GRASS VALLEY, Calif. September 26, 2011 - In an ongoing effort to educate shoppers about food safety and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food supply, BriarPatch Co-op Market in Grass Valley is pleased to present "Your Right to Know About GMOs," a presentation by Michael Funk, on Friday evening, October 7th at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph's Hall.
GMOs, or "genetically modified organisms," are organisms created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology. This relatively new science allows DNA from one species to be injected into another, creating combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that could not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. For example, a flounder gene could be spliced into a strawberry gene, creating a strawberry more resistant to frigid temperatures.
Michael Funk, recipient of the Organic Trade Association's highest honor, the 2011 Leadership Award for Growing the Organic Industry, will speak about GMOs and our food supply. Founder of Mountain People's Warehouse and co-founder of United Natural Foods, the largest natural food distributor in the world, Funk is intimately involved in the issue of food safety. As board president of The Non-GMO Project and a co-founder and director of The Organic Center, Funk was recently selected by US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to represent the organic and non-GMO perspective on the USDA's Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and the 21st Century. Funk recently met with President Obama to share concerns on the issue of food safety.
From his unique position as a food industry insider and food safety advocate, Funk will discuss and answer questions about the prevalence of GMOs in our foods, potential concerns related to consuming GMOs, and actions we can take to protect food safety.
The talk kicks off a month-long focus on GMO awareness and educational opportunities at BriarPatch. During October BriarPatch will provide free non-GMO shopping guides and informational brochures, feature GMO books and DVDs, and screen the film "The Future of Food" in their Community Room on Friday October 14.
BriarPatch General Manager Chris Maher feels it is important to give shoppers the means to make educated decisions on how best to feed their families. "I have four small children and a very strong interest in knowing that the foods I feed them are nourishing, healthful, and safe. I believe every parent has that right, as do all shoppers."
BriarPatch is the first local market to label "Non-GMO Project Verified" products, utilizing the testing and verification process created by The Non-GMO Project, an initiative of the North American organic and natural product industry to create a standardized definition of non-GMO and a third party verification program to assess product compliance with this Standard. The Project's Product Verification Program is entirely voluntary, and participants are companies who see the value of offering their customers a verified non-GMO choice. Many of the individuals and businesses leading the way with the Project are the same folks responsible for creating the original organic standards.
For more information about the Non-GMO Project please visit nongmoproject.org.
About BriarPatch Co-op Natural Foods Community Market
Founded in 1976, BriarPatch Co-op is Nevada County's leading natural food grocer and the county's first LEED™-certified commercial green building. A cooperative business, BriarPatch has 4,500 owners. BriarPatch Co-op is located at 290 Sierra College Drive in Grass Valley, California, 530-272-5333, www.briarpatch.coop.
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