Why should I care about GMOs?
This Only Concerns You if You Eat Food
*Note: This article was originally published August 30, 2011 and most recently updated June 26, 2015.
You may notice that this link appears multiple times throughout the article. I am adding it here to the top, for quick future reference, for those that want to remain informed:
Click here for a full list of GM crops
It is apparent that people are becoming aware of the importance of eating organic, and it is becoming more mainstream, affordable and widely available in many parts of the country. This is extremely good news and evidence that consumer demands and preferences do make a difference.*Note: This article was originally published August 30, 2011 and most recently updated June 26, 2015.
You may notice that this link appears multiple times throughout the article. I am adding it here to the top, for quick future reference, for those that want to remain informed:
Click here for a full list of GM crops
In the wake of that trend, however, I have also noticed that there are a multitude of companies that are jumping on the 'natural' bandwagon to try and fool consumers into thinking that their products are safer from controversial ingredients than they actually are.
Please understand that the word 'natural' on a package means absolutely nothing, zilch, zero.
Slowly, but surely people are starting to talk about GMOs (I don't sound like quite the nut case I did 10 years ago - haha), but since this is a relatively new concern, there is a lot of confusion on just what all this means. I have come to the conclusion that a lot of the confusion and misinformation is being purposely perpetrated.
There is a raging battle going on behind the scenes, even as I am writing this, for the right to know what is in our food. As it stands, very few products are labeled non-GMO and there are very specific reasons for this, which I will address.
My goal is to clear a few things up with this installment, so you don't necessarily have to wade through the vast ocean of information (not all of it accurate) that I have spent countless hours doing since 2004, so you can therefore make an informed decision as to whether or not you believe the concerns over GMOs are valid.
I have included many links to credible sources throughout this piece for you to be able to delve deeper, if you so choose. I hope you do, there is so much information out there - and they are counting on us to remain uninformed. Take your time. Take it in bits and pieces. There is a LOT of information here, and I only really scratch the surface.
What the Heck is a GMO?
GMO stands for 'genetically modified organism'. You also see the term GE used from time to time; stands for 'genetically engineered' - same thing. Also known as biotechnology, this is the science of altering an organism at the level of its genetic makeup by specifically inserting a foreign gene into its DNA strand, to get the organism to exhibit a specific trait that it would not otherwise develop in nature. This is going on in laboratories around the world and there is very little oversight on what is being released into the market.
This year (2011) the USDA deregulated GM sugar beets, alfalfa and corn for the production of ethanol.
Click here for a full list of GM crops
The reasons to genetically alter an organism vary as much as the research that is going on. Why do some consider this a bad thing?
This is a relatively recent science and is being conducted and released by giant, publicly-held, multinational corporations that have come under fire and criticism that they just might not have the consumers best interest at heart.
Being one of the most powerful lobbies there are, they have hammered relentlessly to become virtually self-regulating, with no oversight from agencies that we pay to do just that.
Talk about the fox guarding the hen house. It is also very concerning that many of these government agents themselves have strong ties throughout their career to these agribusiness giants.
Many contend that the food-related illnesses and disorders that have been skyrocketing since these crops have found their way onto our grocery store shelves in almost ALL of our food, could not be "just a coincidence"; and they're out to get to the bottom of it - meeting an unbelievable amount of resistance from all sides.
Most people do not realize that almost exclusively, chemical corporations and pharmaceuticals are now in charge of the major production of our commodity crops, and if they have their way, ALL staple vegetables in the grocery store.
Click here for a full list of current GM crops
There hasn't been nearly enough independent research done on any of the major (and I do mean major) concerns that have been raised.
How long did it take to prove that tobacco is harmful to our health? Did you know that the industry norm on self-testing studies by these corporate giants for these crops is 90 days?
So far they have refused and rejected any independent data discovered by longer term studies - labeling all of them as "junk science". Really.
Here is a Reuters article based on the findings of one scientist at the USDA, regarding emerging soil and plant problems :
Click here to learn more about Roundup research shows plant, soil problems
The GMOs I am going to focus on here are mainly the two that are in almost every product in the average grocery store and processed food; corn and soy.
*Note: Since this article was originally published, many more GMO staple crops have been approved including sweet corn. Keep in mind, they will not stop until they have a patent on all food eaten worldwide, if they have their way. What a better way to control?
