For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s Genetic Engineering page, and our Millions Against Monsanto page.

Food activists in Washington state added their voice to a chorus of others across the country March 26 to support requiring labels on genetically modified foods.

The Organic Consumers Association, a nonprofit organization based in Minnesota, coordinated dozens of the rallies.

Michaele Blakely, an organic crop and livestock farmer near Carnation, Wash., helped organize the rally near Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

“It wasn’t as big as I expected, probably because of the short notice,” she said. “There were about 100 to 150 people there.”

The event was primarily to pass along information and gather signatures on petitions. The activists want the USDA to set require labels on products that have GMO ingredients.

“The people who feel GMOs aren’t a good thing are pretty passionate,” Blakely said. “There was a lot of positive response. There were some signs, and people were passing out brochures.”

Kia Armstrong, manager of Nash’s Organic Produce in Sequim, said more than a hundred people gathered at the downtown rally in her town.