Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Desert Eagle" <jimi@hdc-nm.com>]

Tip of the Week:

How to Avoid Genetically Engineered Sugar This Holiday Season

Over the past year, Organic Bytes has warned its readers about the forced
introduction of genetically engineered sugar beets into the U.S. food supply
in 2008. The health and environmental effects of these crops are relatively
unknown and have historically resulted in an increase in pesticide use. Most
of the mainstream table sugar, cereal and candy companies have refused to
ban genetically engineered sugar in their products, including American
Crystal and Kelloggs. While OCA and its allies continue to work to remove
this new biotech food from the mainstream market, before it becomes as
ubiquitous as genetically engineered corn, soybeans and rBGH, we have some
tips for consumers:

1) Purchase organic sugar. The USDA organic standards do not allow foods
labeled as "organic" to contain ingredients derived from genetically
engineered crops.

2) According to Ken Roseboro, the editor of The Organic & Non-GMO Report,
two non-organic sugar companies that are still GE-free are Spreckels Sugar
in California and Rogers Sugar Alberta, Canada. Spreckels is processing
non-GMO beets because sugar beet farmers in California do not yet have GM
sugar beet seed varieties. According to Roseboro, "I spoke with the plant
manager and he said farmers would plant GM varieties as soon as they are
available possibly by next year. Unless farmers are given extra incentives
to grow non-GMO beets they will grow GM." Maybe it's a good time to contact
the company and let them know you'd like them to stay GE-free.

3) The OCA is continuing its campaign to pressure major sugar and candy
companies to use GE-free sugar.

Take action here
http://www.organicconsumers.org/kelloggs.cfm