Click here for a full list of GM crops
It IS a big deal, and the aversion to it is not necessarily a "knee-jerk reaction to something that we don't understand just because it sounds scary", as has been stated by these corporations, and various government officials that have strong ties to these corporations. They vigorously advocate the widespread use of these products under the guise of "ending world hunger". You hear that over and over.
Initially the "knee-jerk reaction" by consumers that might read it on the label, was one of the biggest arguments against consumer labeling as cited by said interested parties. Now they are labeling people with concerns about GMOs as "anti-science". This couldn't be further from the truth.
The adopted use of GMO (biotech) crops since 1996 according to the USDA:
Click here to view USDA data on biotech crops
What is the Difference between HT GMOs and Bt GMOs?
This year (2011) the USDA deregulated GM sugar beets, alfalfa and corn for the production of ethanol.
Click here for a full list of GM crops
The reasons to genetically alter an organism vary as much as the research that is going on. Why do some consider this a bad thing?
This is a relatively recent science and is being conducted and released by giant, publicly-held, multinational corporations that have come under fire and criticism that they just might not have the consumers best interest at heart.
Being one of the most powerful lobbies there are, they have hammered relentlessly to become virtually self-regulating, with no oversight from agencies that we pay to do just that.
Talk about the fox guarding the hen house. It is also very concerning that many of these government agents themselves have strong ties throughout their career to these agribusiness giants.
Many contend that the food-related illnesses and disorders that have been skyrocketing since these crops have found their way onto our grocery store shelves in almost ALL of our food, could not be "just a coincidence"; and they're out to get to the bottom of it - meeting an unbelievable amount of resistance from all sides.
Most people do not realize that almost exclusively, chemical corporations and pharmaceuticals are now in charge of the major production of our commodity crops, and if they have their way, ALL staple vegetables in the grocery store.
Click here for a full list of current GM crops
There hasn't been nearly enough independent research done on any of the major (and I do mean major) concerns that have been raised.
How long did it take to prove that tobacco is harmful to our health? Did you know that the industry norm on self-testing studies by these corporate giants for these crops is 90 days?
So far they have refused and rejected any independent data discovered by longer term studies - labeling all of them as "junk science". Really.
Here is a Reuters article based on the findings of one scientist at the USDA, regarding emerging soil and plant problems :
Click here to learn more about Roundup research shows plant, soil problems
The GMOs I am going to focus on here are mainly the two that are in almost every product in the average grocery store and processed food; corn and soy.
*Note: Since this article was originally published, many more GMO staple crops have been approved including sweet corn. Keep in mind, they will not stop until they have a patent on all food eaten worldwide, if they have their way. What a better way to control?
Click here for a full list of GM crops
It IS a big deal, and the aversion to it is not necessarily a "knee-jerk reaction to something that we don't understand just because it sounds scary", as has been stated by these corporations, and various government officials that have strong ties to these corporations. They vigorously advocate the widespread use of these products under the guise of "ending world hunger". You hear that over and over.
Initially the "knee-jerk reaction" by consumers that might read it on the label, was one of the biggest arguments against consumer labeling as cited by said interested parties. Now they are labeling people with concerns about GMOs as "anti-science". This couldn't be further from the truth.
The adopted use of GMO (biotech) crops since 1996 according to the USDA:
Click here to view USDA data on biotech crops
What is the Difference between HT GMOs and Bt GMOs?
HT stands for 'herbicide tolerant' and was specifically developed to alter seeds so that the crops can tolerate the prolific use of the broad spectrum herbicides glyphosate and glufosinate:
Click here to learn more about glyphosate
Click here to learn more about glufosinate
These crops were developed by inserting genetic material from bacteria that are not effected by these poisons into the DNA of the crop seed. After years of trying, I cannot find the name of this bacteria to be able to research further whether it has been proven harmful to mammals or not, of course we are being reassured that it is not. I assume that it is categorized as a trade secret associated with the patent.
Would you be surprised if I told you that the same companies that have patented these GM seeds are the same companies that produce the herbicides? I didn't think so...
One very serious concern is how much herbicide use has increased in this country (and anywhere they are used) since these seeds have come on the market. The following link illustrates this:
Click here for info on increased herbicide use since the introduction of GMO crops
Areas that have been saturated with these crops are turning up incredibly horrific health problems.
Click here for a USA Today article on Argentina's increasing health problems linked to these chemicals
Bt (insert crop name) stands for an organism that has also been altered by inserting a gene from a bacterium into the DNA strand, specifically the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis; which then makes the plant toxic to certain strains of pests that might otherwise ruin the crops. The most common crops to be Bt are cotton and corn.
