kristie Knoll of Knoll Farms, and Janet Brown of Allstar Organics spoke out in favor of the labeling initiative, while other Ferry Plaza farmers stood with them to show their support.

The event was just one of many that took place at farmers markets across the state this week, including others in Monterey, Sacramento, Fresno, and Ventura.

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Consumer choice has been the cornerstone of the Yes on 37/California Right to Know campaign, and farmers and food producers have as much of a stake in the outcome of this initiative as eaters. We asked some Ferry Plaza Farmers Market farmers and food artisans to weigh in about the proposition. Read more >

In addition, the following Ferry Plaza farmers have spoken out in depth to endorse Proposition 37:

Janet Brown of Allstar Organics
“The point of genetic engineering is not to improve varieties. What it does is create an ownership over seeds and the food supply, and that’s its primary purpose. If you depend on that seed as a farmer, you can’t save your own seed from year to year. You become completely dependent on the company that engineers the seed. It’s actually about ownership over something that has been public domain for at least 10,000 years of agriculture.” Read more >

On October 27, 2012, Janet Brown appeared on West Coast Live to talk about the importance of Proposition 37 for farmers and eaters. Listen >

Thaddeus Barsotti of Capay Organic/Farm Fresh to You
“There is broad support among Californians for Prop 37. There is also big opposition from big agriculture and food conglomerates that have contributed $25 million to date to oppose Prop 37. If these companies thought that consumers really wanted to ingest GMOs, why would they not be proud to label their products with their true ingredients?” Read more >

Nigel Walker of Eatwell Farm
“Genetically modified organisms have been pushed onto the market by corporations that have profit as their only motive. They are supported by their paid political representatives and appointees. It makes no sense to carry out a huge feeding experiment on the American people without first doing smaller scale trials.” Read more at the Eatwell Farm blog >

On October 27, 2012, Nigel Walker of Eatwell Farm was interviewed on KPFA about why he supports Proposition 37 (Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food). Listen >

Green Gulch Farm
“All eaters have a right to know what is in their food and make ethical, informed decisions about their own and their family’s health, as well as choices that benefit other beings and the planet on which we depend. We hope that Prop 37 is the beginning of a much larger, thoughtful discussion about the values manifest in how we care for the earth while nourishing our bodies.” Read more at the SFZC blog >

The following Ferry Plaza Farmers Market farms and artisans have expressed support of Proposition 37:

Allstar Organics
Bariani Olive Oil
Blossom Bluff Orchards
Bodega & Yerba Santa Goat Cheese
Capay Organic/Farm Fresh to You
County Line Harvest
Devoto Gardens
Dirty Girl Produce
Eatwell Farm
Everything Under the Sun
Farmhouse Culture
Flatland Flower Farm
Flying Disc Ranch
Four Sisters Farm
Frog Hollow Farm
Green Gulch Farm
Happy Girl Kitchen Co.
Happy Quail Farms
Heirloom Organic Gardens
Hidden Star Orchards
Hodo Soy Beanery
Hunter Orchards
Kashiwase Farms
Knoll Farm
Marin Roots Farm
Marin Sun Farms
Mountain Ranch Organically Grown
Snyders Honey
Swanton Berry Farm
Tierra Vegetables
Thomas Farm
Zuckerman’s Farm

Check back for updates!

Topics: Farmers, Food policy