"Two wrongs may not make a right but a thousand wrongs make a writer.”

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Strawberry Fields Forever

I know y'all get tired of me carrying on about organics and genetically engineered crops and Monsanto's herbicides, but a new development is so upsetting I simply have to vent and share it with you. Whole Foods, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farms have all surrendered to Monsanto.

As reported in the Organic Consumer Association's newsletter, "These companies have betrayed their customers and publically stated that they no longer oppose Monsanto's efforts to contaminate our farmland with their genetically engineered alfalfa. Monsanto's GE alfalfa is a perennial crop, guaranteed to spread its mutant genes and seeds across the nation; guaranteed to contaminate the alfalfa fed to organic animals; guaranteed to lead to massive poisoning of farm workers . . ."

If you are concerned about our nation's food supply and the decline of the honeybee, which has been directly contributed to the use of GMO's, please read the article and take action. We deserve truth in labeling and I think we all have the right to clean food on the table, if so desired. When asked if they want herbicides and genetically-modified organisms in their dairy products, meat and vegetables, most people say no, but then they don't do anything about it. We need to voice an opinion while there is still time. The only thing that will make a difference is if enough people voice opinion and follow through in the grocery store.

Thank you for reading this through to the end. The only thing more important than what we eat is the air we breathe. Every year we have to put up with Roundup spraying in the field across the road. Every year they come in with their big expensive tractors and tanks of poison and race up and down the field as the toxic brew billows out behind them. The fuckers don't even care which way the wind is blowing. We can be out there picking strawberries and there they are, getting it done.

Thanks for hearing me out. If you care, please pass the word.

11 comments:

Rosaria Williams said...

NOOOOOO! Yes, indeed, let's spread the word.
Are you on Facebook?
The least I can do is link you to my Facebook page and to my two blogs. Will do.

Thanks.
This is so important!

Unknown said...

Fantastic post. Yvonne. My sentiments entirely.

Much like animals that have no voice, the planet doesn't have one either. The more we speak up, the better it will be. Then again, we're talking about the human race here who doesn't give a damn about anything or anyone apart from themselves.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Rosaria,
Thanks so much. I am on Facebook and our farm has a Facebook page. It's Raub-Rae Farm. Thank you. I think it's important too.

Wendy,
Thank you so much for voicing your sentiments. There are a lot of people who don't give a damn but you obviously aren't one of them.

Jemi Fraser said...

It's so important to treat our planet and our food well - why don't people understand that???

Anthony Duce said...

Thank you for the information. I didn't realize.

Wine and Words said...

Well Crap! I loved Whole Foods. More and more I just eat straight from the ground of our organic CSA farm. I trust what I grow. Seems you can't trust much else. Thanks for sharing this!

Yvonne Osborne said...

Jemi,
Thanks. That's a good question. I just don't know.

Tony,
Thanks for reading and listening.

Annie,
I'm thinking of starting my own CSA. You're fortunate to have one available to you. It's more important than ever to know your farmer. Yes, I trust what I grow and not much else. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

You should have done a little more research of your own rather than mostly copy/pasting Ronnie Cummins' article, which has serious errors.

Here’s a couple of different perspectives on the disagreement between the OCA and the Organic ‘cabal’. Essentially discrediting Ronnie’s version of events.

http://fairfoodfight.com/2011/02/01/cummins-vs-whole-foods-organic-smacktalk/
http://www.bnet.com/blog/food-industry/the-usda-says-yes-to-monsanto-and-now-organic…-milk-may-cost-even-more/2384

Unknown said...

I dislike when people post anonymously--it makes me not trust what they have to say.
Anyway, I was under the impression that Whole Foods was trying to stop the legislation from going through with the alfalfa. On facebook, they were encouraging the public to oppose Monsanto. I will have to research some more. Even so, I support your efforts--who wouldn't?

Yvonne Osborne said...

Anon,
Hello. I posted the brief excerpt from the newsletter just to give people a taste of the content and I believe I correctly credited the source.

There IS disagreement between the parties. Maybe
"surrender" was the wrong word for Ronnie Cummins to use. The fact of the matter is there can be no such thing as coexistence between organic and chemical farmers. Therein lies the rub. And if you've done your own research you know that is true.

This much I know. Our crops and farming methods do not harm our neighbors. Our plantings do not harm the honeybee hives on our farm. Our crops do not contaminate the Roundup Ready soybeans across the road and affect that farmer's market value.

We are proud of what we do and strive to stay abreast of current events and accurately pass along information as it is received and assimilated. The OCA has been a longstanding source of accurate information, but evidently this time the parties involved are taking issue. We shall have to wait and see. One thing is certain, a united front is needed to beat back the bullies at Monsanto and Tom Vilsack's USDA (biotech's man of the year).

Thank you for commenting and giving me the link to a different view, which I shall copy and paste into my browser.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Sarah,
Thank you.