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A NOTE TO ORGANIC BYTES SUBSCRIBERS!Over the next few weeks we will be transitioning to a new service to send Organic Bytes, so please add the address RONNIECUMMINS [AT] ORGANICCONSUMERS.ORG to your spam filter white lists! Thanks! Video of the WeekMillions Against MonsantoThis is the first OCA Millions Against Monsanto Campaign video that we've created in-house. Look for more videos from OCA in the future! Visit our YouTube channel, too. 
Excerpt of the Week
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Fifty-Three Percent of U.S. Backyard Gardeners Growing VegetablesPLEASE DONATE
Millions Against Monsanto Fundraising Appeal
A quarter of a million people have already signed up as participants and supporters in our Millions Against Monsanto Truth-in-Labeling Campaign. But we need money to print leaflets, to buy hundreds of copies of the video "The World According to Monsanto," to print up T-shirts and bumper stickers, and to pay our campaign staff. As you know, GMOs, Factory Farms, and deceptively labeled consumer products pose a mortal threat to public health, climate stability, and all living things. As we speak, organic crops are being contaminated with Monsanto's GMOs. We need your financial contributions to educate and mobilize consumers, to protect and maintain strict organic standards, and to pressure the entire food industry, including natural food stores and co-ops, to adopt Truth-in-Labeling practices.
Alert OF THE WEEK
Stop Genetically Engineered Apples!
Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc., Summerland, B.C., is seeking USDA and FDA approval for its Arctic Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apples in which genes causing browning have been switched off.
The U.S. apple industry is asking USDA not to allow these genetically engineered, non-browning apples from Canada to be produced in the United States. The U.S. Apple Association voted unanimously at a March 12 board meeting to oppose the Okanagan Specialty Fruits application.
The Northwest Horticulture Council is also trying to stop GM apples. Chris Schlect, president of the Northwest Horticulture Council sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Feb. 28 expressing the council's opposition to the Okanagan application. Schlect explained in the letter that the Northwest Horticulture Council "anticipate[s] severe adverse marketing issues to confront both organic and traditional apple growers should [GM apples] be allowed into the general marketplace."
The council explained its stance in the March edition of its newsletter:
"This policy decision was made by our trustees after a careful balance, taking into account potential customer concerns, of benefits and risks to the existing commercial apple industry of the Pacific Northwest," the newsletter states. "In the end, the projected benefits of the non-browning apples did not outweigh the marketing harm likely to occur to apple growers and marketers, whether traditional or organic."
Speaking with the Capital Ag Press, Schlect said the industry is concerned that negative public perception of genetically engineered products could hurt apple sales.
"It's purely an economic thing. The negatives outweigh the positives," he said.
In this case, he said, there are issues of product labeling, possible cross-contamination, potential export market barriers and general consumer concern.
The U.S. apple industry isn't opposed to genetic engineering, but they will oppose GMO apples as long as they believe that consumers will reject them. We must use this opportunity to send a strong message to President Obama, Sec. Vilsack and APHIS Aministrator Cindy Smith that consumers are against GMO apples.
Truth-In-Labeling
This Saturday, March 26, 2011: Millions Against Monsanto Rally for the Right to Know About GMOs in Our Food!
Thanks to a trio of hard-working, all-volunteer Millions Against Monsanto organizers, Trish Wright, Erica Gray and April Reeves (along with local organizers), Rallies for the Right to Know are happening in more than 20 locations across the country this Saturday, March 26, 2011.
Queen Creek, AZ - 9:00am – 3:00pm, Canyon State Academy 20061 E Rittenhouse Rd.
RSVP
Chico, CA - 11:00am - 3:00pm, Downtown "Park" between Broadway and Main Streets (where the fountains are)(3 blocks from FOOD CO-OP)
RSVP
Los Angeles, CA - 11:00am - 2:00pm, Los Angeles (Westwood) Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd.
RSVP
Red Bluff, CA - 11:00am - 3:00pm, the corner of Antelope and Main St.
