Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Growing GMOs banned by county initiative | capitalpress.com

Growing GMOs banned by county initiative | capitalpress.com

Growing GMOs banned by county initiative

While Washington state legislators weigh an initiative that would require labeling most foods that have genetically modified ingredients, voters in tiny San Juan County have already banned growing those crops.

Initiative Measure No. 2012-4 received 5,183 votes in favor and 3,329 votes against in last November's general election.

"It is unlawful for any person or entity to propagate, cultivate, raise or grow genetically modified organisms in San Juan County," the initiative reads.

Ken Akopiantz, owner of Horse Drawn Farm said he helped craft the initiative, guided the campaign and built the support.

Most agriculture in the county is small family farms, he said, so the measure will not have a large impact. The most likely crop affected would be canola.

"No one is using (GMOs) to begin with," he said. "The benefit is to protect some crops like corn, growing them for seed."

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