Bt has not been proven to be toxic to birds or mammals, and has been used for more than 50 years as an 'organic' pesticide on many crops; and has long been favored by organic farmers as an alternative to highly toxic chemical pesticides.
Because the longstanding use of Bt by organic farmers, the owners of the GMO Bt seed patents argue that GMO crops should be allowed to 'coexist' with organics; and even go so far as to propose that Bt GMO crops be allowed to be labeled as organic.
One thing that is very important to keep in mind when talking about Bt, is that it attacks insects in their larvae stage (caterpillars and worms). It is a serious concern when talking about what has happened to decimate populations of pollinators such as the Monarch butterfly, as an example.
Click here to learn more about Bacillus thuringiensis from UCSD
Here's the potential problem and the difference with the 'GMO & organic coexistence' proposal: If a crop is treated externally with the bacteria Bt, a relatively small amount of it will make it into our digestive systems. Understand that scientists still don't even yet fully understand how it works on the insects. Topical application is a lot different than eating the bacteria with every bite of food because it is genetically inserted into the gene of the crop.
Some of the concerns with Bt crops are that it has been shown to survive in the intestinal tracts and blood of humans (contrary to initial safety reports). Intestinal tract health and the bacteria that thrive (or don't thrive) there is now being linked to everything from food allergies to autism.
Another concern is that reproductive numbers in livestock, that have been fed exclusively feed from GM crops, have declined drastically. It is said they become sterile.
Again, not nearly enough independent research has been conducted on these matters, but more and more information is coming to light all the time. Don't expect to see it on the 5 o'clock news anytime soon, however.
Click here to see a study on maternal and fetal exposure associated to genetically modified foods
Side note on this to think about: How much baby formula is GMO?
Click here to read a great NYT article by Mark Bittman on GMO food labeling, from February 15, 2011
What is a Hybrid?
I would like to address the difference between 'hybrid' and 'GMO'; they are not the same, although I see people understandably confused about this on a regular basis; most commonly observed by myself, is the misconception that if you buy seeds that are organic or simply non-GMO they will reproduce offspring the following year. It is important to understand the difference, especially if you are interested in saving food seeds from your garden that can be used year after year. A hybrid will usually not reproduce, whereas a GMO very well may.
Because the GMOs are patented (we can thank former Monsanto attorney and Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas for awarding the first ever GMO seed patent), saving seeds to replant is forbidden. Farmers actually run the risk of being hit with a patent infringement lawsuit if they do not re-purchase these seeds from the company year after year. Many farmers have found this out the hard way, and been destroyed in the process. These corporations employ task forces whose sole purpose is to build watch lists and strictly enforce patent infringement.
One micro cottage industry that has been destroyed are the little known seed cleaners. Farmers used to save a portion of their crops for seed and take them to the seed cleaner, that had a special piece of equipment that would separate the seed from the chaff, and have the seed ready for the farmer to plant the next year. These no longer exist. It is a truly sad story to hear how they have been decimated. But I digress...
It is also important to understand that there are organic hybrid seeds which will still not reproduce.
Let's talk about the specific definitions of these words:
Organic means that it has been grown without the use of controversial chemical pesticides or synthetic chemical fertilizers (at this point when referring to processed food products it also means it cannot contain over 5 percent of non-organic ingredients, including GMOs, but they are trying to change that, as I mentioned earlier) - it does not mean that it will necessarily reproduce.
Heirloom varieties are the pure natural seeds that are not hybrids, nor GMOs, and they have the best potential for reproduction.
Last, but not least there has been much controversy surrounding the introduction of the 'terminator gene' which is owned by Delta and Pine Land Company, which was purchased by Monsanto in August 2006. AstraZeneca is also reportedly currently conducting research on 'Genetic Use Restriction Technology'. As I understand it, there are no products as of yet on the market that contain the 'terminator gene'.
Hybrids are important.
The first officially documented hybrid crop was corn, and research on this began all the way back in 1906 by a geneticist named G.H. Shull. Hybrid crops can be produced somewhat naturally by getting open-pollinated crops to cross breed with each other. Ultimately the crops need to be carefully inbred to get certain characteristics, which leads to much higher yields and uniformity that we are all used to seeing in the grocery store.
Hybrid crops have arguably done far more to effectively boost food production yields than GMOs have.
Hybrid corn has been readily available for the average farmer to plant since the 1930s.
