Stealth forces opposed to transparency, honesty and GMO food labeling are attempting to pressure Maine Governor Paul LePage to go back on his written promise to sign LD 718, Maine’s historic GMO Labeling law.  Last July, at the end of the legislative session, LD 718 received incredible support from the Maine Legislature, passing 141-4 in the House and 35-0 in the Senate.  Back then, Gov. LePage promised to sign the bill into law but wanted to wait until the legislature reconvenes in January 2014 to do so.

   Primary sponsors Rep. Lance Harvell (R-Farmington) and Sen. Chris Johnson (D-Lincoln) wrote a Bangor Daily News Op Ed defending LD 718.  which appeared this week.  “There have been advances in technology in agriculture. However, the federal government does not test GMOs for safety or otherwise, counting on industry to provide such testing. Monsanto can treat people like lab rats, but we should at least have the right to know that we are living in an experiment. LD 718 does not make a judgment whether GMOs are good or bad, but it does take a strong stand for transparency and consumers’ right to know what is in their food. As we play God with the building blocks of life, it would behoove us to show a little humility.”

    Harvell and Johnson defended GMO labeling as an important right for all Mainers and attempted to counter a misleading article submitted by Mr. Gordon Colby earlier in the month.  Mr. Colby, a member of the Maine blueberry industry, made numerous inaccurate assertions and displayed hostility towards consumer interests in his article. Mr Colby is an outlier.  The Wild Blueberry Commission opted to remain neutral on LD 718.  Maine State Farm Bureau members voted overwhelmingly to endorse LD 718 at their annual meeting in November.

   A 2011 Bloomberg article, “Koch Brothers Spread Influence Via Blueberry Farmer” stated Mr. Colby was a member of “Americans for Prosperity,” a group funded by the notorious Koch brothers and which lobbies for less government regulation.  “The Koch brothers tied for fifth on Forbes magazine’s ranking of richest Americans last year, with $21.5 billion each in net worth, reflecting their holdings in Koch Industries. The company, founded by their father, Fred C. Koch, is the second- largest closely held U.S. company after Cargill Inc., with estimated annual revenue of $100 billion, according to Forbes. Charles, 75, is chairman and chief executive officer, and David, 71, is an executive vice president.

     The Bloomberg article also quoted Mr. Colby, “‘I’m a farmer and I just want to farm,’ said Colby, who lives in Waldoboro and started a Tea Party group in his area last year. He said government regulations interfere with his farming, without providing specifics.”  The article further stated Mr. Colby “manages 5000 acres of Maine blueberries.”  As would be typical, if half of those 5000 acres produced harvestable blueberries each year, they would generate about $3 million in sales annually.

   Gov. LePage has until January 14, 2014 to make good on his promise to sign LD 718 into law.  It would be helpful at this time for Maine citizens to call Gov LePage’s office and encourage him to keep his promise to the people of Maine and sign LD 718. The phone number to Gov. LePage’s office is 287- 3531.  Be prepared to state what Maine town you are from.  Thanks!

Jim

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     American family farmers and their customers yesterday breathed a sigh of relief and celebrated an important temporary victory in a reversal issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  In a surprising move - just weeks after the public comment period ended - the FDA has admitted they have a lot yet to learn about agriculture and have withdrawn their highly criticized overkill proposal to address theoretical food safety concerns on American farms.  Had the FDA proposals been enacted as proposed and without modification, many family farmers would have been forced out of business. A revamped proposal is expected to be released for public comment in Summer 2014.

    Click here to read the public comments submitted last month by Wood Prairie Farm’s Jim Gerritsen to the FDA on their proposal.

    Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) – herself an organic farmer for 40 years - was one of the Congressional leaders most outspoken in her defense of family farmers against the FDA proposal.  "’This is a major victory for farmers in Maine and across the country,’ Pingree said. ‘The one-size-fits-all approach the FDA was pursuing was overkill for thousands of small farmers and would have put many of them out of business. The size of the regulation just didn't match the size of the risk.’”

  For further background on the FDA withdrawal,  read Rep. Pingree’s press release, Federal Regulators Agree to Request From Congresswoman Chellie Pingree to Revise Important Food Safety Rules.

Jim

Click Here For Our Wood Prairie Farm Organic Certified Seed Potatoes.