Tag: Local

This week I promised to share about the history of GMOs from my class on Local, Non-GMO, and Organic two weeks ago.

GMO Timeline:
•Late 1800s to Early 1900s – we begin to destroy the topsoil and nutrients found in it.
•1920s – Dust Bowl – crops wiped out and famine
•Late 1920s – financial collapse
•1940s – World War 2
•Late 1940s to 1950s – Begin using nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from chemical petroleum based fertilizers left from the war
•Late 1950s to 1960s – plants are now weakened due to lack of full mineral support and susceptible to bugs!
•1970s – Vietnam War and Agent Orange (aka RoundUp)
•1970s – Heavy usage of Glyphosate (RoundUp and other brand names) begins

You can see by this timeline, that we did not fix the soil problem of lack of nutrients, composting, and replenishment.  Rather, we are creating a monoculture and wiping out biodiversity as well as creating superbugs, “super plants”, and “super weeds”.  

GMOs means that someone “owns” your seeds.  Cross-pollination of other fields means contaminating heirloom seeds.  Legally, they can then “own” that seed/field.  The big selling point of GMOs is that they increase yield, and we need them in order to “feed the world.”  The truth is that GMOs do not increase yield.  From a report from 400 scientist “GMOs have nothing to offer to feed the hungry world, eradicate poverty, or create sustainable agriculture.” 

And not only that, but more and more studies are showing dangers.  Dr Arpad Pusztai of Aberdeen Rowett Institute – Rats fed GMO showed precancerious cell growth in their digestive system, brains, livers, and testicals, partial atrophy of the liver, and damaged immune system. Then Monsanto did a 90 day study on rats fed GMO corn.  The rats developed such serious problems, they rewrote the study to hide the results. 

This only goes to show more and more the importance of eating Organic and non-GMO.  

Be sure to check out our ever expanding Organic selection on your next visit to Whitaker’s –  everything from your baking supplies, eggs, meat, and general grocery items.  

I thought I would share a few highlight points from my class last night.  We looked at the three types of food we often see at your local stores – Local, Non-GMO, and Organic.

Local depends on who is defining it.  One large grocery chain defines it as 1,500 miles!  At Whitaker’s, we define it as anything within the state of Ohio…the closer the better.  Local also only references the area it is grown, produced, or manufactured.  Local does not equal non-GMO or Organic.  In fact, Amish farmers in general have some of the highest pesticide usage!

Non-GMO means that there are no genetically modified organisms in the item.  GMOs are the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal.  They are known to cause gut inflammation, toxicity, cancer, ADHD, and much more!  So eliminating them is definitely a step in the right direction; however, non-GMO foods can still be sprayed or fertilized chemically. 

Organic is no GMOs, no usage of synthetic chemical inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives), no irradiation, and no usage of sewage sludge. The usage of pesticides is known to cause inflammation, fertility issues, cancer, leukemia, thyroid issues, ADHD, birth defects, miscarriages, possibly Parkinson’s, and much more!  So going 100% Organic in your diet eliminates many of the dangers from our food chain, reduces inflammation, and protects your body from ongoing damage.

Be sure to check out our ever expanding Organic selection on your next visit to Whitaker’s –  everything from your baking supplies, eggs, meat, and general grocery items.  

Tune in next week as I share the history of the development of GMOs…and why going non-GMO is so important to preserving our farm land!