Davis Food Co-op Food Issues
Cork Wine Closures | "One Farm at a Time" | "Roundup Ready" Alfalfa & the USDA
Mandatory labels for genetically-engineered salmon?
A California bill to require labels on genetically engineered salmon moved forward on May 3, 2011, when it passed the Assembly Health Committee. Assemblymember Jared Huffman introduced the bill, AB 88, in anticipation of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the first-ever proposed commercialization of a genetically engineered animal, AquaBounty's salmon.
"Knowing whether our salmon is genetically engineered is important for a host of reasons, including risks to our native salmon species, and allowing consumers to make dietary choices consistent with concerns they may have for the environment, food safety, and religiously or ethically based dietary restrictions," said Assemblymember Huffman.
AB 88 "would provide that food is misbranded if the food is a genetically engineered fish or fish product... and its labeling does not conspicuously identify the fish or fish product as genetically engineered."
If you live in Davis, your Assemblymember is Mariko Yamada, representing the 8th District.
"Roundup Ready" Alfalfa & the USDA
What will the effect be on organic farmers & crops?
You may have read about and/or heard comments from others about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision to allow unrestricted commercial cultivation of genetically modified alfalfa, announced on Thursday, January 27, 2011.
Our Co-op includes members with divergent views of recombinant DNA technology and its use in crops and animals. This decision is seen as a blow to all of us who support a GMO-free standard for organic food and who submitted our comments opposing fully deregulated GE alfalfa to the USDA.
So you know:
1. Davis Food Co-op buyers are aware of this decision.
2. Lawsuits have already been filed protesting the decision.
3. Concerned consumers can get involved by supporting the efforts of organic food lobbying groups that are working to reverse the decision.
4. The Co-op encourages shoppers to read about this issue from a number of groups, and to support and join with one or some of them to influence Washington.
5. Of the several watchdog groups opposing GMOs in Washington, one, Organic Consumers Association, is criticizing others within the organic food movement. We encourage shoppers to read more and decide for themselves (see Fair Food Fight or below).
NATIONAL COOPERATIVE GROCERS ASSOCIATION EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT IN USDA’S DECISION TO DEREGULATE GE ALFALFA, URGES CONSUMERS TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR ORGANIC FARMERS
IOWA CITY, IOWA (Jan. 28, 2011) – National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) expresses disappointment with the USDA’s decision for complete deregulation of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa. [The Davis Food Co-op is a member & participant in the NCGA.)
“We appreciate that the USDA considered various options for the future of GE alfalfa, and had hoped that the voices of the hundreds of thousands of consumers who commented on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement [EIS] would result in a different outcome,” said Robynn Shrader, chief executive officer for NCGA. “Like many, we are extremely disappointed with yesterday's announcement and will continue to champion for better protections for organic farmers and consumers, by all means afforded to us."
"Many organizations are encouraging consumers to contact the White House and their state's legislators with their feedback on USDA's decision and we encourage all consumers to continue to make their voices heard. However, we have also heard some calls for boycotting of organics in protest to USDA's decision and we'd like to express our passionate objection to this idea."
“Although this outcome was not what we had hoped for, the organic community was included in this process at unprecedented levels and as a result of our combined input, the USDA has committed to studying methods to prevent cross pollination and securing and preserving non-GE alfalfa seeds,” Shrader continued.
"The message we would like to send to organic consumers today is that it is more important than ever to support the farmers and processors who bring us organics. It is only through continued growth and increased market power that we can have a greater impact in Washington. Yesterday's decision means that the work of organic farmers and others in the industry will be more challenging than ever. We want them to know that NCGA will continue to work on their behalf and we call on consumers to join us in showing support. Now is the time for us to demonstrate our shared commitment to organic. Now is the time to support organic farmers."
To learn more about co-ops, visit www.strongertogether.coop or www.go.coop.
Where to Learn More About the GE Alfalfa Decision:
The New York Times: http://s.coop/8r9
California Alfalfa Workgroup Homepage: http://alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/
Organic Valley: http://s.coop/8rb
An Organic Valley farmer talks about GE Alfalfa: http://s.coop/8qk
Center for Food Safety: http://s.coop/8rd
National Organic Coalition: http://s.coop/8re
Community Alliance with Family Farmers: http://s.coop/8rf
Food Safety News: http://s.coop/8rg
The Cornucopia Institute: http://s.coop/8og
"What the heck is alfalfa, anyway" [and why you shouldn't worry much]: http://s.coop/8yx
Petition to sign for Millions Against Monsanto: http://s.coop/8ri
Petition to demand President Obama to stop Monsanto's GE alfalfa: http://s.coop/8rj
Why Pick Cork for Wine Closures?
By Doug Walter
Many vintners take positive steps that improve local soil fertility. But did you know that the choice of bottle closure can make a big difference for the environment? Cork, which can be harvested sustainably, helps maintains an ecosystem that guards soils against erosion, preserves fertility and some diversity, and supports wildlife. Natural cork closures are fully biodegradable, and can be recycled into useful products.
But a vintner might use another closure for valid reasons. I wouldn't uniformly disdain wines — such as those from Yolo County's Berryessa Gap — that use screwcaps to preserve the “just as bottled” taste. Plastic “corks” aren't my favorites, but they're a means of cutting packaging costs. However, a wine with potential to improve with age will benefit from a natural cork closure.
Skilled harvesters produce quality cork by sustainable cutting, in which the entire bark layer is stripped from the cork oak trees. If it's done well, it all grows back! Cork can only be harvested from the oaks about once a decade, but the benefits of the forest landscape are continuous. Several endangered species are dependent on cork oak forests, which “support one of the highest levels of biodiversity among forest habitats” according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Wine stoppers are the most important product of cork oak forests. When you buy wines with natural cork stoppers, you’re helping trees, wildlife and people.
Sources
http://assets.panda.org/downloads/cork_rev12_print.pdf (p. 4)
http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/wine_stopper.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7623912.stm
http://thegreenpages.ca/portal/on/2007/12/cork_the_latest_renewable_reso/
"One Farm at a Time"
Preserving local agricultural land
The Davis Food Co-op is working with farmers, other co-ops, land trusts, and people like you to make sure that California farmers don't get priced out of the market for farm land. In the video below, Jeff Main of Good Humus Produce in the Capay Valley of Yolo County describes a strategy of adding stipulations to conservation easements, in order to assure that farmers can and will live on their land.
"Each generation builds on the past generation" — quite a vision for a future of farming!
If you are interested in supporting "One Farm at a Time" with a donation, please send a check to Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation at this address:
Davis Food Co-op
Attn: Twin Pines/OFaaT
716 Sixth Street
Davis, CA 95616