The first GMO product didn't come on the market until 1996 - but I see the GMO producers taking too much credit for higher yields.
Some critics of GMOs (including many farmers that have used the products) state that the genetically engineered crops indeed do NOT produce better yields than the standard hybrids.
To learn more about the history of hybrids:
Click here to learn more about the history of improving corn through hybridization from the USDA research service website
How Can I Know if the Food I'm Eating Contains GMOs?
Actually the only way to know about products that aren't labeled organic or Non GMO Project verified for sure is to call the company and ask; or write an email to ask.
There are many projects in the works to get companies to voluntarily label their products and many are understandably wary as I will explain in a moment.
In the meantime, we are left to speculate based on the facts we do have:
Referring back to the USDA graph at the top, as of this year (2011) 94% of all soy grown in the US is GM; as much as 72% of corn; and not shown, 90% of canola.
Let's break this down. At 94% of all soy grown here, it is safe to say that if the label on the food lists soy, and doesn't voluntarily label it as non-GMO you have a 94% chance that it contains GMOs.
At 72% of corn planted in the US it looks like the odds get a little better that it doesn't contain GMOs, but here's where it gets tricky.
Remember the patent infringements I wrote about earlier in the piece? Believe it or not, farmers have been slapped with patent infringement lawsuits for growing patented GMO corn that they DID NOT EVEN PLANT!
That's right, it all has to do with the way that corn naturally cross-pollinates across quite large areas of space, so a farmer that is trying to preserve the integrity of a non-GMO field that finds himself surrounded by crops that are GMO, runs a very high risk of his crops becoming contaminated with the patented genes.
Some farmers contend that they almost have to keep their non-GMO crops as under the radar as possible, because to advertise on a label as non-GMO with corn is like sending a gold-embossed invitation to have their crops tested for GMO contamination, with lawsuit and ruination to follow.
What small organic farmer trying desperately to make a go despite the odds can afford to go up against a company that has some $100 million earmarked for litigation?
For this reason, if no other such as health or environment doesn't pique a consumer's interest, more people are becoming outraged at the injustices that some of these companies have been allowed to get away with, simply because they have more cash. More and more consumer are choosing to fight back by avoiding these patented food products as much as possible. They haven't made it very easy.
So, with these numbers so high, how much food containing GMOs do you think you have consumed since 1996?
Mind you, this isn't even counting canola. I chose not to talk much about canola in this installment, because I was against canola oil as a food product even before it went GM, and that is a whole other blog post I have yet to write. I have avoided consuming or buying canola for a myriad of reasons since 1999.
Please refer to the following links for a glimpse of a fraction of the concerns about GMO canola:
Click here for a story on how GMO canola has "escaped the fields" and gone into the wild from NPR. Keep in mind it can't be killed with herbicide.
Click here for another article by the NYT on the "roadside invader" GMO canola
The fast food chain has also begun a transition to only free range eggs in it's breakfast items in the UK with Australia soon to follow, because consumers demanded it:
Others that are Trying to Make a Difference:
Since I originally published this article, I would like to introduce an individual that has taken these concerns to a whole new level and risen to the occasion to take these concerns and others to the mainstream media: The Food Babe
On May 25th, 2013, I joined 2 million people world-wide in the first ever "March Against Monsanto", which has become a yearly event to heighten awareness of GMOs. You can join the movement and stay updated at: March Against Monsanto
Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association: http://www.osgata.org/
Center for Food Safety: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/
Non-GMO Project: http://www.nongmoproject.org/ Follow them on Facebook for current coverage in the battle to label non-GMO foods.
Food Democracy Now: http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/
Green Polka Dot Box - allows you to receive products you can feel good about no matter where you live: http://www.greenpolkadotbox.com/ Their prices are very reasonable!
'The Greenhorns' documentary about our country's young farmers, many of whom are out to challenge what have become known as 'conventional' methods of farming. Just released this year after 3 years in production: http://www.thegreenhorns.net/
As previously mentioned, 'Food Inc.' food industry documentary. A very important film in raising awareness: http://www.foodincmovie.com/
'King Corn' is another documentary very well done by two college buddies that travel together to Iowa to plant an acre of corn and follow the entire process from planting all the way through what will happen to that corn, once it is harvested: http://www.kingcorn.net/ They even make High Fructose Corn Syrup in their home kitchen! Crack me up!
