GMO-free initiative OK'd in mendocino

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GMO-free initiative OK'd

By Dan Hamburg

 

The Mendocino Beacon

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

 

A citizens' initiative to ban the "propagation, cultivation, raising,

and growing of genetically modified organisms" in Mendocino County was

officially certified today, announced County Clerk Marsha Wharff.

 

Proponents gathered more than 4,000 signatures of county voters to

qualify the measure.

 

"We're ready to take this to the people," said Els Cooperrider of the

Mendocino Organic Network. "Why should the biotech corporations control

our local food supply?" she said. "If Monsanto has its way, genetically

modified organisms (GMOs) will cause irreversible harm to the economy

and the environment of our county. It's up to the citizens to protect

our property rights from unwanted GMOs."

 

If local voters approve the initiative, all crops grown within Mendocino

County would be GMO-free. People could still buy GMO-containing food

products at local stores, according to Cooperrider.

 

The campaign's goals are both local and global preventing genetic

contamination of Mendocino County's robust organic produce industry and

countering the worldwide spread of genetically engineered crops,

Cooperrider said.

 

The initiative has the unanimous support of the Mendocino-Lake Chapter

of the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). "The hope is that a

GMO-free Mendocino, coupled with our reputation as an

organically-focused growing region, will benefit the local economy, and

promote the health of local residents," according to Tim Bates, chapter

president.

 

In addition, vintners from among Mendocino County's largest wine

producers have lined up to support the initiative. They include Jeriko's

Danny Fetzer, Frey Vineyards' Katrina Frey, Jim Fetzer from Ceago

Vineyards, Paul Dolan, former President of Fetzer Vineyards, Roederer

Estates Vineyards and Germain-Robin Fine Alambic Brandy.

 

The vintners say they support the measure in part because they are

concerned that crops grown using GMOs will contaminate their vines and

harm the county's expanding organic wine market. Wind and insect-borne

GMO pollen can pollinate with natural grapevines and threaten the

viability of both organic and conventional grapes making the wine

unmarketable.

 

GMOs are man-made organisms, whose native intrinsic DNA has been

intentionally altered or amended with non-species specific DNA.

 

Cooperrider said that she fully expects the bioengineering industry to

spend large sums to defeat the local measure. "They are fearful that we

will set a precedent here in Mendocino County. And that's exactly what

we intend to do."

 

The Board of Supervisors will determine the date for a vote on this

measure at their meeting of Dec. 2.