RSVP
Colorado Springs, CO - 11:00am - 1:30pm, Acacia Park
RSVP
Washington, DC - 11:00am - 3:00pm, The White House Sidewalk, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
RSVP
Hollywood Beach, FL - 11:00am - 2:00pm, Johnson Street Theatre, Johnson Street/N. Ocean Drive/A1A
RSVP
Tampa Bay, FL - 11:00am - 3:00pm, Honda Grand Prix and area farmers market
RSVP
Atlanta, GA - 11:00am - 4:00pm, Around Centennial Olympic Park across from the CNN Bldg
RSVP
Maui, HI - 8:00am - 11:00am, in front of Long's street-side on Ka'ahumanu Ave in Kahului, Maui
RSVP
Indianapolis, IN - 12:00pm - 3:00pm, 200 W. Washington Street #220
RSVP
Ann Arbor, MI - 12:00pm - 3:00pm, Southeast corner of Catherine Street and N. 4th Avenue - just south of the A2 Farmers Market and Kerrytown Shops
RSVP
St. Paul, MN - 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Minnesota State Capitol Building - South Mall, 75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, 55155
RSVP
Kansas City, MO - 11:00am - 3:00pm, The Plaza
RSVP
New York, NY - 12:00pm - 1:00pm, City Hall steps New York City, Between Broadway and Park Row
RSVP
Albuquerque, NM - 12:00pm - 3:00pm, UNM
RSVP
Salem, OR - 12:00pm - 3:00pm, 900 Court St. NE
RSVP
Nashville, TN - 10:00am - 1:00pm, Nashville Farmers Market, 900 Rosa Parks Boulevard (8th Avenue North)
RSVP
Austin, TX - 12:00pm - 3:00pm, The Capitol Building
RSVP
Montpelier, VT - 11:00am - 3:00pm, Outside City Hall
RSVP
Seattle, WA - 12:00pm - 2:00pm, Victor Steinbrueck Park, 2001 Western Avenue (by Pike Place Market)
RSVP
Milwaukee, WI - 11:00am - 2:00pm, Water and Wisconsin
RSVP
Don't see a Rally for the Right to Know in your area? Organize your own picket line or rally on Saturday, or pick a date that's good for you, even if it's just taking a clipboard and petition, a homemade sign and some fliers to your local grocery store. Here's what you need:
1. Print the petition.
The Millions Against Monsanto petition (PDF)
2. Print the leaflet.
GMO Consumer Warning Leaflet (PDF)
3. Publicize your event.
Create an Event for your Rally in Facebook and invite your friends. Click here for examples.
Post your event to the Rally for the Right to Know Facebook page.
AND/OR, send the info about your event to our Truth-In-Labeling Campaign organizers so we can post it to the Millions Against Monsanto page. All we need is the date, time, & location. We can link either to a Facebook Event or to your e-mail address for RSVPs.
4. Tell the media.
Find media contacts here. And here are Press Releases to use as an example.
5. After the event, share your photos & video.
Post photos to the Millions Against Monsanto Activist Photo Album.
Check out the Activist Photo Album.
Click here, find your local Facebook Chapter, and upload your pics and videos!
Contact OrganicConsumer on YouTube and we'll put your video in our "Favorites." OrganicConsumer on YouTube
Remember to Take Action...
Ban Triclosan! Take action by April 8, 2011
New York: Label Milk From Cows Given rBGH (Genetically Engineered Bovine Growth Hormone)!
Hawaii: Demand Truth-in-Labeling!
Little Bytes
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Author Michael Pollan Explains the War on Food Movement
READ MORE
Think Tainted Chinese Pork is Scary? Check Out the Nearest Supermarket Meat Case
READ MORE
Farmers and Consumer Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Genetically Engineered Alfalfa Approval
READ MORE
New Ways of Living and Organizing Our Economy are Flourishing
READ MORE
LOCAL [[State]] NEWS OF THE WEEK
[[State]] - Get Involved Locally
- Learn more about OCA related action alerts and other news in [[State]] here.
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