Labels on Genetically-Engineered Foods

If you, like most Americans, want to know what's in your food, you can sign a petition to get labeling for genetically-engineered foods on the California ballot this fall.

Monday, I gathered signatures for the first time at New Leaf Community Market in Capitola. Almost everyone I asked signed the petition and voiced strong support for this initiative that will give us the right to know what is in our food so we can make informed decisions. This campaign is not about whether genetically-engineered food is good or bad — it's just about our right to know what's in our food. A bunch of people said they had already signed the petition yesterday at the farmers market. The word is getting around!

Keep an eye out for volunteers gathering signatures at all New Leaf stores, Whole Foods, Staff of Life, and farmers markets throughout Santa Cruz County. Over 100 volunteers have been trained by GMO-Free Santa Cruz.

Sunday, at a kick off meeting at the Live Oak Grange, Santa Cruz Mayor Don Lane thanked volunteers and we announced our goal: 10,000 signatures by April 22, 2012. I have no doubt that we will surpass that number! Several volunteers pledged to collect 1,000 signatures. My daughter helped me create a thermometer that is an ear of corn to track our progress (that's me in the photo).

For more information about the food labeling act or to learn more about genetically-engineered foods, visit: http: www.labelgmos.org (the California site) and www.labelgmos.org/santacruz.

The next training for signature gathering is Sunday, Feb. 26 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the Westside New Leaf. I invite you to join our campaign. It is very rewarding especially when people heartily thank me after they sign the petition.

For fun: here's a link to a local flash mob performance, “Label GMO Foods Right Now!”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL6MjvvKR44

Patti Bond is the Publicist for New Leaf Community Markets.