This week we’re taking a break from our regular “Feature a Farmer” series to do a little mini-post about genetically-modified foods. We’ll only go into it very briefly here, as there are numerous websites that have already compiled in-depth information on the subject. But here is a brief rundown of what GM foods are, and why we strive to keep them out of our Artisan box program and out of our retail shop.
In a nutshell, genetically modified foods are created in a laboratory, where a gene from one species is is inserted into another species in a way that would be impossible to achieve through traditional breeding techniques. Food crops are often modified to have resistance to certain pesticides, or to produce their own pesticides–for instance corn seeds are often genetically-modified to produce their own Bt, a common insecticide.
There are a number of concerns and controversies regarding genetically-modified foods, including impacts on human and environmental health, as well as the economic health of rural communities around the world. One thing is certainly clear: the push towards GMOs is coming predominantly from multi-national companies like Monsanto, who are making large profits by commodifying the essential first ingredients in a farm–seeds. Farmers who grow GM crops are under patent infringement if they save their seeds, and there are numerous examples of farmers from both North American and third world countries of farmers beings sued when GM crops are found to have accidentally spread on to their farms. We encourage you to check out The Institute for Responsible Technology for more info on these concerns. Another great resources is the NYTimes Room for Debate Series, which seeks to answer the question “Can Biotech Food Cure World Hunger?” through a series of essays by experts in the field on both sides of the issue. Check out this great 10 minute video about the pitfalls of GMO foods . It’ll get you thinking…..
The majority of most commodity crops grown in Canada–including soy, canola, and corn–are now grown with GM seeds. There are no federal laws requiring labeling, s o it can be pretty hard to find oils and soy products that are not genetically-modified, which is why we are proud to carry some great products that are GMO-Free.
- K2 Milling Grains: red tail flour, Upper Canada mixed flour, corn flour
- CIPM Flours: red fife, spelt, rye & buckwheat whole grain flours
- The Bean Ladies: Soya snacks
- Pristine Gourmet: dried & bulk: kidney beans, soy beans, black beans, navy beans, cranberry beans
- Farm to Table: fresh popped flavoured popcorn
- Ontario Popping Corn: Organic popcorn kernels
- Alba Lisa: Organic Corn Tortillas
- Pristine Gourmet Soya and Canola Oils