Food Policy Council of San Antonio

More on GMOs: Gonzo labeling, and Mothers Unite

Likelihood in Labeling

On being the market: this post from Natural News puts it together for the guerrila labeling campaign for GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) food. Why guerrilla? Because genetically modified ingredients do not have to be labeled as such in the U.S., so it isn't apparent to most people that they are consuming them in many, if not most, processed foods.

A quote from NN: "This month, the Millions Against Monsanto Truth-in-Labeling Campaign will start taking matters into our own hands. We're sticking 'Oh No! Is It GMO?' labels on non-organic foods likely to contain GMOs as well as non-organic meat, dairy, and eggs coming from animals raised in CAFOs, (Confined Animal Feeding Operations), where they are force-fed GM grains." Follow the link to download the GMO shopping guide, to know what products likely contain GMOs.

Mothers Unite

What exactly is modified in GMO foods? Here is an explanation from a Stonyfield guest blogger: "GE crops, such as “Roundup Ready” soy, sugar beets and alfalfa [and corn and canola and cottonseed] are all engineered to withstand Monsanto’s toxic herbicide, 'Roundup.' The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, which is systemically transported throughout the plant and may eventually find its way into our groundwater. In the soil, glyphosate disrupts the complex microbial ecosystem."

Read the entire post, for some of the implications. Then start labeling. And talking to your friends, neighbors, grocer, Congressperson, anyone. It's amazing how unaware we are about this issue.

Coming next--a soil scientist says more about what glyphosate does in the soil, and to animal health.

Outrage and misgivings, and a plan

There is so much worthy stuff to write about in the good food movement, that I rarely feel compelled to give much space to the many things we could be unhappy about with our dysfunctional food system.

However...as I wrote at the end of January, outrage over the deregulation of GMOs continues to swirl in the foodosphere. As the list grew from GE alfalfa to salmon and more, food system activists are almost numb, and casting about for effective ways to respond. All the activism, public comment, court orders, and petitions up to now seem to have meant nothing. What's next?

They are writing. My food policy blog search today is filled with re-postings of this recitation from Food and Water Watch. And this exasperated post, from Natasha Chart, change.org's food blogger (a 2009 post, resurfacing).

Even industry blogger Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton, who writes the column Poultry Perspective on Meatingplace (a meat industry site you have to register to see), expresses some misgivings about their safety, in several of her posts that touch on GMOs.

An ad hoc group of organizations and individuals who oppose GMOs is strategizing in an online discussion group. One thread that is gaining traction is to activate consumer pressure in the marketplace, as was done effectively with the campaign against recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) in milk. What a concept! Related to this is the need to keep up pressure for labeling, which the biotech industry has so far sidestepped in this country.

As I keep saying--"be the market." How will they know what we want, if we don't ask for what we want? I have sent a question about GMO content in their products to H-E-B's online Contact Us form, and I got a personal reply. I'm not going to share it with you; that would be too easy! You'll have to go and get your own. I encourage you to do so. Ask your own questions, and express your own desires as a customer of the business. They need to hear from more of us.

I have plans also to contact some national brands like Triscuit and Wheat Thins, to ask about GMO content, and to tell them I can't trust their brand if it can't be labeled non-GMO. And anything containing soy or corn? The possibilities are endless.

To the barricades, shoppers!

Where did the month go?

I am just back from another TCOOPS (the Texas Conference On Organic Production Systems, hosted by the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) annual meeting. Lots to write about there. Later. Meanwhile, here is a link to what I posted about last year's conference.

Before I get to the 2011 conference, here are some of the things I had every intention of writing about this month, but didn't get to. (Caveat, if I'd captured the info as I went along, there would be more factual references. As it is, I'm mostly winging it.)

Chicago ordinance

From Chicago, there was a lot of discussion about a proposed ordinance that would have (a) recognized urban agriculture as a legal land use, and (b) created regulations contradicting some of its best pioneering operations and their practices. Here is a pretty thorough analysis of that.

While it's nice, I guess, that the City of Chicago wants to recognize UA's value, the proposed ordinance had some nutty provisions, like no off-site compost materials. Where is the stuff supposed to come from? Urban farms are a great place for recycling food waste from all sorts of establishments (green), and wood chips from brush removal and landscaping (brown). Green + brown + time = new dirt!

