Signature
I will be marching—will you join me?
PHOTO: LEANDRO CHAVIRA
The ’60s and ’70s may be over, but the time for bold, passionate activism is here again. It’s time to get mad, make some noise and wake people up
from their genetically modified food comas. Right now, most Americans
don’t even know what a GMO is, let alone if it is in their food. The need for
awareness, education—and activism—on this issue is crit-
ical, and the time is NOW.
What I learned while writing this issue’s cover story
on GMOs was disturbing, but also inspiring. The fact
that our government has not only allowed these unnatu-
ral organisms to infiltrate our agricultural and food sys-
tems without ever requiring long-term or independent
studies—but then also doesn’t even require labeling of
these items so consumers can have a choice if they want
to eat them—is something all American citizens should
be upset about. The fact that the government has completely deregulated
these crops without any regard for protecting organic farmers is sickening.
The inspiring part of writing this story, however, was seeing how the organic community is really coming together over this issue. There is an energy today that is undeniable. The same passion that drove this community
to demand the creation of the National Organic Program is now demanding GMO regulation. NGOs, industry and consumer activist groups are sitting down at the table together. The original organic pioneers are joining
forces with today’s young and passionate thought leaders. One of the most
exciting things to come out of all of this is the Right2Know March, a national grassroots demonstration this October to demand that GMOs are labeled—and everyone who is concerned about the future of our food supply
should be getting involved in some way. This event—which starts at the
United Nations in New York and works its way over 16 days to D.C. for a
rally in front of the White House—has the potential to change the course
of food history. Get a team together and join the march, donate funds or
products, host local fundraisers or events if you can’t make it to the East
Coast, or create a contest to send consumers and a group of their friends to
the march (see page 36 for more ways to get involved).
Get creative, but don’t just let this pass you by. We are all busy—this
march actually happens right in the middle of OP’s production schedule—
but I am not going to let that stop me from being involved. Maybe I will
only do the weekend parts of the march, or help on the front end to get
the word out, like I am doing now. But we must not be complacent. We must return to our activist roots, or find them for the first time, and raise our
voices together. I am ready to rally and raise my voice—are you?
Chief Executive Officer Don Meeker
Publisher Stacy Atchison
Advertising Manager Bobby Meeker
Editorial Director Kathryn Schuett
Art Director Craig Van Wechel
Circulation Manager Andrea Karges
Administrative Manager Allison Demmert
Publishing Office 1945 W. Mountain St.
Glendale, CA 91201
Phone 424.298.8542
Fax 424.652.2240
info@organicprocessing.com
Editorial Office 1221 E. Laguna Drive
Tempe, AZ 85282
Phone 480.240.0932
kat@organicprocessing.com
Production Office 1113 Ellis Street
Fort Collins, CO;80524
Phone 970.484.4488
craig@organicprocessing.com
Advertising Sales
Stacy Atchison 424.298.8542
stacy@organicprocessing.com
Bobby Meeker 818.842.2829
bobby@organicprocessing.com
Adam Haas 407.601.5440
adam@organicprocessing.com
Printed on recycled paper.
Organically Yours,
Kat Schuett
Editorial Director
Organic Processing (USPS 024-104) is published
bimonthly by The Target Group Inc.,
1945 W. Mountain St., Glendale, CA 91201;
Phone 310.745.0941; Fax 310.745.0997; E-mail
info@organicprocessing.com. Periodicals postage
paid at Glendale, CA and at additional mailing
offices. Subscriptions: Free to qualified readers as
defined on the subscription card. All other U.S.
subscriptions, $10 per issue.
Change of Address: Notices should be sent
providing old mailing label as well as new address.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Organic
Processing, 1945 W. Mountain St., Glendale, CA
91201. © 2011 by The Target Group Inc. All rights
reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without
written permission is strictly prohibited. The publishers do not warrant, either expressly or by implication, the factual accuracy of the articles or
descriptions herein, nor do they so warrant any
views or opinions offered by the authors of said
articles and descriptions.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Organic Processing
provides an independent forum for
the exchange of practical and
relevant information, ideas and
experience that will promote and
sustain the growth of organic
processing from seed to shelf.
