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Monsanto has closed its east coast GMO seed potato operation. The company is abandoning its Crystal, Maine plant, which opened in 1992. In its place, former employees are launching a new non-genetically modified seed potato company called SeedPro.
The Crystal facility, operated by Monsanto potato subsidiary NatureMark, had been producing GMO potatoes with Bt and RoundUp Ready genes. Quoted by the Bangor Daily News, NatureMark's former seed operation manager Dave Hammond said the GMO potatoes hadn't worked out because farmers "weren't buying it because their customers wouldn't buy it."
Varieties like Newleaf Atlantic and Newleaf Superior were intended for fields from Florida all the way north to Atlantic Canada. The Maine closure will leave Naturemark with just its Boise-based Idaho operation.
Farmers Were Generally Prepared
Nationally, over the past year, farmers heard warnings from companies like Maine's McCain Foods that consumers were not happy with GMO potatoes. But food processor and restaurant worries went very public two weeks ago when the Wall Street Journal reported that french fry king McDonalds and other fast foods outlets have decided to not use GMO potatoes. Buyers including Idaho-based Simplot, the USA's biggest potato processor, then asked farmers not to bring them GMO harvests.
The result will be a major downturn in GMO potato planting, although its too early to quantify. Last year, GMO potatoes accounted for 4% of US production. This year, it may be almost none.
The good news is that most farmers paid attention to warning signs and didn't get caught by the spud meltdown. Almost all bought non-GMO seed potatoes for 2000. According to John Thompson of Potato Growers of Idaho, "the whole story came as no surprise to any grower here." Even though planting in western Idaho began as early as late March, long before the Wall Street Journal story, Thompson says "I'd be surprised if anyone got caught ... it really won't effect our industry."
Therefore the is GMO potatos.
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Do lays potato chips contain GMOs?
Foods in the United States are not labeled for GMOs, so there is no way to know beyond any doubt whether Lays potato chips contain GMOs. The potatoes used to make the chips are probably not GMO because there are no known varieties of genetically modified potatoes being sold commercially (as of May 2014). It is; however, likely that GMO oils are used to fry the chips, since a huge percentage of corn, soybeans, and canola grown in the United States is GMO.
What kind of vitamins do GMO foods have?
GMO foods asummably have the same vitamins as the equivalent non-GMO foods.
How can you tell if your corn is GMO?
If you are a farmer, you know the corn you are gowing is GMO because you buy seeds that are known to be GMO. If you are gowing non-GMO varieties, you do not know if GMO vaieties have cross pollinated with your corn unless you get it tested. If you are a consumer, you do not know if the corn or processed foods containing corn is GMO unless it is labeled as such. In the United States GMO foods are not labeled.
What other information do you need to confirm the GMO status of your sample?
GMO stands for genetically modified organism. To confirm the GMO status of the sample, it must be labeled as GMO by the producers.
What is known about the food production capabilities of GMO's?
GMO corn and soy are no more productive than non-GMO corn and soy.
Are GMO foods illegal?
In the United States GMO foods are not illegal.
Are Sun Maid raisins GMO?
As far as is known, raisins are not GMO.
What does the abbreviation GMO stand for?
GMO stands for genetically modified organism.
Is the canola oil in Cape Cod potato chips GMO?
Since GMO ingredients are not labeled, it is difficult to know if the canola oil in Cape Cod potato chips is GMO. It is safe to assume the oil is GMO since most of the canola grown in the United States and Canada is GMO.
How to find GMO free products?
You can find GMO free products at nourishedkitchen.com.
Do GMO foods have to be labeled in the UK?
Yes, GMO foods have to be labeled in the UK.
Why is papaya considered a GMO?
Papaya was first produced as a GMO at the University of Hawaii in the 1980s. GMO Papayas are available for consumption in both the US and Canada.
