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  • From: "mamica5" <mamica5 AT sssnet.com>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Baker's Creek and GMO
  • Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 08:54:00 -0400

Just catching up with mail since it is raining.  But well said.

 


From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Richard Stewart
Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 9:33 AM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Baker's Creek and GMO

 

Raid days = Internet and Paperwork catch-up.  This email is not directed at you Sue and not intended as any type of criticism.  :) 

 

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?

 

Companies like Baker Creek and Johnny's are not selling GMO seeds, they are selling hybrids, heirlooms, and organics, which I suppose, technically, are ALL genetically altered by cross breeding since few if any seed lines are 100% pure.  Some of them also having seed coatings to help better protect them from frost, rot, or insects.  That is all a matter of choice at that point but none of it is GMO in the evil sense it is applied usually.

 

We throw around terms with abandon sometimes and it all gets sort of cloudy.  On another forum there is a similar discussion going on in regards to feed types and chickens with some SWEARING that their chickens and thus, all chickens, refuse to consume GMO with little study supporting such things and KNOWING that chickens and ducks do indeed consume GMO feed types I find the whole thing absurd.

 

I do want folks to know that our use of GMO is something we are slowly changing, in part because I can get more money per acre of nice non-GMO potatoes than I can corn or soybean (per dollar weight per acre) and that I think there is a happy middle ground somewhere.  Organic and GMO are both broken and we need to find yet more alternatives and I think smaller scale farming, more diverse crops on a larger scale is part of the answer.

 

I do not like monopolies though and I think that is what Monsanto/Cargill is.  I am not too sure if anyone would disagree here.

 

That said, I still think its important to understand that when we discuss things like this to understand that even if a specialty seed company is selling nothing BUT Monsanto seeds, that the likelihood of them being GMO is almost nil.  You find the GMO seed types when you begin dealing with the companies that sell commodity crop seed (corn, bean, wheat, sugar beets), like Stewart (no relation), Pioneer, and the like.

 

I have far more worries than the ultimate origin of the seed.  I do not like Monsanto but if I can EASILY avoid purchasing from them, that is great.  Doing that with our field crops is nearly impossible, but our produce that s far easier to do, but still not as transparent as it should.

 

These days I am more concerned about my local market and getting sources to sell to and I will bend to their needs so long as I can profit.

 

I say all of this in hopes of continuing a non-confrontational dialogue regarding such topics.

 

Cheers!

 

Richard Stewart

Carriage House Farm

North Bend, Ohio

 

An Ohio Century Farm Est. 1855

 

(513) 967-1106

 

 

 

On Sep 6, 2009, at 10:12 PM, sue roseman wrote:



I have used Bakers Creek for many yrs since it 1st began.  I think their
quality of seed has kept getting better all the time.  They are very
responsible in growing non-gmo and unusal seed varities.  I have had no
problems with their seed or any of my orders. Hope this helps.
Sue
zone 5 in Missouri

 




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