http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/158172985.html
Our campaigning is working. South Okanagan Regional Council are opposing the planned GE apple. Check back to this blog for updates on the GE apple campaign, and if you want to get involved in a campaign against GE crops and apples in your community email us at gefreebc07@yahoo.com
I am writing this letter as president of the Similkameen Okanagan Organic Treefruit Growers Association regarding the CFIA application GD 743 and GS 784 – the request for approval of the sale/distribution of the Arctic tree/apple. We request that the following points be considered in evaluating it.
Loss of Organic Production
The inevitable measureable impact of the “Arctic” apple on the local economy will be a loss of at least $4,000,000 annually. Because of cross-pollination [bees fly as much as 4 miles from a hive], organic producers will not get certification. This will cost organic tree fruit growers in the Okanagan-Similkameen (based on 16,000 bins of apple production) $2,500,000 in revenue annually . The Cawston Cold Storage Packinghouse will close: they cannot remain open running just soft fruit, costing local jobs and eliminating a payroll approaching $1,500,000. Next to School District #53, CCS is the biggest employer in the Similkameen. It is unclear, whether the other two organic packing sheds, Harkers and Organics Plus can stay open but in any scenario the loss of organic apples will result in job cuts. The total impact on the economy, the loss to suppliers, wholesalers, retailers, truckers, local business, is hard to gauge but will be in the millions. Continue reading
Read this article about South Delta, BC, in the wake of the decision by neighbouring Richmond to pass a GE Free zone resolution
http://www.southdeltaleader.com/news/157869875.html#storyComments
Posted in Food Security