Organic Consumers Association: http://www.organicconsumers.org/
Because the GMOs are patented (we can thank former Monsanto attorney and Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas for awarding the first ever GMO seed patent), saving seeds to replant is forbidden. Farmers actually run the risk of being hit with a patent infringement lawsuit if they do not re-purchase these seeds from the company year after year. Many farmers have found this out the hard way, and been destroyed in the process. These corporations employ task forces whose sole purpose is to build watch lists and strictly enforce patent infringement.
One micro cottage industry that has been destroyed are the little known seed cleaners. Farmers used to save a portion of their crops for seed and take them to the seed cleaner, that had a special piece of equipment that would separate the seed from the chaff, and have the seed ready for the farmer to plant the next year. These no longer exist. It is a truly sad story to hear how they have been decimated. But I digress...
It is also important to understand that there are organic hybrid seeds which will still not reproduce.
Let's talk about the specific definitions of these words:
Organic means that it has been grown without the use of controversial chemical pesticides or synthetic chemical fertilizers (at this point when referring to processed food products it also means it cannot contain over 5 percent of non-organic ingredients, including GMOs, but they are trying to change that, as I mentioned earlier) - it does not mean that it will necessarily reproduce.
Heirloom varieties are the pure natural seeds that are not hybrids, nor GMOs, and they have the best potential for reproduction.
Last, but not least there has been much controversy surrounding the introduction of the 'terminator gene' which is owned by Delta and Pine Land Company, which was purchased by Monsanto in August 2006. AstraZeneca is also reportedly currently conducting research on 'Genetic Use Restriction Technology'. As I understand it, there are no products as of yet on the market that contain the 'terminator gene'.
Hybrids are important.
The first officially documented hybrid crop was corn, and research on this began all the way back in 1906 by a geneticist named G.H. Shull. Hybrid crops can be produced somewhat naturally by getting open-pollinated crops to cross breed with each other. Ultimately the crops need to be carefully inbred to get certain characteristics, which leads to much higher yields and uniformity that we are all used to seeing in the grocery store.
Hybrid crops have arguably done far more to effectively boost food production yields than GMOs have.
Hybrid corn has been readily available for the average farmer to plant since the 1930s.
The first GMO product didn't come on the market until 1996 - but I see the GMO producers taking too much credit for higher yields.
Some critics of GMOs (including many farmers that have used the products) state that the genetically engineered crops indeed do NOT produce better yields than the standard hybrids.
To learn more about the history of hybrids:
Click here to learn more about the history of improving corn through hybridization from the USDA research service website
How Can I Know if the Food I'm Eating Contains GMOs?
Actually the only way to know about products that aren't labeled organic or Non GMO Project verified for sure is to call the company and ask; or write an email to ask.
There are many projects in the works to get companies to voluntarily label their products and many are understandably wary as I will explain in a moment.
In the meantime, we are left to speculate based on the facts we do have:
Referring back to the USDA graph at the top, as of this year (2011) 94% of all soy grown in the US is GM; as much as 72% of corn; and not shown, 90% of canola.
Let's break this down. At 94% of all soy grown here, it is safe to say that if the label on the food lists soy, and doesn't voluntarily label it as non-GMO you have a 94% chance that it contains GMOs.
At 72% of corn planted in the US it looks like the odds get a little better that it doesn't contain GMOs, but here's where it gets tricky.
Remember the patent infringements I wrote about earlier in the piece? Believe it or not, farmers have been slapped with patent infringement lawsuits for growing patented GMO corn that they DID NOT EVEN PLANT!
That's right, it all has to do with the way that corn naturally cross-pollinates across quite large areas of space, so a farmer that is trying to preserve the integrity of a non-GMO field that finds himself surrounded by crops that are GMO, runs a very high risk of his crops becoming contaminated with the patented genes.
Some farmers contend that they almost have to keep their non-GMO crops as under the radar as possible, because to advertise on a label as non-GMO with corn is like sending a gold-embossed invitation to have their crops tested for GMO contamination, with lawsuit and ruination to follow.
What small organic farmer trying desperately to make a go despite the odds can afford to go up against a company that has some $100 million earmarked for litigation?
For this reason, if no other such as health or environment doesn't pique a consumer's interest, more people are becoming outraged at the injustices that some of these companies have been allowed to get away with, simply because they have more cash. More and more consumer are choosing to fight back by avoiding these patented food products as much as possible. They haven't made it very easy.
So, with these numbers so high, how much food containing GMOs do you think you have consumed since 1996?
