Richard

Lately I've seen many internet ads for "non-GMO" seeds. Well of course they are non-GMO! A single bag of GMO seeds would cost you about the same as a new car, and you'd need at least 2 licenses to possess and grow them, plus in some cases you would also owe the supplier a percentage of the proceeds from your harvest.

Talk about fear-based advertising

__________________
Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

harveyc

I can't think of any GMO seeds marketed to consumers. I don't have to have any licenses to grow RoundUp Read alfalfa but do need to sign a contract with Monsanto, mostly where I agree not to save seed, yada yada. Costs me $6.90/pound and I planted about 2,500 pounds of it in November. I don't eat any of it and cows seem okay with it.

I remember the Flavor Saver (sp?) GMO tomatoes that hit the market 15-20 years ago and it really flopped for some reason. I was controversial but I believe they just weren't as good for shipping as had been hoped.

There are GMO papayas which are controversial and maybe contaminating all of the papayas in Hawaii.

__________________

Richard

The boom in GMO Tomato seed is for determinant types grown for the tomato-processing industry. There are about 150000 seeds per pound of tomato seed so the cost per bag can be stunning. The yields per acre are high. The fruit has been bred to taste great as a sauce etc. after pasteurization et al. A grower in Tulare tells me they are not very good tasting straight off the vine.

__________________
Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

turtile

Contaminating? More like saving the papaya crop in Hawaii! The crop in Hawaii was almost wiped out from a virus. The new variety is resistant.

Hawaii Papaya Industry Association in Hawaii - Rainbow Papaya Story

__________________
http://www.unusualplants.net/

harveyc

Yes, contaminating. I'm not making a judgement on whether that is good or bad, but there are a lot of angry folks in Hawaii who don't want the pollen from the GMO papaya crossing with theirs.

I'm a commercial grower of GMO crops but still recognize the right of people to grow what they want. Not everybody thinks the Rainbow papaya story is a good one. Genetically modified papaya problematic | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

__________________

dekkard

"Talk about fear-based advertising"

It is not fear based advertising to include facts about seeds, such as their non-GMO nature. It is true that there are some gardeners who wish to avoid GMO seeds, and, unfortunately, don't have the extensive factoid expertise of GMO seeds you seem to possess. Such gardeners could clearly benefit from the non-GMO label especially if they would otherwise choose to not buy seeds as their only alternative to avoid the perceived risks associated with GMO.

Many people could care less about tracking the science or political hype surrounding GMO seeds. However, many gardeners choose to avoid GMO seeds for their own personal reasons and should be given the opportunity to choose what goes into their garden.

I know I don't trust a bunch of Monsanto employed scientists motivated not by public health concerns or food safety but exclusively by profit, all other consequences be damned. Monsanto doesn't care if its product gives me cancer, it only cares about the liability of the cancer being traced back to its product. I appreciate knowing what is GMO, hybrid, heirloom, et. al. I am a consumer and I will choose what I deem an acceptable risk because such a decision is not for some marketing executive to make for me.

93 percent of Americans say they want GMO food labelled at the grocery store. Why not label seeds in a catalog too? If GMO is so safe, don't be sneaky with it, be proud of it and label it. (Tell the FDA to label genetically engineered (GE) foods.).

Richard

I'm certainly not claiming that GMO seeds are safe or unsafe. As a fact though, they are not available to consumers.

One of the issues that surrounds the labeling of GMO foods is the definition of GMO itself. Out here in California there is a large group that wants to include hybrids developed by irradiating pollinated flowers -- a practice that dates back 100 years. This would include many varieties of seedless citrus, thornless limes, thornless berries, and a large host of common crops. The fear-factor is driving force in discussions of "what is GMO". I'm not sure it will be settled anytime soon -- by lay persons or otherwise.

__________________
Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

harveyc

Richard is right. GMO seeds aren't sold to consumers being reached by such catalogs so the only reason to make potential consumers worry that other suppliers might be sneaking some GMO seeds to them without disclosing it, even though this is not the case. Including such a statement is creating an unfounded fear.

__________________

momoese

Richard, you have links to these adds?

Perhaps they are trying to claim that their seeds are not contaminated by GMO pollen?

Richard

They appear when I'm on bananas.org with regularity. Also you'll see some by googling for seeds.

__________________
Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

momoese

First let me suggest you use some sort of filter to remove the adds. There is one for IE too.

Second, I'm not going to click every link in a Google search looking for them, I'm too busy watching fishing videos for that nonsense!

Next time you trip over one just post it up please.

harveyc

Even though I don't see the mention of GMO on their home page, look what comes up in a search where Victory Seeds pops up:

Mitchel, if any company knows that the seeds they are selling have been contaminated by GMO pollen, they really can't be marketing that as some other variety as it's a new hybrid. Very few of these seed companies produce their own seeds and the seeds are produced under controlled environments. GMO seeds are produced under very controlled environments as well so they're not going to be mixed with conventional seeds. Again, this is for seeds which are typically marketed to consumers, not something like Canola.

I believe Richard uses Google Chrome. I've tried it and liked it except the lack of filtering of ads drove me crazy. I think there are some plug-ins for it but I'm not sure how well they work.

__________________

sunfish

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...Fe_ESA&cad=rja

All seeds are 100% Non-hybrid, Heirloom, Open-pollinated, and Non-Genetically Modified (Non-GMO). ... Grow Bottle (Basil) – $34.99 Sale; Medicinal Herb Seed Kit – $59.99 Sale; Tomato Variety Pack – $19.99 Sale; Pepper Variety Pack

momoese

Well if it's true I still wouldn't call it fear mongering, more like a sales tactic geared towards people who already know they don't want anything to do with GMO. After all, what they are saying is true! "No GMOs Here!"

momoese

You guys ever stop to think that some people might be afraid to buy seeds from a company unless they have a disclaimer saying no GMO's? It's just business.

harveyc

There you go, Mitchel, you've bought into the fear.

I would hope that people would be smart enough to search enough to find out that none of the seed catalogs are offering GMO seeds and that she should shop for the best-tasting varieties, etc. at reasonable prices instead of letting some seed company jack them around.

__________________

Richard

Here's one for you Mitchel:

Garden Seed | Vegetable, Herb, & Flower Garden Seeds by Generic Seeds.com

__________________
Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

momoese

Harvey, you can't really expect busy people who dream of an organic victory garden to spend their time researching GMO seeds now can you? Being ignorant does not change the color of their money and the seed companies know this. They are not creating fear.

momoese

Again, there are selling seeds to a crowd of people who do not want anything to do with GMO but don't have the time to research it. No harm no foul.

harveyc

Sure the companies are creating the fear. When the risk is not present, why mention it?

Okay, I'll play.

__________________