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  • From: Bill Shoemaker <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Baker's Creek and GMO
  • Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 14:59:41 -0500 (CDT)

I think its Destiny III Alison, but your point remains. I wondered about it.
But I just talked to the squash breeder for Syngenta. They have some new
lines coming along which are not genetically engineered that have excellent
virus resistance. But I agree with your points.

Bill

>There are also some GMO summer squash - usually designated by a roman
>numeral after the name, i.e. Dasher III. Haven't looked for them this year,
>but they have been in catalogs in the past and you have to look hard for
>"transgenic" in their descriptions - maybe sales were too low and they were
>dropped. Mostly, however, the profits just aren't there for vegetable seed,
>and it IS profit driven, not altruistically taking care of the poor farmer.
>
>Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
>[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Bill
>Shoemaker
>Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 2:45 PM
>To: Market Farming
>Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Baker's Creek and GMO
>
>> I know it often sounds like I am a defender of
>> Monsanto (I am not by any stretch) but does anyone
>> actually know if there are GMO vegetables outside
>> the commodity crop seed ranges?
>
>Mostly no. But there are a few exceptions, such as sweet corn and potatoes.
>The reason most vegetables don't get much attention is because there isn't
>enough seed marketed to satisfy corporate bottom lines. For example, there
>are varieties of sweet corn which have the Bt gene genetically engineered
>into them. The same gene could be inserted into varieties of broccoli,
>cabbage and other brassica crops. But the markets for seed wouldn't satisfy
>profit expectations.
>
>There is another, probably more important reason why most vegetables have no
>GMO varieties. Because most vegetables are directly consumed, the company
>which owns the GMO patent and/or variety would have to be prepared for
>consumer reaction. Past attempts have not gone well, such as CalGene's
>Flavor Saver tomato.
>
>Bill
>William H Shoemaker, UI-NRES
>Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
>St Charles Horticulture Research Center
>535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174
>630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610
>_______________________________________________
>Market-farming mailing list
>Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
>http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
>
>_______________________________________________
>Market-farming mailing list
>Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
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>
William H Shoemaker, UI-NRES
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174
630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610




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