Organic non-browning apple already on the market

http://seattletimes.com/text/2020596751.html

Rally against the GE apple, Kelowna, 30 March

Saturday March 30, 11-12 noon on the overpass at the Parkinson Recreation Center (Crossway crosses highway 97)

For more info email truefoodfoundation@shaw.ca

Anti GE resolution accepted by BC municipalities

At the recent Union of BC municipalities meeting in Victoria, the GE Free resolution against the GE apple proposed by the Okanagan-Similkameen was accepted. The resolution is below. You can help stop the GE apple – go to http://www.cban.ca/Resources/Topics/GE-Crops-and-Foods-Not-on-the-Market/Apple to sign a petition and get more information about what you can do. We will be continuing to campaign on this issue in the fall.
The text of the resolution follows:

Anti-GE apple rally in the Okanagan a big success

Franken-apples at the eye of the GMO storm

Monday, 01 October 2012 02:00     Kelowna Daily Courier

Sixty protesters rallied against what they call Franken-apples in a bid to stop genetically engineered fruit from entering grocery stores.
People sang and waved signs in Kerry Park expressing outrage that Health Canada is considering a bid by a Summerland biotech company to plant trees that grow non-browning apples.

Friends of the Earth eats an apple

As well as the numerous groups opposing the GE apple in Canad, it is also being opposed in the U.S. Here’s a satire on the GE apple

http://www.foe.org/news/blog/2012-08-the-burden-of-apple-eating-or-how-i-learned-to-stop

Stop the GE apple – sign the petition

This petition is going to the BC legislature. Help stop the GE apple. Remember we will likely have a new government in place in 2013 and we want to send a clear message of support to courageous Lana Popham, NDP Agriculture Critic, that British Columbians don’t want GE crops.

http://www.okanagangreens.ca/images/Public/2012.no-gmo-apple-bc.petition.pdf

CBAN corrects info on the GE apple

Western Producer
Letters to the editor – July 26, 2012
Posted Jul. 27th, 2012
http://www.producer.com/2012/07/letters-to-the-editor-july-26-2012/

Okanagan speaks out against the GE apple

Public interest groups including apple growers have issued a press release against the GE apple – see below for the text. A fact sheet on the GE apple can be found here:

www.cban.ca/apple

PRESS RELEASE

GM Apple Jeopardizes Okanagan’s Reputation, say local groups

August 14, 2012. Kelowna – Today, groups in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley united to appeal to the local company “Okanagan Specialty Fruits” to stop pursuing a genetically engineered (genetically modified or GM) “nonbrowning” apple which they say jeopardizes the reputation of the Okanagan as a pristine fruit growing area.

Hear Lucy Sharratt debate Neal Carter on the GE apple

Tomorrow morning 9-10AM www.am1150.ca – Neal Carter, President of Okanagan Specialty Fruits followed by Lucy Sharratt of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network.

Call in show!

Okanagan Regional District resolution against the GMO apple

One of our major campaigns right now is against the non-browning apple being development by Okanagan Specialty Fruits in Summerland, BC. We are working on this with CBAN, the True Food Foundation, the Council of Canadians Kelowna and the Okanagan Greens. The Okanagan Organic Festival on the 23rd September in Kelowna will focus on the GMO apple. And now the Regional District of the Okanagan and Similikameen has unanimously passed a resolution against the GMO apple, which will go to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities this September. We will be posting a letter you can send to your mayor and councillors in advance of this September meeting. The resolution follows:

Harry Burton on why we don’t need a GE apple

Apple Cravings by Harry Burton

(Source COG: http://www.cog.ca/news/55/68/Not-in-My-Lunchbox/)

The first tree of every apple variety grew from a single seed. To create that seed, pollen from another apple variety (the male), landed on the stigma of an apple blossom where it germinated. This fertilization process combines DNA from two apple varieties, so that the apple seed, just like any child born, is different from the parents. Thus, every apple seed that grows produces a TOTALLY NEW APPLE VARIETY.

OKANAGAN TAKES BITE OUT OF PLAN FOR GENETICALLY MODIFIED APPLE

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

Why we don’t need a GE apple

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.