UPDATE: Gary has posted a new blog in light of the recent USDA decision – please read: The Organic Community Must Come Out Swinging at the Right Opponents
Dear Stonyfield Friend,
I am writing today with great urgency.
If you care about being able to choose organic foods, please take a moment to read this brief note. We each need to get a message to our congressperson right away.
Within the next few days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will announce its policy on genetically-engineered (GE) alfalfa. There are lots of reasons to be concerned about GE crops including compelling evidence that these crops lead to herbicide-resistant super-weeds and require the use of more toxic herbicides. But the biggest potential problem posed by GE alfalfa is the likely contamination of organic alfalfa, which is used as feed by most organic dairies.
The USDA is now considering whether to approve full deregulation, giving biotech a green light to use GE-alfalfa without any restrictions OR de-regulation with restrictions through a policy of “coexistence” which would mandate the protection of organic.
While we have worked hard alongside fellow organic agriculture supporters to ban GE production completely, it is clear that, faced with these choices, our best chance at preserving the future of organic agriculture is to fight for every protection available under the “coexistence” approach.
We believe that Coexistence makes sense, provided three essential conditions are met:
• the protection of seed purity for all farmers, including organic, so we maintain variety and avoid massive mono-culture;
• compensation by the patent holder to the farmer for any losses related to the contamination of his crop; and
• public oversight by the USDA as it has the authority to protect all US agriculture.
If you agree that consumers deserve to be able to choose to buy organic foods free of GE contamination, your voice is needed today. We are joining with the National Cooperative Grocers Association and others to ask that you take this step:
Please ask your Congressperson to contact House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas to express support for Secretary Vilsack’s coexistence option. To find your Congressperson, visit: http://www.house.gov/zip/ZIP2Rep.html
You can also email the USDA about this issue at: biotechquery@aphis.usda.gov and you can reach the White House at 202.456.1111.
Let’s make our voices heard in Washington to protect consumer choice, and organic and non-GMO farmers and markets.
Gary Hirshberg
P.S. If you want to read more about this critical issue, go to http://strongertogether.coop/from-the-source/we-support-an-organic-future/
I don’t blame you guys for creating Monsanto, I blame them and our government for this mess. But as a consumer we look to our businesses that seem to stand for something to actually stand for something. It seems organics are in danger. Gary I would love to see more of your words on your vision for how we can turn this mess around.
I agree with so many other comments here: Coexistence? If this were not a plant that might be possible. In Mexico they have banned GMO’s and still their corn is getting contaminated by GMO’s anyway. This is very sad since they are holders of the genetic diversity of corn. So if a whole country has banned GMO and they are contiminated anyway, there is no way possible that we can coexist with it in our country.
When a REAL INDEPENDENT commity will be set up and have enough power to do and ban what must be done and banned for the protection of organic farming, but also for the protection of people and the environment?
I have no trust AT ALL in USDA nor in FDA, nor in Vilsack. They are all corrupted. Lobbying in USA is spread out like pollinition. Is it possible to stop them?
I am stunned that co-existence is considered viable considering the lethal implications of GE foods. I am deeply saddened by your position as well as that of whole foods and organic valley. This makes no sense there are lots of injustices we fight…. we do not condone…. this should not be any different. What you propose as caveats should have be standard restrictions applicable for damages already done and add one more Mysterious illnesses and new emerging dis-ease states as a result of these foods should warrant compensation as well. The make GE a thing of the past because their existence at any level ensures eventual contamination.
Susan Russell
I’ve read through all of Gary’s blog posts, and I’m confused as to why so many people have posted such hateful comments about
Stonyfield and Whole Foods. I didn’t read anywhere that Gary, Stonyfield, or Whole Foods were now allowing deregulated GE alfalfa (or any other GEOs) into production of their products. What he and other organic community groups were trying to do with the coexistance option was to say, “OK, we realize your pockets and pull with government are deeper than ours and we know we can’t stop you full-force. However, if you’re going to have it your way [GE alfalfa dereg], then it’s only fair you provide the organic community with certain (atleast minimal) protections.”
A lot of people are angry about the big biotech industry’s latest win, but how about directing your anger in the right direction. Instead of blasting Gary, Stonyfield, or Whole Foods, take the time to write your elected officials. Write to the President. Write to the USDA. Tell them you deserve the right to choose what you eat, and that you’ll not only vote weekly at the grocery store but also at the polls in 2012.
In the meantime, I will happily continue to purchase Stonyfield and Whole Foods products. You should too.
[...] crops.”Gary Hirshberg, CEO of Stonyfield Farms made a similar concession on his company blog, stating: “our best chance at preserving the future of organic agriculture is to fight for every [...]
Goodness people. If you are that upset, go buy a cow and feed it non-GE alfalfa you grow in your own organic garden in your backyard. Buy a cow. Don’t have one.
I just wanted Stonyfield Farms to know that because if it’s stance supporting genetically modified alfalfa, I will no longer be shopping at your store. We buy only organic food and spend plenty of money doing it. We’ll spend our food dollars on things made by companies that don’t get in line behind Monsanto.
Not only will I not buy your products again, but the news is spreading like wildfire through the naturopathic community and there are many medical professionals who will be happy to educate their patients on your corporate sell-out.
Any plant that can survive these herbicides is not fit for human consumption. Didn’t Agent Orange teach you goons anything? Oh, yeah, as long as you can cover it up, it doesn’t exist – right? Well, guess what – your customers aren’t falling for your bull. And many of them are not your customers any more.