Another problem was a size restriction smaller than some existing farms, including some Growing Power operations. So those would be grandfathered, maybe? Great, but what about others that could be equally worthy in the future? What problem is the City trying to solve, exactly? If you are going to take up the issue at all, why take a restrictive stance? That's why we have to pay attention, and give knowledgeable and factual input when these things are brewing.

And apparently, enough people did. The Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council sent out an email on the 26th, the day before this was to have been voted on, that it is "deferred until further notice." They will be busy playing catch-up and educating their public officials. Developing the vision they want, fingers crossed. You can't tell your good stories often enough, to enough people.

GE Alfalfa

On the federal front, it was a huge disappointment to sustainable agriculture last week when Secretary Vilsack approved the planting of GE alfalfa, in contradiction to a massive public outcry and recent court decisions upholding objections to the proliferation of GMO crops. The new buzzword, hatched by the industry seeking to profit from flooding agriculture with GMO crops, is "coexistence." There are huge discussions going on about what to do next. I know it is not over. (GE=genetically engineered, GMO=genetically modified organisms. Mainly to tolerate the use of the herbicide Roundup. GE pollen can contaminate organic fields, for starters.)

Local food entrepreneur

In local news, there was a very nice Express-News article by Jennifer McInnis, about a St. Philip's graduate starting a food truck business after cooking for his grandmother's senior center and for other ailing relatives. Worth a read, if you missed it!

Food Policy Council

Finally, the San Antonio Food Policy Council had its fourth meeting this month. We heard a presentation from UTSA demographers about data for a community food assessment, and heard about an Austin food assessment. We also formed committees that will focus on areas like membership, policy research, and governance. You can comment here if you have input or questions for the council.

I know there was more. If I think of it, and it's still timely, I'll get it down.

Coming soon--TCOOPS report, including a Farm Bill listening session, Len Trevino of the SAFPC rocking a Food Justice panel, and opportunities to get involved in our TOFGA region's activities.

HIghlights from TOFGA, part 1

I came back from three days of meeting and learning from organic growers from all over Texas, completely inspired. Hair-on-fire inspired. Farmers are the people we all suddenly want to know, right?

Just to help channel some of that energy, I need to share a little of what I heard and saw.

There were two concurrent sessions for Friday and Saturday, and I could only be in one at a time. I took copious notes, so here are some of the things that impressed me most.

Pamela Walker, author of Growing Good Things to Eat in Texas: Profiles of Organic Farmers and Ranchers Across the State, presented stories from her book. Several of the farmers profiled were also at the conference. One was keynote speaker Brad Stufflebeam, but more about him later. 

Then Dr. Patricia Richardson, a soil ecologist with the University of Texas at Austin, gave a riveting, rollicking look into the life of the soil--microfauna (bacteria and fungi), mesofauna (mites, nematodes), and megafauna (earthworms, dung beetles). She showed the ways they interact to improve the chemistry and structure of the soil, and deliver micronutrients to plant roots. A recurring message in organic growing is that the farmer tends the soil to increase biological activity, and the soil life grows healthier, more nutritious plants.

Larry Butler, co-owner of Boggy Creek Farm in Austin, talked about marketing for family farm businesses. From selling at his own farm stand in East Austin, to farmers' markets and CSAs (community-supported agriculture), to restaurants and grocery stores, he had practical, funny, and wise advice for the packed room. He had no slides, and only a small paper with notes that he never looked at. He just jumped in and talked about what he knows--and he knows a lot, because he's been at this since 1991. He talked about how to get media coverage and build name recognition. When a chef carries Boggy Creek's produce, Butler tries to get the farm's name on the menu, or at least on the chalkboard. In return, he promotes the restaurant at his stand. He talked about how to build a relationship with grocery store produce managers. They know we want local, organic food, and farmers who know how to approach them can help them fill that need.

Next, Steve Diver (rhymes with river) of Sustainable Growth Texas demonstrated how the mineral content of organic fruits and vegetables, and ultimately of our bodies, is dependent on the minerals in the soil. In his information-packed presentation, he showed research and test results, not only on that topic, but also on the use of vibrational physics to influence growth and nutrient absorption. If that were not enough, he also had photomicrographs of cells from organic soy and GMO (genetically modified organism) soy. The GMO example was disjointed and shard-like, in contrast to the smooth, unbroken cell wall of the organic form.

This only gets us to lunch on Friday. I'll have to stop here, and continue the rest of my report in later posts.