Happy Food for You!
We are also relearning that our elders had some smarts 40-50 years ago. Another great idea from the past which is beginning to catch on again is using crop rotation instead of Roundup! http://www.nationofchange.org/how-crop-rotation-can-replace-gmo-poisons-grow-better-food-world-1375798417
PAY BACK IS COMING….
As we finish this series on GMO’s, I have a prediction for the future. Remember breast implant lawsuits against Dow Corning, Baxter, and Bristol-Myers Squibb back in the 1990’s? Mark my words: The next big series of lawsuits will likely be about Genetic Engineering and GMO’s. There will be thousands of happy lawyers, and the scale of this upcoming era of lawsuits will dwarf those on health issues from the past. I wouldn’t want to be Monsanto and Crowd.
Nature has many laws, and one of them is “What goes around, comes around.” There’s a saying like this in every culture —for a reason.
SOME DO-GOODERS
As promised, in this final article in our GMO series, we celebrate some of the Good Guys & Gals and leave you with additional resources. You may want to file this article away for future reference…and actually use it!
The Non-GMO Project: www.NonGMOproject.org Ah-ha! Where there is a void in nature, something fills it, and the FDA has been mostly missing on the GMO issue in terms of protecting public health. In 2001 and 2003, efforts began in Toronto Canada and Berkeley, CA in response to consumer concerns at natural grocery stores. They discovered each other and their common goal of creating a standardized meaning of “Non-GMO” for the North American food industry.
The Non-GMO Project works with a scientific group called Global ID Group which provides non-GMO testing, certification and consulting. One day a couple of months ago I discovered their label on the packaging of my Almond Milk. Now I look for it on packaged items, just the same as I look for the organic number “9” on PLU labels on fruits and veggies (and avoid “8”, GMO, and “4” pesticide sprayed).
FOG – Florida Organic Growers Association: http://www.foginfo.org/ (resources for growers and consumers)
Organic Consumers Association http://www.organicconsumers.org/ (current news and info resources)
The Family Farmers Seed Co-op http://organicseedcoop.com/ Thankfully there is a network of Seed Libraries across the nation. They “check out” heirloom and other non-GMO seeds, and the farmers bring some back after the crops are in.
Polyface Farms This short video is just plain FUN to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxTfQpv8xGA
Fast Food’s 1ST Major Chain to go Organic: Denver-Based Chipotle Restaurants are hopefully coming to Ft Myers soon—they are all over the state of Florida, the nearest ones being in Naples and Sarasota—and it looks like there is one on every other block in Orlando. Chipotle has over 1,450 restaurants in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom, and it is the 1st Fast Food Chain to voluntarily label their foods with the aim of providing a full organic menu. At one time sold to McDonalds, the original owner bought it back because the food purity values were diverging drastically, and he was moved to regain control. Yummy (huge) burritos and salads. http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/06/chipotle-gmo/
Target : Everyone starts somewhere, and Target, being a Huge Force in America is coming online with its new wellness brand called “Simply Balanced”. About 2/3 are now GMO Free, and Target promises to “eliminate” all GMO products in the line by the end of 2014. https://corporate.target.com/discover/article/Simply-Balanced-Target-s-wellness-Grocery-brand Bravo, Target—this is a start! Here’s hoping they soon begin to add organic produce and meats!
Jet Blue:
Finally, an airline that understands the true meaning of “NATURAL” food. JetBlue offers GMO Free snacks. And gluten free, too. Give their FB page a “Like” and tell them THANK YOU! We’re hitting the mainstream. Bye bye Monsteranto!
Italy & India:
First India gives #Monsanto a run for their ill-gotten money by refusing their patent applications, and now Italy, with the help of three Italian ministries, will try to undo Monsanto. A decree has been signed which will ban Monsanto’s MON810 maize, one of the two genetically modified crops currently legally grown in Europe and sold commercially. The decree is not yet binding as it has to be published in the official gazette, but the public stands behind the three Italian ministers who put forth the document with a resounding 80% against #GMO and Monsanto, as evidenced in a public survey.
Read more:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_27939.cfm
SOME LOCAL GMO-FREE SHOPPING SOURCES in SW Florida (and check your Farmer’s Market for Organic producer representatives!):
Adas, Whole Foods and other Natural Grocery Stores: Whole Foods (Naples is still the closest location to Ft. Myers) is joining and supporting the Non-GMO Project movement. They are volunteering to have all GMO products in their stores labeled by 2018. Sounds like a BIG job. Ada’s is moving to Hwy 41 and College – expanded offerings will include a butcher shop with grass-fed beef.) www.adasnatural.com
The Skinny Pantry, recently moved to south Ft. Myers
http://www.theskinnypantry.com
• They understand GMO, so read labels and ASK when you shop here (that’s good advice anywhere).
Back to Nature www.facebook.com/capebacktonature
Worden Farms in Punta Gorda: www.wordenfarm.com Go to the farmer’s market onsite. You can even pick some of your own!
Pine Island Botanicals www.PineIslandBotanicals.com at the Tuesday Afternoon/Eve Belks’ Farmer’s Market
Pick Your Own Organic Farms: Go here for a listing of farms in your area: http://www.pickyourown.org/FLwest.htm
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
· Sign Senator Jeff Merkley’s Bill to Label GMO’s. We have a right to know and choose what we put in our bodies!
http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-senate-support?source=mo&fb_test=0&id=71424-25424817-0nadLCx
· Stay in tune with this issue. Ask Questions. Read Labels. Feed your body nutritious, healthy food it can recognize…as often as you can!
· VOTE FOR GOOD FOOD WITH YOUR DOLLARS. FOOD IS YOUR BODY’S BEST MEDICINE OR WORST POISON!
Wishing you Good Food and Good Health,
Dr. David and Deb Martin
www.LotusBlossomClinic.com
(239) 277-1399