Mind you, this isn't even counting canola. I chose not to talk much about canola in this installment, because I was against canola oil as a food product even before it went GM, and that is a whole other blog post I have yet to write. I have avoided consuming or buying canola for a myriad of reasons since 1999.
Please refer to the following links for a glimpse of a fraction of the concerns about GMO canola:
Click here for a story on how GMO canola has "escaped the fields" and gone into the wild from NPR. Keep in mind it can't be killed with herbicide.
Click here for another article by the NYT on the "roadside invader" GMO canola
What Can I do as a Consumer that Doesn't want to Eat GMOs?
As consumers in this country, we have more power than we give ourselves credit for.
Actually, I haven't decided if it is the feeling of hopelessness to make a difference as an individual, lack of common knowledge on these issues, trust that our institutions such as the USDA and FDA are going to protect us, fear of being labeled as a radical or health nut, or sheer laziness that keep us from speaking out.
Did you know that in Europe McDonald's has begun using exclusively sustainably harvested fish in its restaurants because consumers demanded it?
Actually, I haven't decided if it is the feeling of hopelessness to make a difference as an individual, lack of common knowledge on these issues, trust that our institutions such as the USDA and FDA are going to protect us, fear of being labeled as a radical or health nut, or sheer laziness that keep us from speaking out.
Did you know that in Europe McDonald's has begun using exclusively sustainably harvested fish in its restaurants because consumers demanded it?
The fast food chain has also begun a transition to only free range eggs in it's breakfast items in the UK with Australia soon to follow, because consumers demanded it:
Being a classically-trained chef, I'm not a big fan of fast food in general, but I cite these instances to drive home the point that if you, as a consumer, make your preferences known to these giant corporations they will give you what you want.
The wonderfully informative documentary Food Inc. pointed out that the retail giant Walmart now only sells milk that is rBST-free, but only because the consumers have made it known that that is what they prefer.
Click here to see one of the best documentaries ever produced concerning the state of modern corporate farming
So, if this concerns you at all, call the toll-free number on the bag and ask if your 'natural' potato chips were fried in GM soybean oil, and if the answer is no, ask them why they don't label it as such.
Send an email to your favorite cereal company and ask if the corn in those nutritionally-fortified flakes was grown from GM crops, and if it wasn't, ask them why they don't label it as such.
What do you have to lose but a few minutes of your time? This is what it is going to take to change what is available to us as consumers.
The wonderfully informative documentary Food Inc. pointed out that the retail giant Walmart now only sells milk that is rBST-free, but only because the consumers have made it known that that is what they prefer.
Click here to see one of the best documentaries ever produced concerning the state of modern corporate farming
So, if this concerns you at all, call the toll-free number on the bag and ask if your 'natural' potato chips were fried in GM soybean oil, and if the answer is no, ask them why they don't label it as such.
Send an email to your favorite cereal company and ask if the corn in those nutritionally-fortified flakes was grown from GM crops, and if it wasn't, ask them why they don't label it as such.
What do you have to lose but a few minutes of your time? This is what it is going to take to change what is available to us as consumers.
Since I originally published this article, I would like to introduce an individual that has taken these concerns to a whole new level and risen to the occasion to take these concerns and others to the mainstream media: The Food Babe
On May 25th, 2013, I joined 2 million people world-wide in the first ever "March Against Monsanto", which has become a yearly event to heighten awareness of GMOs. You can join the movement and stay updated at: March Against Monsanto
Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association: http://www.osgata.org/
Center for Food Safety: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/
Non-GMO Project: http://www.nongmoproject.org/ Follow them on Facebook for current coverage in the battle to label non-GMO foods.
Food Democracy Now: http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/
Green Polka Dot Box - allows you to receive products you can feel good about no matter where you live: http://www.greenpolkadotbox.com/ Their prices are very reasonable!
'The Greenhorns' documentary about our country's young farmers, many of whom are out to challenge what have become known as 'conventional' methods of farming. Just released this year after 3 years in production: http://www.thegreenhorns.net/
As previously mentioned, 'Food Inc.' food industry documentary. A very important film in raising awareness: http://www.foodincmovie.com/
'King Corn' is another documentary very well done by two college buddies that travel together to Iowa to plant an acre of corn and follow the entire process from planting all the way through what will happen to that corn, once it is harvested: http://www.kingcorn.net/ They even make High Fructose Corn Syrup in their home kitchen! Crack me up!
Organic Consumers Association: http://www.organicconsumers.org/
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