I will now stop the use of your products !! Why would you do this to your customers ??!! WOW, I guess BIG corps LOVE big MONEY !!
About the recent Food Safety issues, but includes video about Dr. Oz and his interviewing both opponents & proponents of GMO’s.
http://urbangardensolutions.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/should-the-fda-have-more-power-over-our-food-system/
~~~~~~~~~~ START GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD PEOPLE! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time to get back to basics and learn how to garden like our grandparents did, because the government is going to do whatever the hell they want to. Democracy? What Democracy? $$$$ is what drives the direction of the government, not the people.
Sorry, Gary, but Stonyfield won’t be in my cart anymore either. You know, we all know, GM crops can’t coexist with organic. I am another disappointed fan who used to buy nothing but Stonyfield. Please rethink your position before Monsanto takes over the world and we are all the worse for it.
I wish people would take the time to actually learn the facts before they fly off the handle and say rude things. I wonder how many of those people tried to do ANYTHING to stop the deregulation? It’s so easy to be a Monday-morning quarterback. You’re blaming the wrong people… The people to fight are those who will profit from this deregulation.
Well…I will still buy your yogurt cause it’s the best out there!
I think the others who are ranting and screaming are being completely unrealistic as the 100% certainty that this GE crop will be deregulated. There isn’t much that will change the minds of politicians whose pockets are being lined with the other side’s money. Get over it and fight for what you can.
[...] happened? Big organics companies like Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm tried playing footsie with Big Ag, working with Ag Secretary Vilsack on a compromise that would [...]
[...] cabal of the Organic Elite, spearheaded by Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm, has decided it’s time to surrender to Monsanto. Top executives from these companies have [...]
There is no such thing as “coexistence” with GMO’s! Do you really think that all of us are that stupid? You sold out.
Hi everyone, we greatly appreciate your passionate questions and comments. We want to answer questions, address concerns, and clear up some misinformation. Rather than address your comments here, we want to direct you to a blog post from our CE-Yo Gary Hirshberg that was just posted today: http://www.stonyfield.com/blog/2011/01/29/the-organic-community-must-come-out-swinging-at-the-right-opponents/
This letter from Gary provides background on what we have done as well as our plans and next steps in fighting Genetically Engineered alfalfa. Thank you for joining us in this important conversation and for taking the time to listen. – Stonyfield Amy
[...] A self-appointed cabal of the Organic Elite, spearheaded by Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm, has decided it’s time to surrender to Monsanto. Top executives from these companies have [...]
you spineless cowards. Your disdain for life on Earth is despicable as are your lies claiming that you care. You do not. You are repulsive.
Be assured that I will never purchase your now untrustworthy and tainted products ever again.
I wish only failure and collapse upon your company.
Is that Necessary Jo? I don’t think so. Maybe you should be fighting against Monsanto and see how successful you are. Obviously your efforts were not enough to put a stop to GE foods either.
In light of your decision to BED and SUPPORT and LINE YOUR POCKETS -I have now made a decision to BAN your products from my house, my families’ houses and every possible friend that I can tell as well. I hope your stocks tumble.
I am boycotting Whole Foods, Stoneyfield Farms, and Organic Valley. Coexist, MY ASS, sell-out is more like it. WF, SF and OV have lost my respect and my business. I don’t need your phony “compromises”.
Sad…really sad. Don’t you feel like you’re betrayers? I’ll be avoiding your products now, along with Whole Foods and Organic Valley. I’ll be supporting our small local organic farmers and producers.
You blew it… literally now that you are in bed with Monsanto
AS FOLLOWS:
Beyond the regulatory euphemism of “conditional deregulation,” this means that WFM and their colleagues are willing to go along with the massive planting of a chemical and energy-intensive GE perennial crop, alfalfa; guaranteed to spread its mutant genes and seeds across the nation; guaranteed to contaminate the alfalfa fed to organic animals; guaranteed to lead to massive poisoning of farm workers and destruction of the essential soil food web by the toxic herbicide, Roundup; and guaranteed to produce Roundup-resistant superweeds that will require even more deadly herbicides such as 2,4 D to be sprayed on millions of acres of alfalfa across the U.S.
[...] A self-appointed cabal of the Organic Elite, spearheaded by Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm, has decided it's time to surrender to Monsanto. Top executives from these companies have publicly [...]
I did not see the news on your website but I have read that your company, along with Whole Foods Market and Organic Valley, has indicated to the USDA that you will be willing to coexist with GE alfalfa. I am vehemently opposed to any coexistence of GE crops with organic crops. It can’t be done. It WILL lead to contaminated alfalfa, just as GE corn has led to contaminated corn. Super weeds, stronger herbicides, and a rise in cancer among farm workers will also result from the overuse of Roundup.
You have betrayed the organic farmer and the organic consumer. I will not be buying any more of your products. My health is vitally important to me. GE products have no place in my diet. Nor are turn coats entitled to make profits off my purchases.
I wholeheartedly support the organic farmer. I raise a lot of my food but not all of it but it looks like I’m going to have to learn how to raise more. I do have goats and chickens and in the long run don’t know how I will be able to avoid contaminated feed for them.
Sincerely,
Wren Osborn
As of this articl we no longer purchase Stonyfield products. As for Whole Food, stopped giving them money years ago and will continue.
[...] A self-appointed cabal of the Organic Elite, spearheaded by Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm, has decided it’s time to surrender to Monsanto. Top executives from these companies have [...]