CONTACT:
Ronnie Cummins, Organic Consumers Association, 218-226-4164 or 218-226-3871
Email: Ronnie@OrganicConsumers.org

Doug Mosel, GMO-Free Mendocino, 707-485-6672 or 707-391-6368
Email: dmosel@igc.org

TRINITY COUNTY CALIFORNIA BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTE TO BAN GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROPS AND ANIMALS

San Francisco, CA:

Today Trinity County, California became the second county in the nation to ban the production of genetically engineered (GE) crops and animals. By a vote of 3-1, Trinity County Supervisors elected to ban GE crops and animals in an effort to protect Trinity's local economy and environment.

The proposed ordinance has been supported by a broad spectrum of Trinity residents, including farmers, businesses, home gardeners, nurseries, social workers, students, church people, teachers, environmentalists, government employees, and investment, computer, and health professionals.

"Today's vote follows 25 years of tradition in Trinity County, regarding the passage of common-sense ordinances that protect the well being of local citizens," said Susan Bower, local farmer and ban proponent.

The development and passing of the GE ban was supported by the BioDemocracy Alliance, a group that combines the resources and key staff of two organizations: the Organic Consumers Association, a national network of 500,000 organic consumers, and GMO Free Mendocino. GMO Free Mendocino is a new grassroots organization that ran the successful campaign to make Mendocino County, California the first county in the nation to ban the growing of genetically engineered crops.

According to Doug Mosel, GMO Free Mendocino coordinator and spokesperson for the BioDemocracy Alliance, "Trinity's vote for a sustainable and sound agriculture economy is an important first step in reclaiming control of our food supply."

Trinity County's decision reflects a growing movement across America to phase-out genetic engineering and to defend local agriculture, biodiversity and human health. Four additional California counties will vote in November to ban genetically engineered crops (Marin, Butte, Humboldt, and San Luis Obispo), while activists in dozens of other counties across the country are organizing to create similar "GE-Free" Zones.

"BioDemocracy is spreading throughout California and the United States," said Ronnie Cummins, spokesperson for the BioDemocracy Alliance and Director of the Organic Consumers Association. "In light of the lack of regulation at both the federal and state levels of these increasingly controversial GE crops, Trinity's Supervisors have taken an important step to protect their communities."

Trinity County's ban goes into effect 30 days from its passage.

-----------
Contact information for Trinity County representatives:
Drew Franklin: 530-623-2656
Joseph Bower: 530-628-5004

Learn more about the BioDemocracy Alliance and other counties working to pass similar bans here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge-free.htm
-----------