I don't think we can escape the difficulty the public has understanding genetic engineering. As Dennis suggests, the immense amount of misinformation in public forums is bound to create confusion. We need better leadership on this issue. But I don't think its possible for retail farmers to escape being the face of agriculture to their customers. I think the best approach is tell them you don't grow GMO products and that you are no expert. I don't believe specialty crop agriculture is responsible for defending Monsanto.
Bill William H. Shoemaker Retired fruit and vegetable horticulturist University of Illinois wshoe...@illinois.edu<mailto:wshoe...@illinois.edu> ________________________________ From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] on behalf of dmnor...@royaloakfarmorchard.com [dmnor...@royaloakfarmorchard.com] Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 4:52 PM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Arctic Apples again - I jsut read the last data from Facebook that indicates they have over 1.3 billion users! When I see the erroneous information that gets posted to the news feed on Facebook about GMO's, Monsanto and the Arctic apple, and the number of people that believe this stuff.....it scares me to think what the future of growers and farmers is going to become!! Dennis Norton IPM Specialist/Certified Nurseryman/IT Specialist Royal Oak Farm Orchard 15908 Hebron Rd. Harvard, IL 60033-9357 Office (815) 648-4467 Mobile (815) 228-2174 Fax (609) 228-2174 http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.blogspot.com https://www.facebook.com/royaloakfarmorchard/ ----- Original Message ----- From: Craig Tanner<mailto:cr...@tannersorchard.com> To: 'Apple-crop discussion list'<mailto:apple-crop@virtualorchard.net> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 3:25 PM Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Arctic Apples again - "GMO apples may contaminate nearby organic and conventional apple orchards and could potentially cause valuable export markets to reject U.S. apples as happened in past when wheat and rice crops were found to be contaminated by GMOs." A - See more at: http://www.foe.org/projects/food-and-technology/genetic-engineering/no-gmo-apples#sthash.FRll2V3z.dpuf what? how? this statement makes my head spin Craig Tanner Tanners Orchard, Ltd. Speer, IL 309-493-5442 309-493-5741 fax 306-360-5610 cell ________________________________ From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of David Doud Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 11:28 AM To: Apple-Crop Subject: [apple-crop] Arctic Apples again - Sorry to beat this, but I think it's in our interest to stay informed - if the powers that be want me to give it a rest, I will - I copy and paste an email that went out to subscribers to Well.org<http://Well.org> - it was forwarded to me - I am unfamiliar with this organization and a peek at their website doesn't impress and the website itself doesn't have any content about Arctic Apples - I've been made aware of at least one other organization promoting anti-Arctic Apple sentiment - http://www.foe.org/projects/food-and-technology/genetic-engineering/no-gmo-apples I investigated the claim that "McDonald's and Gerber..." and it's not as presented - they have 'no plans' because there is no product available to buy, but they have not rejected and Gerber specifically admits and defends using GMO products - Looks like battle lines are being drawn and strategies arctic-ulated - David Doud peach leaf curl spray this week - 2012 on this date was apple full bloom - not at silver tip yet this year, but soon - You're hearing from us because you subscribed via Well.org<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-j/>. Last year, we released the Origins documentary for free to over 700,000 people across the world. If you want to unsubscribe, click here<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-u-thbijk-illrihdyd-q/>. [Well.org] On Friday the 13th, the USDA approved the unnecessary, unlabeled, and poorly tested GMO apple. It was an unlucky day indeed for the apple growers, food companies, and people like us who want to protect our families from GMO foods. But it’s not all bad news. Thanks to pressure from thousands of people like you, McDonald’s and Gerber -- two of the biggest purchasers of apples -- have already confirmed that they have no plans to sell GMO apples. Their commitments will help keep this risky product off the market. Now, we need to get other fast food companies to join them. If we can get the top 10 fast food companies, including Burger King, Wendy’s, Subway and Dunkin' Donuts, to commit to not sell the GMO apple, we may be able to prevent it from ending up on our plates! Tell these fast food restaurants to say NO to GMO apples!<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-t/> The apple in question – known as the “Arctic Apple®” -- was designed for purely cosmetic purposes. It was genetically engineered to not turn brown when cut. Of course, browning in apples can be prevented naturally by applying lemon juice or another source of vitamin C -- making this risky apple completely unnecessary. What’s more, without natural browning, apples may look fresh when they are actually decaying. In fact, scientists believe apples’ natural browning enzyme may help fight diseases and pests. In other words, if farmers grow these new apples, they may have to increase their pesticide use. And since they won’t be labeled, we won’t even know if the apples we’re buying are pesticide-doused GMOs! The evidence is clear: this experiment is all risk, no reward. Fast food restaurants have no excuse -- they must say NO to GMO apples! Tell fast food companies that their customers don’t want GMO apples!<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-i/> Like other GMOs, this apple won’t be labeled and didn’t undergo independent safety testing -- the USDA relied on the company’s own assessment that it is safe for human consumption. Worse yet, this GMO apple was genetically engineered via a new, virtually untested experimental technique called RNA interference -- which many scientists are concerned may have unintended negative impacts on human health and the environment. So who stands to benefit from the GMO apple? Not consumers. Definitely not apple growers, who have been opposing this apple all along. The only benefits will go to Okanagan Specialty Fruit -- the biotech company that produces the Arctic Apple®. Now that the USDA has approved the apple, it could end up in everything from school lunches to fast food, kids’ meals and grocery produce aisles. The risks to our health, our environment and apple farmers across the U.S. could be enormous. Fast food restaurants are increasingly trying to provide healthier options and are among the biggest potential buyers of these GMO apples -- so if we can stop them from buying the Arctic Apple®, we can send a strong signal that there is no market for it. It’s not too late to keep GMO apples off our plates -- tell fast food restaurants to say no to this rotten idea.<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-d/> Sincerely, Pedram Shojai, OMD [cid:0E4ECEDE969B4A1CACCB667ECB51FBD3@DELLXPS630]<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-h/> [cid:1DA39E80415345F3B57C076AE1515D15@DELLXPS630] <http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-u-thbijk-illrihdyd-r/> [cid:B2600F7BB8594C5CA0064E4227F6EBB5@DELLXPS630]<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-k/>[Youtube]<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-u/>[Facebook]<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-o/>[Twitter]<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-b/>[Instagram]<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-m/>[Pinterest]<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-l-thbijk-illrihdyd-c/> COPYRIGHT © 2015 VITAL ORIGINS, LLC/WELL.ORG. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE INFORMATION INWELL.ORG<http://WELL.ORG/> IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. READERS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL ABOUT ANY ISSUE REGARDING THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. Unsubscribe<http://vitaloriginswellorgllc.cmail2.com/t/t-u-thbijk-illrihdyd-y/> Vital Origins, LLC 13 Orchard #108 Lake Forest, CA 92630 United States ________________________________ _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
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